Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Dominic Gúzman

In medieval times Fanjeaux, located on a steep hill, was a pretty large village with a population of about 3000 (today 700). It was an important place during the Albigensian Crusade. Dominic Gúzman (future "Saint Dominic"), who preached against the Cathars had settled nearby and Simon de Montfort´s armee had the headquarters during the crusade here for five years. In 1355, during the Hundred Years` War, troops led by Edward of Woodstock (aka "The Black Prince", "Prince noir") conquered and destroyed Fanjeaux, that got rebuilt and strongly fortified by a surrounding wall and 14 (!) towers. The parish church was erected 1278 - 1281 in the style of "gothique méridional". Kept here is a piece of a burnt beam, connected to the "miracle de Fanjeaux" (= (miracle of Fanjeaux"), that - how a legend tells, happened right here. I could not see the "relic", as the church was locked - but at least I could view the nave through the security glass of the door. After a disput between Cathar authorities and Dominic Gúzman and his followers it was decided by judges, to cast the book, containing Dominic´s arguments, and the book, containing the Cathar´s arguments, into a fire and, if either of them was not burned, it would be held as containing the true faith. The Cathar book was immediately consumed by the fire, but the one written by Dominic, not only escaped burning, but leaped from the fire.

In medieval times Fanjeaux, located on a steep hill, was a pretty large village with a population of about 3000 (today 700). It was an important place during the Albigensian Crusade. Dominic Gúzman (future "Saint Dominic"), who preached against the Cathars had settled nearby and Simon de Montfort´s armee had the headquarters during the crusade here for five years. In 1355, during the Hundred Years` War, troops led by Edward of Woodstock (aka "The Black Prince", "Prince noir") conquered and destroyed Fanjeaux, that got rebuilt and strongly fortified by a surrounding wall and 14 (!) towers. The parish church was erected 1278 - 1281 in the style of "gothique méridional". Kept here is a piece of a burnt beam, connected to the "miracle de Fanjeaux" (= (miracle of Fanjeaux"), that - how a legend tells, happened right here. After a disput between Cathar authorities and Dominic Gúzman and his followers it was decided by judges, to cast the book, containing Dominic´s arguments, and the book, containing the Cathar´s arguments, into a fire and, if either of them was not burned, it would be held as containing the true faith. The Cathar book was immediately consumed by the fire, but the one written by Dominic, not only escaped burning, but leaped from the fire.

In medieval times Fanjeaux, located on a steep hill, was a pretty large village with a population of about 3000 (today 700). It was an important place during the Albigensian Crusade. Dominic Gúzman (future "Saint Dominic"), who preached against the Cathars had settled nearby and Simon de Montfort´s armee had the headquarters during the crusade here for five years. In 1355, during the Hundred Years` War, troops led by Edward of Woodstock (aka "The Black Prince", "Prince noir") conquered and destroyed Fanjeaux, that got rebuilt and strongly fortified by a surrounding wall and 14 (!) towers. Located in the center of Fanjeaux is this shady market-hall.

The monastery is known as the "cradle of the Dominicans". It was founded 1207 in Prouille, a hamlet between Fanjeaux and Bram. Diego de Acebo, Bishop of Osma, and Dominic Gúzman (future "Saint Dominic") had settled here and tried to converse Cathars, often through Cathar-Catholic debates (see "Montréal"). The convent got established to serve as a refuge for women who had previously lived in Cathar areas but had converted to Catholicism. As well this was the base of operations for Dominic and his followers, preaching Catholicism. The convent´s most generous donor was Simon de Montfort, the leader of the Albigensian Crusade. The monastery was sold after the French Revolution and got completely razed. Some stones and carvings from here can still be seen in homes in the towns around. Only one arch keystone of the medieval building remained here. Father Henri Lacordaire, who re-established the Dominican Order in France again, decided to have the "cradle of the Dominicans" rebuilt mid 19th century. The reconstruction was done in the Roman-Byzantine style. As many churches of the 19th century, the large church started to crumble very early - and now needs permanent care. www.domlife.org/800/ProuilleRenovationProject.htm

The monastery is known as the "cradle of the Dominicans". It was founded 1207 in Prouille, a hamlet between Fanjeaux and Bram. Diego de Acebo, Bishop of Osma, and Dominic Gúzman (future "Saint Dominic") had settled here and tried to converse Cathars, often through Cathar-Catholic debates (see "Montréal"). The convent got established to serve as a refuge for women who had previously lived in Cathar areas but had converted to Catholicism. As well this was the base of operations for Dominic and his followers, preaching Catholicism. The convent´s most generous donor was Simon de Montfort, the leader of the Albigensian Crusade. The monastery was sold after the French Revolution and got completely razed. Some stones and carvings from here can still be seen in homes in the towns around. Only one arch keystone of the medieval building remained here. Father Henri Lacordaire, who re-established the Dominican Order in France again, decided to have the "cradle of the Dominicans" rebuilt mid 19th century. The reconstruction was done in the Roman-Byzantine style. As many churches of the 19th century, the large church started to crumble very early - and now needs permanent care. www.domlife.org/800/ProuilleRenovationProject.htm

The monastery is known as the "cradle of the Dominicans". It was founded 1207 in Prouille, a hamlet between Fanjeaux and Bram. Diego de Acebo, Bishop of Osma, and Dominic Gúzman (future "Saint Dominic") had settled here and tried to converse Cathars, often through Cathar-Catholic debates (see "Montréal"). The convent got established to serve as a refuge for women who had previously lived in Cathar areas but had converted to Catholicism. As well this was the base of operations for Dominic and his followers, preaching Catholicism. The convent´s most generous donor was Simon de Montfort, the leader of the Albigensian Crusade. The monastery was sold after the French Revolution and got completely razed. Some stones and carvings from here can still be seen in homes in the towns around. Only one arch keystone of the medieval building remained here. Father Henri Lacordaire, who re-established the Dominican Order in France again, decided to have the "cradle of the Dominicans" rebuilt mid 19th century. The reconstruction was done in the Roman-Byzantine style. As many churches of the 19th century, the large church started to crumble very early - and now needs permanent care. www.domlife.org/800/ProuilleRenovationProject.htm

The monastery is known as the "cradle of the Dominicans". It was founded 1207 in Prouille, a hamlet between Fanjeaux and Bram. Diego de Acebo, Bishop of Osma, and Dominic Gúzman (future "Saint Dominic") had settled here and tried to converse Cathars, often through Cathar-Catholic debates (see "Montréal"). The convent got established to serve as a refuge for women who had previously lived in Cathar areas but had converted to Catholicism. As well this was the base of operations for Dominic and his followers, preaching Catholicism. The convent´s most generous donor was Simon de Montfort, the leader of the Albigensian Crusade. The monastery was sold after the French Revolution and got completely razed. Some stones and carvings from here can still be seen in homes in the towns around. Only one arch keystone of the medieval building remained here. Father Henri Lacordaire, who re-established the Dominican Order in France again, decided to have the "cradle of the Dominicans" rebuilt mid 19th century. The reconstruction was done in the Roman-Byzantine style. As many churches of the 19th century, the large church started to crumble very early - and now needs permanent care. www.domlife.org/800/ProuilleRenovationProject.htm