Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Nouvelle-Aquitaine Vienne

Civaux had a Christian church with a baptistery already in very early times. Today there is a wonderful Romanesque church. Once there was a huge Merovingian necropolis (estimated are up to 16000 sarcophagi), of which hundreds can still be seen on the local graveyard. There is as well an ugly nuclear power plant - and just opposite the church this boulangerie.

I have uploaded already many photos taken in Chauvigny, so I will cut it down for now. Just a few. The "Cité Médiéval", the upper town of Chauvigny, is situated on a promontory, overlooking the Vienne. There are the ruins of five fortresses, palaces, donjons, towers and the former collegiate church of Saint-Pierre. Chauvigny has a long history of sieges, lootings, captures and recaptures. In the early 18th century the town was nearly abandoned and in ruins. After the French Revolution, the whole place was a public quarry. The demolition stopped in the 19th century. Renovations and restorations started mid of the 19th century and saved, what still can be seen today.

The "Hôtel le Lion d'Or" is quite ok, but the restaurant is really much better than an average hotel restaurant ... and in case you have a room here, the wine is very good as well. Don´t drink and drive! Beef carpaccio with quail egg www.hotel-restaurant-le-lion-dor.fr/

The more I travelled - the more I loved launderettes, especially, when I was hiking. There is a relaxing hour to spend at least, waiting for the washing machine and another half an hour to listen to the dryer... And after that all the stuff is clean and has a nice smell.

Notre-Dame la Grande, a former collegiate church, was completed around 1150. This facade is a masterpiece of Romanesque art. The church replaced an older one, known since the 9th century. The famous facade is a brilliant example of the Romanesque "style poitevin". But as I have already uploaded many photos of this beautiful church, I will just add two shots now. Seen here is the fresco of the apse.

A nice hardware store in the centre of Poitiers.

Audebert, a local noble, let some hermits settle here in 1089. About 20 years later Robert d'Arbrissel, founder of Fontevrauld Abbey, purchased the place and the Bishop of Poitiers authorized the construction of a priory, dependent of the Abbaye Notre-Dame de Fontevraud. The church was built between 1130 and 1140. Like all "daughters" of Fontevrauld founded by Robert d'Arbrissel, the priory of Villesalem welcomed men and women, placed under the authority of an abbess. So the priory included a convent of monks and one of nuns. During the 12th and the 13th centuries, the priory got wealthy and could finance the erection of the church and the convent´s buildings. The Hundred Years War ravaged the site several times. In 1369, the English troops led by John Chandos ransacked Villesalem and damaged the church. The devastation was enormous and the monks abandoned the priory at the end of the 15th century. In the 17th century, it became a nunnery. In 1790, during the French Revolution, the 16 nuns living here, were expelled, and the priory and the land around was sold at auction in 1791. The buildings got converted for agricultural use and were used as stables and barns. Classified as a historic monument in 1914 it got bought by the state in 1962. The site is undergoing restoration, supported by the "Association des Amis de Villesalem", which even offers tours, but - not when I was here. Sometimes opening hours are really very limited, and for that, my planing is too chaotic, so I could only walk around. A shy mermaid. Hidden behind the corner

Audebert, a local noble, let some hermits settle here in 1089. About 20 years later Robert d'Arbrissel, founder of Fontevrauld Abbey, purchased the place and the Bishop of Poitiers authorized the construction of a priory, dependent of the Abbaye Notre-Dame de Fontevraud. The church was built between 1130 and 1140. Like all "daughters" of Fontevrauld founded by Robert d'Arbrissel, the priory of Villesalem welcomed men and women, placed under the authority of an abbess. So the priory included a convent of monks and one of nuns. During the 12th and the 13th centuries, the priory got wealthy and could finance the erection of the church and the convent´s buildings. The Hundred Years War ravaged the site several times. In 1369, the English troops led by John Chandos ransacked Villesalem and damaged the church. The devastation was enormous and the monks abandoned the priory at the end of the 15th century. In the 17th century, it became a nunnery. In 1790, during the French Revolution, the 16 nuns living here, were expelled, and the priory and the land around was sold at auction in 1791. The buildings got converted for agricultural use and were used as stables and barns. Classified as a historic monument in 1914 it got bought by the state in 1962. The site is undergoing restoration, supported by the "Association des Amis de Villesalem", which even offers tours, but - not when I was here. Sometimes opening hours are really very limited, and for that, my planing is too chaotic, so I could only walk around. A detailed look at the lower part´s archivolt. The artistic style and the icons are very similar to works in the Saintonge.

