Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Vançais

The second church in the center of the village is much older than the Protestant temple, just seen. It was erected within the 12th century und was used by the Protestant parish after the Revolution until the new temple was completed. At that time Saint Martin was already pretty ruined, soon after parts of the vaulting collapsed, but it got restored from 1860 - 1865 and is in good condition. On the right side is carving, that may be a spolia as well - and probably was created for the same locations as the "horse", just seen. Again stone and carvings style differ as well from the corbels below. A bearded man under a rope (?) under an arch (?) .. The mermaid, seen on a previous upload, is to the very left.

The second church in the center of the village is much older than the Protestant temple, just seen. It was erected within the 12th century und was used by the Protestant parish after the Revolution until the new temple was completed. At that time Saint Martin was already pretty ruined, soon after parts of the vaulting collapsed, but it got restored from 1860 - 1865 and is in good condition. I have the impression, that the carving depicting a quadruped animal (horse?) is a spolia, that may have been done for another location. The place on the left is strange. Stone and carvings style differ as well from the corbels below.

The second church in the center of the village is much older than the Protestant temple, just seen. It was erected within the 12th century und was used by the Protestant parish after the Revolution until the new temple was completed. At that time Saint Martin was already pretty ruined, soon after parts of the vaulting collapsed, but it got restored from 1860 - 1865 and is in good condition. Here is the second of the two mermaids on Saint Martin´s western facade. She as well is very weathered, and looks like a twin of the mermaid just seen. Is this Melusine (again)? What is the meaning of that bird? Vançais is only about 20 kms apart from Lusignan, where the legendary fairy Melusine once upon a time married Prince Raymond of Poitou. The couple had ten kids - and so they founded the "Maison de Lusignan" ("House of Lusignan"). "Raymond was not allowed to watch her, when she took a bath, but one day..." tells the legend. Here even two guys watch the mermaid from above!

The second church in the center of the village is much older than the Protestant temple, just seen. It was erected within the 12th century und was used by the Protestant parish after the Revolution until the new temple was completed. At that time Saint Martin was already pretty ruined, soon after parts of the vaulting collapsed, but it got restored from 1860 - 1865 and is in good condition. Here is one of two mermaids on Saint Martin´s western facade. She is very weathered, but her hair is still visible - and of course the fish scales. The mermaid is not the elegant vanity-style type, but - in case this is possible - pretty realistic. Is this Melusine? Vançais is only about 20 kms apart from Lusignan, where the legendary fairy Melusine once upon a time married Prince Raymond of Poitou. The couple had ten kids - and so they founded the "Maison de Lusignan" ("House of Lusignan"). "Raymond was not allowed to watch her, when she took a bath, but one day..." tells the legend. Here somebody watches the mermaid from above!

The second church in the center of the village is much older than the Protestant temple, just seen. It was erected within the 12th century und was used by the Protestant parish after the Revolution until the new temple was completed. At that time Saint Martin was already pretty ruined, soon after parts of the vaulting collapsed, but it got restored from 1860 - 1865 and is in good condition. Here is the western facade, that has some interesting corbels - and mermaids!

The second church in the center of the village is much older than the Protestant temple, just seen. It was erected within the 12th century und was used by the Protestant parish after the Revolution until the new temple was completed. At that time Saint Martin was already pretty ruined, soon after parts of the vaulting collapsed, but it got restored from 1860 - 1865 and is in good condition.

Two churches can be found in the center of Vançais side by side. The younger one is the Protestant temple, erected in 1843. I learned here, that the majority of the population (~260) is Protestant.