Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: snakes

The parish church of Bouhet was erected within the 12th/13th century. It was the church of a priory dependent on the abbey of Saint-Jean de Montierneuf in Poitiers. The church was terribly mutilated during the Wars of Relegions and so only a few parts of the Romanesque structure survived and can be seen today. The Luxuria survived the desaster.

Mosteiro de Vilar de Frades (aka Mosteiro de São Salvador) is located east of Barcelos. A convent may have existed here already in the second half of the 6th century. After the Reconquista the monastery was refounded and rebuilt here and in 1059 Benedictine monks lived here. During the reign of Sancho I of Portugal (1185-1211) a Romanesque church was erected of which some parts still exist. Around 1400 the monastery was given up, but revitalized from 1425 by Mestre João Vicente. The monastery got enlarged and existed upto 1834. Today the buildings house a home for disabled people and sheltered workshops. The portal of the Romanesque church is now "integrated" into the church´s facade. The portal was taken down and rebuilt in the early 19th century. So this may not the original state. There are three archivolts with some interesting (and enigmatic) carvings. This is the central stone of the outer archivolt. Five very stoic looking gentlemen, sitting on snakes. Are they fighting the snakes? Or are they demonstrating that snakes cannot harm them?

This church in the center of Lanmeur is dedicated to Saint-Mélar. Saint-Mélar was a Breton prince, heir of the Kingdom of Cornouaille in the 6th century, who unfortunately had a very thuggish and ambitious uncle. To get rid of a possible rival the uncle had Saint-Mélar´s right hand and left foot amputated. So the young Prince could neither ride a horse, nor weild a sword. Then he locked the crippled nephew in a monastery, where miracolously a silver hand a bronze foot grew. So to get rid of him, the uncle finally beheaded him. That´s what the legends tell. The church, erected 1903/04, is a successor of the 12th-century, that had been here before. It was was built over a crypt probably dates back to the 9th or 10th century. The legends tell, that the oxen that were pulling the saint´s body refused to pass this spot and so he was buried right here. The crypt is only about 2 meters high, two of the eight pillars are bear a bizarre relief. Some art historians see snakes, but most see ferns or even kelp-like algae.

This church in the center of Lanmeur is dedicated to Saint-Mélar. Saint-Mélar was a Breton prince, heir of the Kingdom of Cornouaille in the 6th century, who unfortunately had a very thuggish and ambitious uncle. To get rid of a possible rival the uncle had Saint-Mélar´s right hand and left foot amputated. So the young Prince could neither ride a horse, nor weild a sword. Then he locked the crippled nephew in a monastery, where miracolously a silver hand a bronze foot grew. So to get rid of him, the uncle finally beheaded him. That´s what the legends tell. The church, erected 1903/04, is a successor of the 12th-century, that had been here before. It was was built over a crypt probably dates back to the 9th or 10th century. The legends tell, that the oxen that were pulling the saint´s body refused to pass this spot and so he was buried right here. The crypt is only about 2 meters high, two of the eight pillars are bear a bizarre relief. Some art historians see snakes, but most see ferns or even kelp-like algae.

This church in the center of Lanmeur is dedicated to Saint-Mélar. Saint-Mélar was a Breton prince, heir of the Kingdom of Cornouaille in the 6th century, who unfortunately had a very thuggish and ambitious uncle. To get rid of a possible rival the uncle had Saint-Mélar´s right hand and left foot amputated. So the young Prince could neither ride a horse, nor weild a sword. Then he locked the crippled nephew in a monastery, where miracolously a silver hand a bronze foot grew. So to get rid of him, the uncle finally beheaded him. That´s what the legends tell. The church, erected 1903/04, is a successor of the 12th-century, that had been here before. It was was built over a crypt probably dates back to the 9th or 10th century. The legends tell, that the oxen that were pulling the saint´s body refused to pass this spot and so he was buried right here. The crypt is only about 2 meters high, two of the eight pillars are bear a bizarre relief. Some art historians see snakes, but most see ferns or even kelp-like algae.

The single-nave church "Saint-Martin" in the center of Tollevast dates back to the 11th/12th century. Seigneur Henri de Tollevast, who fought on the side of William the Conquerer in Hastings, founded this church. His tomb can be found inside. There are many sculpted corbels under the roof of Saint Martin. Many of them depict animals. Here are two snakes. The snakes are obviously dancing and I spent some time, to find out, what kind of dance this could be. Snakes do not dance Tango, Bolero or Foxtrot. I am pretty sure that snakes are gifted belly dancers.

The church of the former Priory Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Benoît is now the parish church of the village. When I visited Perrecy-les-Forges in April 2011 I had the impression, that the church and the museum were locked since years. Charles Martel, grandfather of Charlemagne and leader of the frankish armee in the Battle of Tours (732), gave the Perrecey estate to his brother Childebrand as a gift to thank him for defeating the Sarascens in the valleys of the Rhone and the Saône in 732. Childebrands heirs bequeated it to the abbey of Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire. First monks settled here 880/885. Some parts of the westwork may date back to the 9th century. 1020/1030 a romanesque basilica was constructed here. 1120/1130 the large narthex was added, which is - a unique masterpiece. This capital in the narthex depicts a "Luxuria", sitting/standing in a barrel/bathtube. I have the impression, she is sitting in a bathtube, hands cover her knees. - Compared to the warriors and angels seen here (and all the foliage around), the carving of the Luxuria and the two snakes seems a bit "rough". Even taking in account, that somebody took the effort to destroy her face.