Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: 39

I "discovered" Gargilesse in June 2007, hiking the Via Lemovizenis, which starts in Vezelay. I had stayed in the "Hôtel des Artistes", as it offered an affordable room for the "pelerin". Meanwhile, I had returned a couple of times. The hotel had changed hands, but it is still worth a detour - especially for the restaurant. Terrine de Poisson

Hugues de Naillac, Lord of Gargilesse, returned from a crusade and brought back a statue of the Virgin, whose beneficent protection would have been proven during the fighting. He built for her the church, which is today the parish church of Gargilesse. I "discovered" the wonderful village of Gargilesse in June 2007, hiking the Via Lemovizenis, which starts in Vezelay. I had stayed in the "Hôtel des Artistes", as it offered an affordable room for the "pelerin". Meanwhile, I had returned a couple of times. The hotel had changed hands, but it is still worth a detour - especially for the restaurant.

The "source du Lison" is karst spring. The water "falls" out of a large cave portal. I mixed it up with the cascade of the Herisson stream first. Thank you Geraud!

The Herisson stream is known for its waterfalls. With a height of 10 metres, the Saut de la Forge, named after a forge Cistercian monks operated here in medieval times, is one of the smaller cascades.

Near Clairvaux-les-Lacs the Drouvenant river, a tributary to the Ain, has formed a impressive gorge.

The 30 kms long and narrow "Lac de Vouglans" is the reservoir of a hydro-electric power station on the River Ain, created in the 1960s.

We were told, that the very best boulangerie in Arbois was "Le Pere Germain". The bakery is really small. When I took this photo the line of customers waiting was already shorter, than it had been an hour ago, when we had bought a "flûte".

A hungry ape in the vinyards. Well, maybe a greedy ape. This carving is near the main portal of the collegiate church Notre Dame in Dole, constructed 1506 - 1586. I am not sure about the species. This could be a bonobo, formerly known as "pygmy chimpanzee".

The massive bell tower of the collegiate church Notre Dame in Dole, constructed 1506 - 1586, reaches stunning 75 meters! - Seen in the soft evening light.

Upto the French Revolution, the little village, next to the Baume-Abbey was called "Baume-les-Moines", as there was not much more than that. With the revolution it changed to "Baume-les-Messieurs" - and now, since it is one of the most beautiful villages in France ("Les plus beaux villages de France") - it could be changed to "Baume-les-Touristes". Baume-Abbey is really old, going back to a settlement of irish monks around Saint Colombanus within the 6th century. 732 Saracens destroyed the monastry, that got refounded in the early 9th century during the reign of Louis the Pious by Saint Eutice, a disciple of Benedict of Aniane (see "Sélestat - Sainte-Foy"). End of the 9th century the Normans raided the whole of Burgundy - and Baume-Abbey was in ruins again. Berno refounded the abbey a second time - and had success. Actually he had such a wow, that in 910, William of Aquitaine asked him to be the first abbot of the new monastry in the village of Cluny, so by now he is known as "Berno of Cluny". The walls of the passage-way between the entrance yard and the former cloister are covered with carved graffitis. Not oldones - compared to the nice carved capital.

Upto the French Revolution, the little village, next to the Baume-Abbey was called "Baume-les-Moines", as there was not much more than that. With the revolution it changed to "Baume-les-Messieurs" - and now, since it is one of the most beautiful villages in France ("Les plus beaux villages de France") - it could be changed to "Baume-les-Touristes". Baume-Abbey is really old, going back to a settlement of irish monks around Saint Colombanus within the 6th century. 732 Saracens destroyed the monastry, that got refounded in the early 9th century during the reign of Louis the Pious by Saint Eutice, a disciple of Benedict of Aniane (see "Sélestat - Sainte-Foy"). End of the 9th century the Normans raided the whole of Burgundy - and Baume-Abbey was in ruins again. Berno refounded the abbey a second time - and had success. Actually he had such a wow, that in 910, William of Aquitaine asked him to be the first abbot of the new monastry in the village of Cluny, so by now he is known as "Berno of Cluny". A little chapel in a side-building with a phantastic central column holding the structure. A stony palmtree. Unfortunately somebody screwed lamps and heating on to it.

