Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: St. Philibert

Tournus is famous for the church of St Philibert built in the early 11th century. It is the main surviving building of abbey, founded in the 6th century and refounded after it had been raided by the Maurs, by a group of homeless monks from Normoutier as their monastery had been destroyed by the Normans. The monks carried the relics of St. Philibert with them - and built the church. I have uploaded already many photos taken here over the years. On the other side, the small town Tournus (pop. ~ 5500) is famous for - "haute cuisine" - restaurants. I do not think there is another town in France that has that many Michelin stars. In and around Tournus are more than half a dozend of restaurants from eone to three or four stars. I have been in two - "one star"-restaurants. Fantastic. This time, we arrived late, had not booked a table in advance - and so chose a small restaurant without any micheline star. "La Boheme" is a nice restaurant. It serves the local people with great food to very agreeable prices. Tarte tatin aux pommes et aux abricots

Tournus is famous for the church of St Philibert built in the early 11th century. It is the main surviving building of abbey, founded in the 6th century and refounded after it had been raided by the Maurs, by a group of homeless monks from Normoutier as their monastery had been destroyed by the Normans. The monks carried the relics of St. Philibert with them - and built the church. I have uploaded already many photos taken here over the years. On the other side, the small town Tournus (pop. ~ 5500) is famous for - "haute cuisine" - restaurants. I do not think there is another town in France that has that many Michelin stars. In and around Tournus are more than half a dozend of restaurants from eone to three or four stars. I have been in two - "one star"-restaurants. Fantastic. This time, we arrived late, had not booked a table in advance - and so chose a small restaurant without any micheline star. "La Boheme" is a nice restaurant. It serves the local people with great food to very agreeable prices. Médaillon de veaux aux echalions confits

Tournus is famous for the church of St Philibert built in the early 11th century. It is the main surviving building of abbey, founded in the 6th century and refounded after it had been raided by the Maurs, by a group of homeless monks from Normoutier as their monastery had been destroyed by the Normans. The monks carried the relics of St. Philibert with them - and built the church. I have uploaded already many photos taken here over the years. On the other side, the small town Tournus (pop. ~ 5500) is famous for - "haute cuisine" - restaurants. I do not think there is another town in France that has that many Michelin stars. In and around Tournus are more than half a dozend of restaurants from eone to three or four stars. I have been in two - "one star"-restaurants. Fantastic. This time, we arrived late, had not booked a table in advance - and so chose a small restaurant without any micheline star. "La Boheme" is a nice restaurant. It serves the local people with great food to very agreeable prices.

A monastery had been here since the 6th century, dedicated to the martyr St. Valerian, whose grave is in the crypt. It got raided by the Maurs and in 875 Charles the Bald offered the abbey to a group of homeless of monks from Normoutier as their monastery had been destroyed by the Normans. These monks carried the relics of St. Philibert with them, so for a while the abbey was shared by two communities, each dedicated to their own saint. After Hungarian troops had damaged the buildings in 936-37, the church got rebuild in the form we know it today. The construction lasted from the late 10th century to the early 12th century. I had been here many times before (and uploaded lots of photos) over the years, but I just had to stop - and take more shots. The monastery´s former chapter room is by now used as shop.

A monastery had been here since the 6th century, dedicated to the martyr St. Valerian, whose grave is in the crypt. It got raided by the Maurs and in 875 Charles the Bald offered the abbey to a group of homeless of monks from Normoutier as their monastery had been destroyed by the Normans. These monks carried the relics of St. Philibert with them, so for a while the abbey was shared by two communities, each dedicated to their own saint. After Hungarian troops had damaged the buildings in 936-37, the church got rebuild in the form we know it today. The construction lasted from the late 10th century to the early 12th century. It was consecrated in 1019, when it had a flat, wooden ceiling. A stone vault replaced the wooden ceiling in 1066-1108. I had been here many times before (and uploaded lots of photos) over the years, but I just had to stop - and take more shots. The crypt under the apse is probably the oldest still existing part of St. Philibert.

A monastery had been here since the 6th century, dedicated to the martyr St. Valerian, whose grave is in the crypt. It got raided by the Maurs and in 875 Charles the Bald offered the abbey to a group of homeless of monks from Normoutier as their monastery had been destroyed by the Normans. These monks carried the relics of St. Philibert with them, so for a while the abbey was shared by two communities, each dedicated to their own saint. After Hungarian troops had damaged the buildings in 936-37, the church got rebuild in the form we know it today. The construction lasted from the late 10th century to the early 12th century. It was consecrated in 1019, when it had a flat, wooden ceiling. A stone vault replaced the wooden ceiling in 1066-1108. I had been here many times before (and uploaded lots of photos) over the years, but I just had to stop - and take more shots. During excavations the remains of a larger mosaic from the 12th century was found. Seen are the zodiacs and the "Labours of the Months". Gemini

A monastery had been here since the 6th century, dedicated to the martyr St. Valerian, whose grave is in the crypt. It got raided by the Maurs and in 875 Charles the Bald offered the abbey to a group of homeless of monks from Normoutier as their monastery had been destroyed by the Normans. These monks carried the relics of St. Philibert with them, so for a while the abbey was shared by two communities, each dedicated to their own saint. After Hungarian troops had damaged the buildings in 936-37, the church got rebuild in the form we know it today. The construction lasted from the late 10th century to the early 12th century. It was consecrated in 1019, when it had a flat, wooden ceiling. A stone vault replaced the wooden ceiling in 1066-1108. I had been here many times before (and uploaded lots of photos) over the years, but I just had to stop - and take more shots. During excavations the remains of a larger mosaic from the 12th century was found. Seen are the zodiacs and the "Labours of the Months". IUNIUS

