Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: apostle

Krozingen was first mentioned as "Scrozzinga" in 808 in the documents of the Abbey of Saint Gall. A settlement at the former junction of two Roman roads. Up to 1805 Krozingen belonged to "Further Austria", possessions of the House of Habsburg. While the surrounding area changed to Protestantism during the Reformation, Krozingen stayed Catholic. On the search for crude oil, the geologists came across thermal water instead, which was started the future of Krozingen as a health resort. Krozingen was awarded the title “Bad” in 1933 - and now is Bad Krozingen. The Romanesque Glöcklehofkapelle is the oldest preserved building of the town. It was built around 1000 by the Abbey of Saint Gall. It was rediscovered around 1936 by Pastor A. Pfeffer from Rottenburg, a spa guest. Later excavations showed that it was part of a medieval court complex. The frescoes show strong parallels to the illuminated manuscripts, produced by monks in the famous scriptorium of the Abbey of Reichenau at the same time. I see parallels to frescoes in Southern Tyrol as well (eg Naturns). Here are two apostles in the niche below the mandorla.

Alleaume was once the gallo-roman settlement "Alauna", of which some ruins still exist. Meanwhile this is a suburb of Valognes. The parish church Notre Dame was erected within the 13th century but strongly remodeled in the 18th century. Some spolia of the Romanesque church got reused - and so can still be find. This relief is one of the old spolia. There is an "Agnus Dei" with a cross on the right side. On the left side are two persons, sitting under arches - and there is a bird. This bird holds a branch. Or the branch is a "sing-bubble" (aka "tweet"). The left person is barefoot and holds a large key, so this can only be Saint Peter. His neigbour is probably an apostle as well.

Carennac is a very picturesque village perching above the banks of the Dordogne river. The village is one of "Les Plus Beaux Villages de Franc". Not much seems to have changed within the last centuries. In 1047 a priory had been founded here, depending from the Benedictine abbey Saint-Pierre in Moissac and so woven into the "cluniac system". Saint-Pierre, now the parish church of Carennac, was erected within the 11th/12th century. The impressive tympanum, seen here, was created in the second half of the 12th century. Christ in Majesty sits enthroned in the centre of a large mandorla, one hand on the bible, the other in a blessing gestus. The Evangelists´ symbols flank the mandorla. On either side are the Apostles, grouped pairs and obviously the Apostles are communicating. One statue is lost. On the bottom corners are two small monks (?), holding books. The mandorla has a row of drilled holes, that may have been once bases for glass-stones, but that is unproven. Note the nice lintel. There are animals, carved in a very different style.

"Santa María la Real" is one of the highlights for all people following the "Camino Aragonés" - since about 800 years. The facade is impressing it may take hours, to find out the many details. I stayed an extra day, when I had reached the town, just to see the shadows movig over the carvings. A church did exist here already in 1131 next to the bridge crossing the river Aragon. It was transferred by Alfonso I to the "Knights Hospitaller" (aka "Order of Saint John", later "Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta"). The apse is the oldest part of the structure and probably dates back to that time. The nave and the breathtaking Southern Portal of Santa María la Real were created late 12th/13th century. I have uploaded a "total overview" earlier and will now focus on some details. Below the "Last Judgement" are the Virgin and the twelve apostles, all standing under arches. The masterly carving style is late-Romanesque and very elegant. All pillars and capitals differ, some pillars are even angled. A perfect piece of miniature architecture. The apostles (note the attributes) are gesticulating and seem to communicate. (Pretty large) Jesus, sitting in the crowned Virgin´s knees, is blessing the onlookers.

In 1080, when Morlaàs was in its heydays, the building of this church started by Centulle V, Viscount of Béarn, who had to make an atonement. Morlaàs developed to an important "étape" on the Via Tolosana at that time. As the church was dedicated to St. Foy there was a kind of "link" to Conques. Later the pilgrimage business declined, the viscounts had moved away, wars arose.... The church burnt down in 1520, got severely damaged in 1569. During the French Revolution the church turned to a "Temple of Reason". The restorations of the 19th century saved the structure. Viollet-le-Duc, the influential "Inspecteur général des Edifices Diocésains" led the restoration of the portal. At all places, where he worked (eg "Carcasonne", "Vézelay"), he "recreated" and creatively "completed", what is a method, that is disputed meanwhile. The condition of the portal is a result of this restoration. After the cleaning done in the last years and the installation of pigeon-defence-wires, the carvings are "mint". The entrance doors are flanked by pillars and large sculptures of the apostles on either side. Another capital, next to an apostle´s head has another jungle. Other than the previous seen capital, where creeping creatures seem to play in the vines, here are humans caught by the entwined vines.

In 1080, when Morlaàs was in its heydays, the building of this church started by Centulle V, Viscount of Béarn, who had to make an atonement. Morlaàs developed to an important "étape" on the Via Tolosana at that time. As the church was dedicated to St. Foy there was a kind of "link" to Conques. Later the pilgrimage business declined, the viscounts had moved away, wars arose.... The church burnt down in 1520, got severely damaged in 1569. During the French Revolution the church turned to a "Temple of Reason". The restorations of the 19th century saved the structure. Viollet-le-Duc, the influential "Inspecteur général des Edifices Diocésains" led the restoration of the portal. At all places, where he worked (eg "Carcasonne", "Vézelay"), he "recreated" and creatively "completed", what is a method, that is disputed meanwhile. The condition of the portal is a result of this restoration. After the cleaning done in the last years and the installation of pigeon-defence-wires, the carvings are "mint". The entrance doors are flanked by pillars and large sculptures of the apostles on either side. Between the heads of the apostles is this densely populated jungle. Between the maze of entwined vines are many creeping creatures. Toads, pecking birds, a dog - and in the center a little monkey.

In 1080, when Morlaàs was in its heydays, the building of this church started by Centulle V, Viscount of Béarn, who had to make an atonement. Morlaàs developed to an important "étape" on the Via Tolosana at that time. As the church was dedicated to St. Foy there was a kind of "link" to Conques. Later the pilgrimage business declined, the viscounts had moved away, wars arose.... The church burnt down in 1520, got severely damaged in 1569. During the French Revolution the church turned to a "Temple of Reason". The restorations of the 19th century saved the structure. Viollet-le-Duc, the influential "Inspecteur général des Edifices Diocésains" led the restoration of the portal. At all places, where he worked (eg "Carcasonne", "Vézelay"), he "recreated" and creatively "completed", what is a method, that is disputed meanwhile. The condition of the portal is a result of this restoration. After the cleaning done in the last years and the installation of pigeon-defence-wires, the carvings are "mint". The entrance doors are flanked by pillars and large sculptures of the apostles on either side. The large sculptures, seen here, are on the left side. The faces of the apostles are very expressive. An eagle blows a horn on the capital. Above the capital is the frightening head of a smiling demon, ready to devour.. The capital to the left will be seen on the next upload.