Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Elne

A church existed here before the Moors conquest the iberian peninsula. This church was converted into a mosque in 717. The Franks reconquered Girona in 785 under Charlemagne, and the church was reconsecrated in 908. Bishop Roger (son of Roger I of Carcassonne) started a reconstruction in 1015. A new church and a cloister were built in romanesque style until 1064. The two towers were completed in 1117. The cloister was completed already 1064 and most parts are still in the original condition. Like the cloister of Sant Pere de Galligants (less than 500 meters north), the arches of the four galleries are supported by twin columns. But - this cloister is about one century older. Here is a different style of carving, actually here are more than just one artistic style. There are very different themes and topics themes depicted here. Scenes from the bible, dignitaries, people at work, hunting scenes, birds... Similar to Elne (now France, once Northern Catalonia), here are some magnificent friezes. Here is a smaller one, depicting Noah's Ark, flanked by a bird (left) and a winged dragon (right). Three men (Noah´s three sons?) are approaching the ark.

Elne is a really old town. Herodotus mentioned the town of "Illiberis", later Hannibal camped here (with his elephants) on his way to Italy. Within the 4th century it was named "Castrum Helenae" after the mother of Constantine the Great. Elne was a stronghold of the Visigoths, who founded the bishopric here in the 6th century. During the Middle Ages Elne, once the capital, lost its importance to nearby Perpignan, as the Counts of Roussillon moved their seat to Perpignan. In 1601 even the episcopal seat was transferred to Perpignan So what is the parish church "Sainte-Julie-et-Sainte-Eulalie", is a the former cathedral built on a little hill. It replaced an older church and was consecrated in 1069. During the Crusade of Aragon, a conflict between Philip III of France (aka "Philippe le Hardi") and Peter III of Aragon (aka "Pere el Gran"), the French armee conquered Elne, that was under the command of a knight named "Bastard of Roussillon". The population seeked shelter inside the cathedral. This ended in a masacre, as the church was set afire by the troops. Of course there was looting and plundering. Next to the cathedral is the cloister, erected between 12th and 14th century, and believed to be one of the most important in Southern France. Some damages will date back to the Cruisade of Aragon, some to the Wars of Religions or the French Revolution, but still many carvings are "in situ" and in a good condition. There is a surprising number of mermaids, mermen and sirenes in Elne, and I resist, to upload all of them. Marcel Durliat, author of "Roussillon roman", has noticed them too, but he cannot explain the great number. I have the impression, that heads and faces of mermaids have had a strange attraction for vandals. Mermen had a better chance to stay unharmed. This now ends the little mermaid/mermen series, as there is much more to be seen here.

Elne is a really old town. Herodotus mentioned the town of "Illiberis", later Hannibal camped here (with his elephants) on his way to Italy. Within the 4th century it was named "Castrum Helenae" after the mother of Constantine the Great. Elne was a stronghold of the Visigoths, who founded the bishopric here in the 6th century. During the Middle Ages Elne, once the capital, lost its importance to nearby Perpignan, as the Counts of Roussillon moved their seat to Perpignan. In 1601 even the episcopal seat was transferred to Perpignan So what is the parish church "Sainte-Julie-et-Sainte-Eulalie", is a the former cathedral built on a little hill. It replaced an older church and was consecrated in 1069. During the Crusade of Aragon, a conflict between Philip III of France (aka "Philippe le Hardi") and Peter III of Aragon (aka "Pere el Gran"), the French armee conquered Elne, that was under the command of a knight named "Bastard of Roussillon". The population seeked shelter inside the cathedral. This ended in a masacre, as the church was set afire by the troops. Of course there was looting and plundering. Next to the cathedral is the cloister, erected between 12th and 14th century, and believed to be one of the most important in Southern France. Some damages will date back to the Cruisade of Aragon, some to the Wars of Religions or the French Revolution, but still many carvings are "in situ" and in a good condition. There is a surprising number of mermaids, mermen and sirenes in Elne, and I resist, to upload all of them. Marcel Durliat, author of "Roussillon roman", has noticed them too, but he cannot explain the great number. An atlant to the right, mermaids - and in the distant a pair of posing griffons. I have the impression, that heads and faces of mermaids have had a strange attraction for vandals. Mermen had a better chance to stay unharmed.

Elne is a really old town. Herodotus mentioned the town of "Illiberis", later Hannibal camped here (with his elephants) on his way to Italy. Within the 4th century it was named "Castrum Helenae" after the mother of Constantine the Great. Elne was a stronghold of the Visigoths, who founded the bishopric here in the 6th century. During the Middle Ages Elne, once the capital, lost its importance to nearby Perpignan, as the Counts of Roussillon moved their seat to Perpignan. In 1601 even the episcopal seat was transferred to Perpignan So what is the parish church "Sainte-Julie-et-Sainte-Eulalie", is a the former cathedral built on a little hill. It replaced an older church and was consecrated in 1069. During the Crusade of Aragon, a conflict between Philip III of France (aka "Philippe le Hardi") and Peter III of Aragon (aka "Pere el Gran"), the French armee conquered Elne, that was under the command of a knight named "Bastard of Roussillon". The population seeked shelter inside the cathedral. This ended in a masacre, as the church was set afire by the troops. Of course there was looting and plundering. Next to the cathedral is the cloister, erected between 12th and 14th century, and believed to be one of the most important in Southern France. Some damages will date back to the Cruisade of Aragon, some to the Wars of Religions or the French Revolution, but still many carvings are "in situ" and in a good condition. There is a surprising number of mermaids, mermen and sirenes in Elne, and I resist, to upload all of them. Marcel Durliat, author of "Roussillon roman", has noticed them too, but he cannot explain the great number. Here - seen from the upper floor - is a merman (with undamaged face!) and a siren on the left.

later Hannibal camped here (with his elephants) on his way to Italy. Within the 4th century it was named "Castrum Helenae" after the mother of Constantine the Great. Elne was a stronghold of the Visigoths, who founded the bishopric here in the 6th century. During the Middle Ages Elne, once the capital, lost its importance to nearby Perpignan, as the Counts of Roussillon moved their seat to Perpignan. In 1601 even the episcopal seat was transferred to Perpignan So what is the parish church "Sainte-Julie-et-Sainte-Eulalie", is a the former cathedral built on a little hill. It replaced an older church and was consecrated in 1069. During the Crusade of Aragon, a conflict between Philip III of France (aka "Philippe le Hardi") and Peter III of Aragon (aka "Pere el Gran"), the French armee conquered Elne, that was under the command of a knight named "Bastard of Roussillon". The population seeked shelter inside the cathedral. This ended in a masacre, as the church was set afire by the troops. Of course there was looting and plundering. Next to the cathedral is the cloister, erected between 12th and 14th century, and believed to be one of the most important in Southern France. Some damages will date back to the Cruisade of Aragon, some to the Wars of Religions or the French Revolution, but still many carvings are "in situ" and in a good condition. There is a surprising number of mermaids, mermen and sirenes in Elne, and I resist, to upload all of them. Marcel Durliat, author of "Roussillon roman", has noticed them too, but he cannot explain the great number. I have the impression, that heads and faces of mermaids have had a strange attraction for vandals. Mermen had a better chance to stay unharmed.