Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Haute Loire

A convent under the patronage of St. Peter was founded in Blesle within the 9th century by Ermengarde d’Auvergne, the mother of Guillaume le Pieux, who founded Cluny on 910. The construction of St. Piere (now a parish church) started end of 11th century. Within a hunderd years, most of the church was built, only the south portal, the tower and parts of the apse were done in the 14th century. "L'église Saint-Pierre" is remarkable for it´s interesting layout and the richness of romanesque carvings inside and outside. One of the capitals shows this - strange - person. This could be - a "Master of the Beasts" eg. "Daniel in the Lions Den" - or a "Luxuria", breastfeeding two lions (instead of the ordinary snakes). I would be grateful, if you can give me a hint.

.. inside the church are some fascinating capitals. One of them shows "Luxuria", feeding the snakes.

A convent under the patronage of St. Peter was founded in Blesle within the 9th century by Ermengarde d’Auvergne, the mother of Guillaume le Pieux, who founded Cluny in 910. The construction of St. Piere (now a parish church) started end of 11th century. Within a hunderd years, most of the church was built, only the south portal, the tower and parts of the apse were done in the 14th century. "L'église Saint-Pierre" is remarkable for it´s interesting layout and the richness of romanesque carvings inside and outside. Here one of the capitals outside the apse. A carving of "Luxuria", standing for lust, one of the "Seven Deadly Sins". Luxuria is mostly carved, breastfeeding two snakes. Here it is a snake and large frog. The frog itself is a symbol of vanity and lust. Both animals have obviously "excaped" from the two male figures on the side. The leftone holding a round object (tambourine?), the rightone wearing a kind of necklace, maybe a form of moneybag. Note that the Luxuria´s legs are lost, only the two feet and a part of a tigh (next to the frog) survived the times.

On a small capital outside the great basilica (built 12th-14th century) is this little mermaid. Or merman. It is so "basic", it seems to be a symbol - of a symbol.

A convent under the patronage of St. Peter was founded in Blesle within the 9th century by Ermengarde d’Auvergne, the mother of Guillaume le Pieux, who founded Cluny on 910. The construction of St. Piere (now a parish church) started end of 11th century. Within a hunderd years, most of the church was built, only the south portal, the tower and parts of the apse were done in the 14th century. "L'église Saint-Pierre" is remarkable for it´s interesting layout and the richness of romanesque carvings inside and outside. A capital in the transept shows these pale looking mermaids, wearing a headdress. I have the impression, that the capital had four sides once - and so four mermaids, but as a wall was built later - only two of them a visible. These are the collegues of the colourful mairmaid in the nave of the St. Pierre, which is probably more than 100 years younger.

A convent under the patronage of St. Peter was founded in Blesle within the 9th century by Ermengarde d’Auvergne, the mother of Guillaume le Pieux, who founded Cluny on 910. The construction of St. Piere (now a parish church) started end of 11th century. Within a hunderd years, most of the church was built, only the south portal, the tower and parts of the apse were done in the 14th century. "L'église Saint-Pierre" is remarkable for it´s interesting layout and the richness of romanesque carvings inside and outside. One of the capitals shows the carving of a mermaid. She is very colourful and golden fish scales are on her two tails. Actually she has a "collegue" in the transept.

On a capitel, left to the entrance of the former abbey-church Saint Chaffre du Monastier-sur-Gazeille is this delicate, skinny, melancholic looking mermaid. A type typical for the romanesque churches in the Auvergne.

.. inside the church are some fascinating capitals. One of them shows "Luxuria", feeding the snakes.

Actually I could not find out, why Pradelles is one of the most beautiful villages in France ("les plus beaux villages"). Maybe I was just too tired. Here is a view from the back of the (19th century) church facing south. On the right is a part of the "Lac de Naussac". A couple of minutes later it started to snow again.

...the storm Xynthia, that hit this area end of February 2010, had done great damage to the forests in the Auvergne. The aftermath of the storm forced me to some detours..

..walking down the valley - there was a gigantic railroad viaduct. Meanwhile I learned, that the "Viaduc d'Arquejols" has a height of 45m and is 209m long. Completed in 1908. So when Stevenson passed through, there were just the horses...

Three horses near Arquejols.

..had a snowshower underway, so I changed from the "Chemin Stevenson" to the "Voie Régordane", the old pilgim´s way to St. Gilles. Taking this shortcut I reached Landos via Amargiers.

..a car-wreck - and the village of Costaros in the back...

Looking back to the valley of the Loire. On the right side Goudet is visible, the bridge over the Loire - and right - the ruins of the Château de Beaufort.

... the ruins of the Château de Beaufort. Out of the really great number of châteaus lining the Loire, this is number 2. Number 1 is in Arlempdes, about 5kms upstream.

..the valley of the Loire. It´s pretty steep and slippery downhill to Goudet.

.. found the commemorative plaque. Here Robert Louis Stevenson and his donkey Modestine started 22. September 1878. Well, let´s say, here they left Monastier-sur-Gazeille and walked down into the valley of the Gazeille. Today it marks (as well) the entrance to the parking lot of a little supermarket.