A monastery had been here since the 6th century, dedicated to the martyr St. Valerian, whose grave is in the crypt. It got raided by the Maurs and in 875 Charles the Bald offered the abbey to a group of homeless of monks from Normoutier as their monastery had been destroyed by the Normans. These monks carried the relics of St. Philibert with them, so for a while the abbey was shared by two communities, each dedicated to their own saint. After Hungarian troops had damaged the buildings in 936-37, the church got rebuild in the form we know it today. The construction lasted from the late 10th century to the early 12th century. It was consecrated in 1019, when it had a flat, wooden ceiling. A stone vault replaced the wooden ceiling in 1066-1108. I had been here many times before (and uploaded lots of photos) over the years, but I just had to stop - and take more shots. During excavations the remains of a larger mosaic from the 12th century was found. Seen are the zodiacs and the "Labours of the Months".

A monastery had been here since the 6th century, dedicated to the martyr St. Valerian, whose grave is in the crypt. It got raided by the Maurs and in 875 Charles the Bald offered the abbey to a group of homeless of monks from Normoutier as their monastery had been destroyed by the Normans. These monks carried the relics of St. Philibert with them, so for a while the abbey was shared by two communities, each dedicated to their own saint. After Hungarian troops had damaged the buildings in 936-37, the church got rebuild in the form we know it today. The construction lasted from the late 10th century to the early 12th century. It was consecrated in 1019, when it had a flat, wooden ceiling. A stone vault replaced the wooden ceiling in 1066-1108. I had been here many times before (and uploaded lots of photos) over the years, but I just had to stop - and take more shots. The side aisle hosts "Notre Dame la Brune" (the brown Madonna"), carved in the early 12th century and worshipped by many pilgrims ever since.

A monastery had been here since the 6th century, dedicated to the martyr St. Valerian, whose grave is in the crypt. It got raided by the Maurs and in 875 Charles the Bald offered the abbey to a group of homeless of monks from Normoutier as their monastery had been destroyed by the Normans. These monks carried the relics of St. Philibert with them, so for a while the abbey was shared by two communities, each dedicated to their own saint. After Hungarian troops had damaged the buildings in 936-37, the church got rebuild in the form we know it today. The construction lasted from the late 10th century to the early 12th century. It was consecrated in 1019, when it had a flat, wooden ceiling. A stone vault replaced the wooden ceiling in 1066-1108. I had been here many times before (and uploaded lots of photos) over the years, but I just had to stop - and take more shots. The vending machine inside the church was quite new.

A monastery had been here since the 6th century, dedicated to the martyr St. Valerian, whose grave is in the crypt. It got raided by the Maurs and in 875 Charles the Bald offered the abbey to a group of homeless of monks from Normoutier as their monastery had been destroyed by the Normans. These monks carried the relics of St. Philibert with them, so for a while the abbey was shared by two communities, each dedicated to their own saint. After Hungarian troops had damaged the buildings in 936-37, the church got rebuild in the form we know it today. The construction lasted from the late 10th century to the early 12th century. It was consecrated in 1019, when it had a flat, wooden ceiling. A stone vault replaced the wooden ceiling in 1066-1108. I had been here many times before (and uplaoded lots of photos) over the years, but I just had to stop - and take more shots.

St. Philibert, guarded by two gate towers. The western facade (10th century) reminds on the "westworks", austere, plain and fortified. The central door seen here is a later addon. A monastery had been here since the 6th century, dedicated to the martyr St. Valerian, whose grave is in the crypt. It got raided by the Maurs and in 875 Charles the Bald offered the abbey to a group of monks from Normoutier as their monastery had been destroyed by the Normans. These monks carried the relics of St. Philibert with them, so for a while the abbey was shared by two communities, each dedicated to their own saint. I had been here many times before (and uplaoded lots of photos) over the years, but I just had to stop in Tournus - and take more shots.

St. Philibert in the center of Tournus. A convent had been here already since the 6th century, dedicated to the martyr St. Valerian. This monastery got raided by the Maurs and in 875 Charles the Bald offered the abbey to a group of monks from Normoutier as their monastery had been destroyed by the Normans. These monks carried the relics of St. Philibert with them, so for a while the abbey was shared by two communities, each dedicated to their own saint.

To enter the nave of St. Philibert from the narthex is overwhelming. The narrow, little gloomy narthex - opens into the wide, bright, very high and somehow airy church. One nave, two aisles on the sides.

Looking back into the nave from the center of the choir. In the middle of the choir, on two columns is the shrine, containing the relics of of St. Philibert. Three different architectural parts are visible, all different is style. The choir, where all pillars end in phantastic carved capitals. The very high crossing, as the church forms a latin cross, and the nave behind, that seems so airy and sober.

One of the (very high!) capitals in the choir of St. Philibert. An extremely flexible acrobat is despicted on the capital. His backbending skills are really extraordenary. He is not the only acrobat to be seen in St. Philibert.

One of the capitals in the choir of St. Philibert. The acrobat on the right must have an extra (elbow-)joint, as his left arm goes under his knee - and up, holding a small ball. The right arm does the same move - and now ends in the mouth of a lion. Actually this is a trio (incl. the tamed lion), as the person on the left does the same.

Looking back to the entrance, standing in the right aisle. Unusual are these massive, plain, strong pillars, made out of bricks. Note the barrel vault of the nave. It is pretty different from the vault over the aisle, that seems to be younger.