Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Saint-Hilaire-lac-rouge

What is the parish church of the tiny village of Saint-Hilaire-la-Croix today, was the church of a priory, depending from Mozat around 1165. In the beginning the priory was named "Saint-Hilaire-lac-rouge", but over the time, the old name got a little "deformed". There is not much known about the priory. In the early years it served the pilgrims on their way - and somehow it was important enough, to built (and finance) such an extraordenary church. Bernard Craplet ("Auvergne romane") dates the building phase from around 1100 to 1200. Later Augustinian Canons and Vincentians lived here. Not a sucess story for the next centuries the buildings were sold already in 1742. This is the most expressive of the capitals around the crossing in Saint-Hilaire-la-Croix. At least for me. I described most details already, when I uploaded the other photo taken from a more central pov, so now I just point out two details. Above the elbow of the dancer is a kind of tassel, actually an ornament often seen in medieval carvings, but mostly this ornament is static and symmetric. Here it is assymetric. It really seems to be a swinging textile tassel, just being moved by the elbow. In case the male musician and the female contortionist, performing here, are professionals, they for sure needed a manager, who organised the gigs - and passed the hat around. See the manager in the corner to the very right.

What is the parish church of the tiny village of Saint-Hilaire-la-Croix today, was the church of a priory, depending from Mozat around 1165. In the beginning the priory was named "Saint-Hilaire-lac-rouge", but over the time, the old name got a little "deformed". There is not much known about the priory. In the early years it served the pilgrims on their way - and somehow it was important enough, to built (and finance) such an extraordenary church. Bernard Craplet ("Auvergne romane") dates the building phase from around 1100 to 1200. Later Augustinian Canons and Vincentians lived here. Not a sucess story for the next centuries the buildings were sold already in 1742. One of capitals at the crossing depicts the two birds and between them the chalice. One of the symmetrical "icons", that can often be seen in the Auvergne. Special here are the two men behind the birds. With stoic faces they are putting /dropping something into the calice. Small round objects. Hosts? How did the sacramental bread look like in the 12th century? Restoration seems to be on its way here. Two zones have been obviously treated by a chemical (antifungal?) substance. Now the effect is watched. That explains the little stickers.

What is the parish church of the tiny village of Saint-Hilaire-la-Croix today, was the church of a priory, depending from Mozat around 1165. In the beginning the priory was named "Saint-Hilaire-lac-rouge", but over the time, the old name got a little "deformed". There is not much known about the priory. In the early years it served the pilgrims on their way - and somehow it was important enough, to built (and finance) such an extraordenary church. Bernard Craplet ("Auvergne romane") dates the building phase from around 1100 to 1200. Later Augustinian Canons and Vincentians lived here. Not a sucess story for the next centuries the buildings were sold already in 1742. Standing in the back of the wide nave, facing east to the choir. The chuch is more than 36 meters long. Two aisles can be seen to the sides. There is a transept and (not to be seen from this pov) both sides of the transept have an apse. The capitals seen from here seem simple. More elaborated capitals are placed around the crossing, dated to 1175 by Bernard Craplet in "Auvergne romane". The baptismal font in front is a "reused" romanesque capital.

What is the parish church of the tiny village of Saint-Hilaire-la-Croix today, was the church of a priory, depending from Mozat around 1165. In the beginning the priory was named "Saint-Hilaire-lac-rouge", but over the time, the old name got a little "deformed". There is not much known about the priory. In the early years it served the pilgrims on their way - and somehow it was important enough, to built (and finance) such an extraordenary church. Bernard Craplet ("Auvergne romane") dates the building phase from around 1100 to 1200. Later Augustinian Canons and Vincentians lived here. Not a sucess story for the next centuries the buildings were sold already in 1742. Sofar all photos from Saint-Hilaire-la-Croix showed the elaborate northern portal used by and built for the pilgrims and the general public. The monks of the priory entered the church, after having walked through the (lost) cloister, through the much smaller southern portal. The nicely carved, semicircular tympanum depicts Jesus, Simon, two other guests and Mary Magdalene. Luke 7:36-7:38 36 Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. 37 When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, 38 and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. -- The beast to the right of the scene seems a relative of the pillar-eaters that flank the northern portal.

What is the parish church of the tiny village of Saint-Hilaire-la-Croix today, was the church of a priory, depending from Mozat around 1165. In the beginning the priory was named "Saint-Hilaire-lac-rouge", but over the time, the old name got a little "deformed". There is not much known about the priory. In the early years it served the pilgrims on their way - and somehow it was important enough, to built (and finance) such an extraordenary church. Bernard Craplet ("Auvergne romane") dates the building phase from around 1100 to 1200. Later Augustinian Canons and Vincentians lived here. Not a sucess story for the next centuries the buildings were sold already in 1742. The northern portal of Saint-Hilaire-la-Croix is very elaborate and combines different artistic styles. Bernard Craplet tracks the craftmen, who created this, back to a travelling group of artists, that left their marks in Fleuriel and other places in the area. He states artistic influences as well from Burgundy and the Ile de France. Placed between loops of tendrills and floral ornaments are six sculptures in the outer archivolt. Another evidence of artistic influence from the Saintonge area (200 kms west). The six persons of the archivolt are well clothed, barfoot and have no nimbus. The person seen here, wears a maniple on his arm, so this depicts probably a priest.

