Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Roswell

Since 365, when Saint Marcellin became the first bishop here, a cathedral existed in Embrun. Saint Gregory of Tours wrote about a "basilica mirabilis" built over the tombs of Saints Nazarius and Celsus. After the Lombards had sacked Embrun end of the 6th century, Charlemagne funded the erection of a new cathedral. In the 10th century the Sarazens raided the area - and again looted the town (and killed the bishop). The cathedral of today was built on foundations of Charlemagne´s basilica between 1170 and 1220. The northern, Romanesque portal / narthex named "Port Real" (or "Portal des Rois Mages") got its name, as in the 14th century the tympanum got covered by a frescoe depicting the Magi. The frescoe was destroyed during, when the church got severely damaged during the French Wars of Religion, so by now the Romanesque tympanum is seen again. The artists, who created this portal, had a sense of droll humour. Between the pillars on the left side a little guy climbs up - and peeps down to the tourists. Maybe one of the aliens, who later visited Roswell, stayed here.

The abbey "Sainte-Marie d'Arthous" was founded around 1160. This was filiation of the Premonstratensian "Abbaye de la Case-Dieu" in Gers (120 kms east). The building of the church, seen here, was started soon after. It got already consecrated in 1167. The neighbouring bastide Hastingues was founded in 1289 by John Hastings, seneschal of Gascony. This was done following a treaty between Edward I of England, Duke of Aquitaine and the monks of the Abbaye d'Arthous. During the War of Religions the abbey got ruined and lost the importance it once had. Though restored, only 5 monks lived here in 1766, so after the Revolution the abbey was sold by the state - and used as a farm. The abbey church is known for some extraordinary corbels around the apses. Here are three twosomes. Two naked Luxurae, holding snakes, two clerics with cross and a holy water dispenser (looks like a shaving brush), two bald men (straight from a Flying Saucer in Roswell). One holds a sword (= war?) and the other a branch (= peace?). What is that small ball near the elbow of the left guy.

In the center of Le Douhet, a village just 12 kms north east of Saintes, is Saint Martial, a 12th century structure, that had to be stabilized by buttresses within the 15th century, when a steeple was built. The western facade is richly decorated with friezes and archivolts over the portal and the flanking blind arches, but as well some less gifted artists (or vandals?) left their marks. There are lots of crosses, simple blazons and two characters, that remind me on mysterious people from Roswell (New Mexico).