Audebert, a local noble, let some hermits settle here in 1089. About 20 years later Robert d'Arbrissel, founder of Fontevrauld Abbey, purchased the place and the Bishop of Poitiers authorized the construction of a priory, dependent of the Abbaye Notre-Dame de Fontevraud. The church was built between 1130 and 1140. Like all "daughters" of Fontevrauld founded by Robert d'Arbrissel, the priory of Villesalem welcomed men and women, placed under the authority of an abess. So the priory included a convent of monks and one of nuns. During the 12th and the 13th centuries, the priory got wealthy and could finance the erection of the church and the convent´s buildings. The Hundred Years War ravaged the site several times. In 1369, the English troops led by John Chandos ransacked Villesalem and damaged the church. The devastation was enormous and the monks abandoned the priory at the end of the 15th century. In the 17th century, it became a nunnery. In 1790, during the French Revolution, the 16 nuns living here, were expelled, and the priory and the land around was sold at auction in 1791. The buildings got converted for agricultural use and were used as stables and barns. Classified as a historic monument in 1914 it got bought by the state in 1962. The site is undergoing restoration, supported by the "Association des Amis de Villesalem", which even offers tours, but - not when I was here. Sometimes opening hours are really very limited, and for that, my planing is too chaotic, so I could only walk around. The lower part of the side portal. The artistic style and the icons are very similar to works in the Saintonge.

Audebert, a local noble, let some hermits settle here in 1089. About 20 years later Robert d'Arbrissel, founder of Fontevrauld Abbey, purchased the place and the Bishop of Poitiers authorized the construction of a priory, dependent of the Abbaye Notre-Dame de Fontevraud. The church was built between 1130 and 1140. Like all "daughters" of Fontevrauld founded by Robert d'Arbrissel, the priory of Villesalem welcomed men and women, placed under the authority of an abess. So the priory included a convent of monks and one of nuns. During the 12th and the 13th centuries, the priory got wealthy and could finance the erection of the church and the convent´s buildings. The Hundred Years War ravaged the site several times. In 1369, the English troops led by John Chandos ransacked Villesalem and damaged the church. The devastation was enormous and the monks abandoned the priory at the end of the 15th century. In the 17th century, it became a nunnery. In 1790, during the French Revolution, the 16 nuns living here, were expelled, and the priory and the land around was sold at auction in 1791. The buildings got converted for agricultural use and were used as stables and barns. Classified as a historic monument in 1914 it got bought by the state in 1962. The site is undergoing restoration, supported by the "Association des Amis de Villesalem", which even offers tours, but - not when I was here. Sometimes opening hours are really very limited, and for that, my planing is too chaotic, so I could only walk around. The upper part of the side portal. The artistic style and the icons are very similar to works in the Saintonge.

Audebert, a local noble, let some hermits settle here in 1089. About 20 years later Robert d'Arbrissel, founder of Fontevrauld Abbey, purchased the place and the Bishop of Poitiers authorized the construction of a priory, dependent of the Abbaye Notre-Dame de Fontevraud. The church was built between 1130 and 1140. Like all "daughters" of Fontevrauld founded by Robert d'Arbrissel, the priory of Villesalem welcomed men and women, placed under the authority of an abess. So the priory included a convent of monks and one of nuns. During the 12th and the 13th centuries, the priory got wealthy and could finance the erection of the church and the convent´s buildings. The Hundred Years War ravaged the site several times. In 1369, the English troops led by John Chandos ransacked Villesalem and damaged the church. The devastation was enormous and the monks abandoned the priory at the end of the 15th century. In the 17th century, it became a nunnery. In 1790, during the French Revolution, the 16 nuns living here, were expelled, and the priory and the land around was sold at auction in 1791. The buildings got converted for agricultural use and were used as stables and barns. Classified as a historic monument in 1914 it got bought by the state in 1962. The site is undergoing restoration, supported by the "Association des Amis de Villesalem", which even offers tours, but - not when I was here. Sometimes opening hours are really very limited, and for that, my planing is too chaotic, so I could only walk around. The side portal.

Audebert, a local noble, let some hermits settle here in 1089. About 20 years later Robert d'Arbrissel, founder of Fontevrauld Abbey, purchased the place and the Bishop of Poitiers authorized the construction of a priory, dependent of the Abbaye Notre-Dame de Fontevraud. The church was built between 1130 and 1140. Like all "daughters" of Fontevrauld founded by Robert d'Arbrissel, the priory of Villesalem welcomed men and women, placed under the authority of an abess. So the priory included a convent of monks and one of nuns. During the 12th and the 13th centuries, the priory got wealthy and could finance the erection of the church and the convent´s buildings. The Hundred Years War ravaged the site several times. In 1369, the English troops led by John Chandos ransacked Villesalem and damaged the church. The devastation was enormous and the monks abandoned the priory at the end of the 15th century. In the 17th century, it became a nunnery. In 1790, during the French Revolution, the 16 nuns living here, were expelled, and the priory and the land around was sold at auction in 1791. The buildings got converted for agricultural use and were used as stables and barns. Classified as a historic monument in 1914 it got bought by the state in 1962. The site is undergoing restoration, supported by the "Association des Amis de Villesalem", which even offers tours, but - not when I was here. Sometimes opening hours are really very limited, and for that, my planing is too chaotic, so I could only walk around.