Upto the French Revolution, the little village, next to the Baume-Abbey was called "Baume-les-Moines", as there was not much more than that. With the revolution it changed to "Baume-les-Messieurs" - and now, since it is one of the most beautiful villages in France ("Les plus beaux villages de France") - it could be changed to "Baume-les-Touristes". Baume-Abbey is really old, going back to a settlement of irish monks around Saint Colombanus within the 6th century. 732 Saracens destroyed the monastry, that got refounded in the early 9th century during the reign of Louis the Pious by Saint Eutice, a disciple of Benedict of Aniane (see "Aniane", "Sélestat", "Marmoutier"). End of the 9th century the Normans raided the whole of Burgundy - and Baume-Abbey was in ruins again. Berno refounded the abbey a second time - and had success. Actually he had such a wow, that in 910, William of Aquitaine asked him to be the first abbot of the new monastry in the village of Cluny, so by now he is known as "Berno of Cluny". Looking across the nave from the aisle. Massive round and rectangular columns. The sober structure is very similar to 11th century churches in southeastern Burgundy (i.e. St. Philibert, Autun) and to the nearby church in Arbois (some 35kms north).

Upto the French Revolution, the little village, next to the Baume-Abbey was called "Baume-les-Moines". A name that explained everything. With the revolution it changed to "Baume-les-Messieurs" - and now, since it is one of the most beautiful villages in France ("Les plus beaux villages de France") - it could be changed to "Baume-les-Touristes". Baume-Abbey is really old, going back to a settlement of irish monks around Saint Colombanus within the 6th century. 732 Saracens destroyed the monastry, that got refounded in the early 9th century during the reign of Louis the Pious by Saint Eutice, a disciple of Benedict of Aniane (see "Sélestat - Sainte-Foy"). End of the 9th century the Normans raided Burgundy over years - and Baume-Abbey was in ruins again. Monk Berno, sent from Autun, refounded the abbey a second time - and had success. Actually he had such a wow, that in 910, William of Aquitaine asked him to be the first abbot of the new monastry in the village of Cluny, so by now he is known as "Berno of Cluny". The village and the monastry are surrounded by 200m high cliffs, of which only small parts are visible standing in the former cloister.

A carved head. It may have been added, when the vaults were constructed in the 13th century. The face looks somehow "modernistic".

The nave (here seen from the altar) and the two aisles were built within the 11th century. The church probably had a wooden ceiling then, the early-gothic vaults were constructed about 200 years later. The collumns (alternating round and rectangular) remind on romanesque churches in south-eastern Burgundy (i.e. St. Philibert, Tournus).

The massive tower of l'église Saint-Just is -by far- the highest structure in the little town of Arbois. It was constructed as a watchtower in 1528 and at that time was even 15m higher than today (still 44m). Helmet and lantern were added to the tower in 1715. Famous Louis Pasteur knew this sight, as he was raised here and later often returned to his home in Arbois, now a museum.

A small oratory existed here before the 9th century. This chapel got replaced by a large Romanesque church. When the still existing Romanesque tower was built around 1220, the church had three naves and was 80 meters long. It belonged to a priory, but was used as well by the parish. As it was placed outside the city walls, so the building suffered a lot during wars. The priory was given up in the 15th century - and the already ruined church crumbled. Only the tower, the choir and two bays of the nave survived. The doors were locked, as the church is only open for guided tours during the summer months.

Saint-Lothain (aka "Lautenus") was a monk in the Abbey "Saint-Symphorien" in Autun, before he settled here in the 5th century to live a pious hermit`s life. His reputation spread and so he was soon joined by many followers and founded an abbey in 480 on the site of the present church of St. Lothain. When just too many monks had gathered here, a priory was founded nearby. Both monastaries were ruined by Viking invaders around 888. The monastery here existed upto the French Revolution, when the buildings were sold as national property. The church, erected within the 11th/12th century, but remodeled later, serves the parish since that time. Under the choir is a crypt, that dates to the 9th century and may have existed, when the Vikings raided the area. Kept here is the sarcophagus, that contains the remains of Saint-Lothain. The plaster of this wall in the crypt must have been fresh mid 19th century, as the oldest dates I found were carved in around 1850.