Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Stavelot

The town of Stavalot grown around the "Abbey of Stavelot", founded in 648 by St. Remaclus, is known for its carneval tradition "Laetare de Stavelot". When Stavelot was the capital of the "Principality of Stavelot-Malmedy", ruled by a prince-abbot, it was forbidden for the monks to take part in the popular festivities. According to legend, the inhabitants of Stavelot decided to make fun of this prohibition by dressing up as monks to celebrate carnival. In 1502 they created a white costume with a hood referring to the monastic habit. The Stavelotains added to the costume a strange mask with a very long, red and pointed nose. The "Blancs Moussis" (= white clad) exist since more than 5 centuries. After WWII the "confrérie des blancs moussis" was founded to keep the custom alive. Here are two large Blancs Moussi-heads hanging over the "Imprimerie R. Schmitz". www.blanc-moussi.com/

The town of Stavalot grew around the "Abbey of Stavelot", founded in 648 by St. Remaclus, the abbot of the Abbey of Solignac (near Limoge) on behalf of the Merovingian king Sigebert III (aka "Saint Sigebert of Austrasia"). The boulangerie and patisserie Dumoulin exists here since 1785.

The town of Stavalot grew around the "Abbey of Stavelot", founded in 648 by St. Remaclus, the abbot of the Abbey of Solignac (near Limoge) on behalf of the Merovingian king Sigebert III (aka "Saint Sigebert of Austrasia"). After the abbey had been raided twice by the Normans, it was a center of the Cluniac Reforms around 1000. The abbey existed upto the French Revolution, when the monks were expelled, the was pillaged by the revolutionaries and then sold and demolished. The "Shrine of St. Remaclus" ("La châsse de saint Remacle") from 1268 is a masterpiece. It is kept in the parish church Saint-Sébastien, but unfortunately it was hidden behind a screen.

The town of Stavalot grew around the "Abbey of Stavelot", founded in 648 by St. Remaclus, the abbot of the Abbey of Solignac (near Limoge) on behalf of the Merovingian king Sigebert III (aka "Saint Sigebert of Austrasia"). After the abbey had been raided twice by the Normans, it was a center of the Cluniac Reforms around 1000. The abbey existed upto the French Revolution, when the monks were expelled, the was pillaged by the revolutionaries and then sold and demolished. The nave of Stavelot´s parish church "Saint Sébastien". Hidden behind the strange screen in the center is the "Shrine of St. Remaclus" ("La châsse de saint Remacle") from 1268.

The town of Stavalot grew around the "Abbey of Stavelot", founded in 648 by St. Remaclus, the abbot of the Abbey of Solignac (near Limoge) on behalf of the Merovingian king Sigebert III (aka "Saint Sigebert of Austrasia"). After the abbey had been raided twice by the Normans, it was a center of the Cluniac Reforms around 1000. The abbey existed upto the French Revolution, when the monks were expelled, the was pillaged by the revolutionaries and then sold and demolished. The abbey´s treasures by now are squattered over the globe. The "Stavelot Bible", an illuminated manuscript from the 10th century, is in London, other masterpieces are in museums of New York, Berlin, Frankfurt and Paris. Seen here are the foundations of the medieval abbey church.

The town of Stavalot grew around the "Abbey of Stavelot", founded in 648 by St. Remaclus, the abbot of the Abbey of Solignac (near Limoge) on behalf of the Merovingian king Sigebert III (aka "Saint Sigebert of Austrasia"). After the abbey had been raided twice by the Normans, it was a center of the Cluniac Reforms around 1000. The abbey existed upto the French Revolution, when the monks were expelled, the was pillaged by the revolutionaries and then sold and demolished. The abbey´s treasures by now are squattered over the globe. The "Stavelot Bible", an illuminated manuscript from the 10th century, is in London, other masterpieces are in museums of New York, Berlin, Frankfurt and Paris. Seen here are the foundations of the medieval abbey church. The former abbey buildings behind now host a museum.