Audebert, a local noble, let some hermits settle here in 1089. About 20 years later Robert d'Arbrissel, founder of Fontevrauld Abbey, purchased the place and the Bishop of Poitiers authorized the construction of a priory, dependent of the Abbaye Notre-Dame de Fontevraud. The church was built between 1130 and 1140. Like all "daughters" of Fontevrauld founded by Robert d'Arbrissel, the priory of Villesalem welcomed men and women, placed under the authority of an abess. So the priory included a convent of monks and one of nuns. During the 12th and the 13th centuries, the priory got wealthy and could finance the erection of the church and the convent´s buildings. The Hundred Years War ravaged the site several times. In 1369, the English troops led by John Chandos ransacked Villesalem and damaged the church. The devastation was enormous and the monks abandoned the priory at the end of the 15th century. In the 17th century, it became a nunnery. In 1790, during the French Revolution, the 16 nuns living here, were expelled, and the priory and the land around was sold at auction in 1791. The buildings got converted for agricultural use and were used as stables and barns. Classified as a historic monument in 1914 it got bought by the state in 1962. The site is undergoing restoration, supported by the "Association des Amis de Villesalem", which even offers tours, but - not when I was here. Sometimes opening hours are really very limited, and for that, my planing is too chaotic, so I could only walk around. During the agricultural usage, the apse had a "hole" so that carts and animals could get in and out the "stable". Meanwhile, it is closed, but the scar is visible.

Audebert, a local noble, let some hermits settle here in 1089. About 20 years later Robert d'Arbrissel, founder of Fontevrauld Abbey, purchased the place and the Bishop of Poitiers authorized the construction of a priory, dependent of the Abbaye Notre-Dame de Fontevraud. The church was built between 1130 and 1140. Like all "daughters" of Fontevrauld founded by Robert d'Arbrissel, the priory of Villesalem welcomed men and women, placed under the authority of an abess. So the priory included a convent of monks and one of nuns. During the 12th and the 13th centuries, the priory got wealthy and could finance the erection of the church and the convent´s buildings. The Hundred Years War ravaged the site several times. In 1369, the English troops led by John Chandos ransacked Villesalem and damaged the church. The devastation was enormous and the monks abandoned the priory at the end of the 15th century. In the 17th century, it became a nunnery. In 1790, during the French Revolution, the 16 nuns living here, were expelled, and the priory and the land around was sold at auction in 1791. The buildings got converted for agricultural use and were used as stables and barns. Classified as a historic monument in 1914 it got bought by the state in 1962. The site is undergoing restoration, supported by the "Association des Amis de Villesalem", which even offers tours, but - not when I was here. Sometimes opening hours are really very limited, and for that, my planing is too chaotic, so I could only walk around.

Notre Dame was built on a cliff in several stages. A church existed here already with the 11th century, which was in possession Abbey of Saint-Savin. The present church, since the 13th century a collegiate church, was built over the old crypt in different stages in the 13th, the 14th and the 15th century. It got restored many times. During the Hundred Years War, the walls were raised and fortified. The church was damaged during the Wars of Religion. It was necessary to rebuild the bell tower and the first spans of the nave. I had returned to Montmorillon as during my last visit I could not the crypt dedicated to Saint Sainte-Catherine of Alexandria. I knew of 11th-century frescoes in that old crypt, but it was closed again. Since 2018 the church is closed for the public and under repair, due to a partial collapse of the ground.

Since 1404 the bridge over the Gartempe river links the two banks of the town. Notre Dame was built on a cliff in several stages. A church existed here already with the 11th century, which was in possession Abbey of Saint-Savin. The present church, since the 13th century a collegiate church, was built over the old crypt in different stages in the 13th, the 14th and the 15th century. It got restored many times. During the Hundred Years War, the walls were raised and fortified. The church was damaged during the Wars of Religion. It was necessary to rebuild the bell tower and the first spans of the nave. The church got restored in the 19th century.

Somebody had parked this three-wheeled vehicle on the flea market in Montmorillon.

The gourmet restaurant "Le Lucullus" is part of the "Hotel de France" in Montmorillon. A really nice place to spend an evening and having a bottle of wine and trying "Menu Terroir". Tarte au chocolat, glace feve de tonka et son caramel au beurre salè www.charminghoteldefrance.com/