What is the parish church of the tiny village of Saint-Hilaire-la-Croix today, was the church of a priory, depending from Mozat around 1165. In the beginning the priory was named "Saint-Hilaire-lac-rouge", but over the time, the old name got a little "deformed". There is not much known about the priory. In the early years it served the pilgrims on their way - and somehow it was important enough, to built (and finance) such an extraordenary church. Bernard Craplet ("Auvergne romane") dates the building phase from around 1100 to 1200. Later Augustinian Canons and Vincentians lived here. Not a sucess story for the next centuries the buildings were sold already in 1742. The northern portal of Saint-Hilaire-la-Croix is very elaborate and combines different artistic styles. Bernard Craplet tracks the craftmen, who created this, back to a travelling group of artists, that left their marks in Fleuriel and other places in the area. Here are a couple of dragonlike sirens. "Normal" sirens would have a human head on a bird´s body. Here the bodies of the sirens end in reptile tails. Note the (half) pillar-eater to the left.

What is the parish church of the tiny village of Saint-Hilaire-la-Croix today, was the church of a priory, depending from Mozat around 1165. In the beginning the priory was named "Saint-Hilaire-lac-rouge", but over the time, the old name got a little "deformed". There is not much known about the priory. In the early years it served the pilgrims on their way - and somehow it was important enough, to built (and finance) such an extraordenary church. Bernard Craplet ("Auvergne romane") dates the building phase from around 1100 to 1200. Later Augustinian Canons and Vincentians lived here. Not a sucess story for the next centuries the buildings were sold already in 1742. The northern portal of Saint-Hilaire-la-Croix is very elaborate and combines different artistic styles. Bernard Craplet tracks the craftmen, who created this, back to a travelling group of artists, that left their marks in Fleuriel and other places in the area. He states artistic influences here as well from Burgundy and the Ile de France. Here a capital of the right side of the portal, depicting chimeras as well. Two birds with snakelike tails/necks and the heads of cats. They seem to "hug" each other with their long necks. From above two creatures (cats?) lick them with enormous long tongues. On the right another pillar-eater with a very grotesque face. Exactly this kind of pillar-eaters can often be seen in the Saintonge area.

What is the parish church of the tiny village of Saint-Hilaire-la-Croix today, was the church of a priory, depending from Mozat around 1165. In the beginning the priory was named "Saint-Hilaire-lac-rouge", but over the time, the old name got a little "deformed". There is not much known about the priory. In the early years it served the pilgrims on their way - and somehow it was important enough, to built (and finance) such an extraordenary church. Bernard Craplet ("Auvergne romane") dates the building phase from around 1100 to 1200. Later Augustinian Canons and Vincentians lived here. Not a sucess story for the next centuries the buildings were sold already in 1742. The northern portal of Saint-Hilaire-la-Croix is very elaborate and combines different artistic styles. Bernard Craplet tracks the craftmen, who created this, back to a travelling group of artists, that left their marks in Fleuriel and other places in the area. I am sure, that he refers to these capitals. On the right one are dragons with only two front feet and a reptile tail. Very symmetrical tendrils sprout out of their mouths and form spirals

What is the parish church of the tiny village of Saint-Hilaire-la-Croix today, was the church of a priory, depending from Mozat around 1165. In the beginning the priory was named "Saint-Hilaire-lac-rouge", but over the time, the old name got a little "deformed". There is not much known about the priory. In the early years it served the pilgrims on their way - and somehow it was important enough, to built (and finance) such an extraordenary church. Bernard Craplet ("Auvergne romane") dates the building phase from around 1100 to 1200. Later Augustinian Canons and Vincentians lived here. Not a sucess story for the next centuries the buildings were sold already in 1742. The northern portal of Saint-Hilaire-la-Croix is very elaborate and combines different artistic styles. Bernard Craplet tracks the craftmen, who created this, back to a travelling group of artists, that left their marks in Fleuriel and other places in the area. He is probably right. I see even influences from the Saitonge. The inner archivolt actually reminds me on Ganagobie, what could mean that it has traces of mozarabic style. I will upload more detailled photos later.

What is the parish church of the tiny village of Saint-Hilaire-la-Croix today, was the church of a priory, depending on Mozat around 1165. In the beginning the priory was named "Saint-Hilaire-lac-rouge", but over the time, the old name got a little "deformed". There is not much known about the priory. In the early years it served the pilgrims on their way - and somehow it was important enough, to built (and finance) such an extraordenary church. Bernard Craplet ("Auvergne romane") dates the building phase from around 1100 to 1200. Later Augustinian Canons and Vincentians lived here. Not a sucess story for the next centuries the buildings were sold already in 1742. For such a small place, the church is rather large. Most striking is the northern portal seen here.

What is the parish church of the tiny village of Saint-Hilaire-la-Croix today, was the church of a priory, depending on Mozat around 1165. In the beginning the priory was named "Saint-Hilaire-lac-rouge", but over the time, the old name got a little "deformed". There is not much known about the priory. It served the pilgrims on their way - and somehow it was important enough, to built (and finance) such an extraordenary church. Seen already from a distance is the fantastic portal.