Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: putto

The church of Güsen was built between 1680 and 1700. It replaced a church from the Middle Ages, which was probably destroyed in the Thirty Years' War. The building consists of the nave, which was erected in a half-timbered construction, and the neo-Romanesque brick tower with, added in 1878 after the previous half-timbered tower had been demolished. The little angel, who should guard the baroque tombstone, obviously fell asleep.

Settlers, who did trade with Greece, lived here already during the Bronze Age. After the Punic Wars it became a major center of Roman naval power and maritime trade. After the decline of the Roman Empire Brindisi was conquered by Ostrogoths, and reconquered by the Byzantine Empire in the 6th century. In 674 it was destroyed by the Lombards led by Romuald I of Benevento, It was rebuilt and within the 9th century. It was under Saracen rule from 836 to 868, when it was retaken by the Byantines. In 1070, it was conquered by the Normans, led by Robert Guiskard. Brindisi flourished under the Staufer and developed into a privileged port for the Holy Land during the period of Crusades. It was an Episcopal See and a new cathedral was constructed, in which the wedding of Norman Prince Roger III of Sicily and Irene Angelina, daughter of the Byzantine Emperor Isaac II Angelos took place. Emperor Frederick II and Isabella of Brienne embarked from the port of Brindisi in 1228 for the Sixth Crusade. - Where the church of "Church of San Paolo the Hermit" is now, was a fortification, that was decommissioned when the "castello svevo" was erected. The area was acquired by the Franciscans who built a convent there. Supported by Robert of Anjou, the early Gothic church and the convent may have been completed in 1322. The facade, which threatened to collapse, was rebuilt in the early nineteenth century, set back a few meters. Once the Franciscan convent was suppressed, a part of it was destined to offices of the Sub-prefecture and then of the Prefecture. The church underwent restoration in 1964 and in 2017. The inside has some baroque altars, one has this putto.

Sens was an important place in medieval times. Upto the 11th century the Archbishop of Sens hold the title "Primate of the Gauls and Germania". Thomas Becket lived in Sens for some time, when he was forced to leave England. Here Thomas met Pope Pope Alexander III. In 1141 Bishop Henri Sanglier here caused the condemnation of Peter Abelard. Bishop Henri Sanglier was well connected to the leading political figures. He and Abbot Suger de Saint-Denis were close friends - and had similar architectural ideas. Abbot Suger decided around 1137 to rebuild the Church of Saint-Denis. Bishop Henri started the construction of this cathedral around 1140. It is still discussed, which church is older, as this would be the oldest early Gothic church in France. While in Saint Denis (130kms northwest) the building process came to an halt for some time, the choir of the cathedral in Sens was completed already in 1168. It is sure, as Suger´s church in Saint Denis was an abbey church, the "Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Sens" is the oldest Gothic cathedral in France. Of course, there were many alterations done later. After the southern tower of the western facade collapsed in 1267 it got rebuilt within the next decades. When Pope Alexander III consecrated the cathedral in 1164 it may not have been fully completed. On 27 May 1234 Louis IX (aka "Saint Louis") married Marguerite de Provence, who was 13 years old at that time. Many carvings are Romanesque, this one is younger. Here are two monkees and a putto.

A collegiate had been founded here in 1039. A settlement existed probably since Roman times. "Faye" obviously derived from "fagus", the Roman word for "beech". Within the 12th century the small church of the collegiate, placed on top of a hill, got replaced by the large and prestigious "Saint-Georges", that today serves the small parish of Faye-la-Vineuse. The collegiate suffered during the Wars of Religion, when the church got severely damaged. It got completely renovated end of the 19th century. The capitals around the crossing are carved in a very "soft" Romanesque style. Some of these figures in Faye-la-Vineuse look like Baroque putti.