Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Ursulines

The history of Wroclaw dates back more than a thousand years. At various times, it has been part of the Kingdom of Poland, the Kingdom of Bohemia, the Kingdom of Hungary, the Habsburg monarchy of Austria, the Kingdom of Prussia, and Germany. Wrocław became part of Poland again in 1945 as part of the result of extensive border changes and expulsions after WWII. In 990 Mieszko I of Poland conquered Silesia and Wrocław. The town became a commercial center. In the 12th century Polish, Bohemian, Jewish, Walloon, and German communities existed here. Wroclaw was devastated in 1241 during the first Mongol invasion of Poland. In the 13th century due to migration from Saxony and Bavaria, Wroclaw got germanised. The population adopted the German language and culture and the name changed to Breslau. Between 1342 and 1344 two fires destroyed large parts of the city, which was a part of the Bohemian Kingdom at that time. Charles IV`s, successors Wenceslaus and Sigismund became involved in a long-lasting feud with the city and its magistrate, culminating in the revolt in 1418 when local craftsmen killed seven councilors. After the city had defeated the Bohemian Hussites the city was besieged by a combined Polish-Czech force in 1474, however, a ceasefire was signed, according to which the city remained under Hungarian rule. The Reformation reached Breslau already in 1518, and in 1523 the town council unanimously appointed a new pastor and thus introduced the Reformation in Breslau. In 1526, the Habsburg monarchy of Austria inherited Bohemia, Silesia, and the city of Breslau. In 1609 German emperor Rudolf II granted the free exercise of church services to all Bohemian and Silesian Protestants. In the following Thirty Years' War, the city suffered badly. It was occupied by Saxon and Swedish troops and lost 18,000 of its 40,000 residents to the plague. The Counter-Reformation had started with Rudolf II who encouraged Catholic orders to settle in Breslau. The dominance of the German population under the Habsburg rule in the city became more visible, while the Polish population diminished in numbers. After Frederick the Great besieged the city for a year, it surrendered in 1741. In 1742, Queen Maria Theresa handed over Silesia to the Prussian king. - The "Poor Clares" were brought to Wroclaw in 1257. They received and until the beginning of the 19th century managed also two nearby Odra islands. At first, they had a wooden, later Gothic monastery and church, which was completely rebuilt in the Baroque style in the years 1696-1699. The Poor Clares initially admitted to their order only candidates from noble families. In 1810 the monastery was taken over by German Ursulines. They ran two schools for girls in Wroclaw. Because the borders of Poland had changed after WWII, the Polish Ursulines accepted the offer to settle here.

Parthenay is a very well fortified town, sited on a rocky spur, surrounded by the River Thouet. It has a (now ruined) castle inside and is known since the 11th century. Many pilgrims, following a branch of the Via Turonensis passed through here. The main gate of Parthenay, where the pilgrims once entered the town, still bears the name of Saint Jaques. Notre-Dame-de-la-Couldre, built in the 12th century, was the parish church of Partenay, while Sainte-Croix (previous uploads) was a Collegiate church. In 1623 the church was taken over by Ursulines, who had a convent here. After the French Revolution the church was sold as "National Property". The new owner, a former priest, planned to establish a spinning mill, but failed - and ruined the buildings. In 1847 the Ursulines opened a private school and integrated the ruins into the surrounding buildings. The school is still existing, here is the website: www.ndlacouldre.com/ Only the lower section of the Romanesque facade and the apse survived the times. The facade is very damaged. Here are details of the four semicircular archivolts of the central arch. Crist and the Lamb of God (2nd), flanked by angels. The third archivolt has probably virtues and vices. Interesting is the fourth. Here are the "Elders of the Apocalypse", holding instruments and bottles of parfume. Mostly there are 24 Elders ( in the Saintonge upto 50), seated in a long row. Here are only six of them, in a horzontal position, fitting perfectly into the archivolt. Most of the artworks, that could be moved out from here, are now in museums in Paris, Bostson, New York, Cambridge ..

Parthenay is a very well fortified town, sited on a rocky spur, surrounded by the River Thouet. It has a (now ruined) castle inside and is known since the 11th century. Many pilgrims, following a branch of the Via Turonensis passed through here. The main gate of Parthenay, where the pilgrims once entered the town, still bears the name of Saint Jaques. Notre-Dame-de-la-Couldre, built in the 12th century, was the parish church of Partenay, while Sainte-Croix (previous uploads) was a Collegiate church. In 1623 the church was taken over by Ursulines, who had a convent here. After the French Revolution the church was sold as "National Property". The new owner, a former priest, planned to establish a spinning mill, but failed - and ruined the buildings. In 1847 the Ursulines opened a private school and integrated the ruins into the surrounding buildings. The school is still existing, here is the website: www.ndlacouldre.com/ Only the lower section of the Romanesque facade and the apse survived the times. The facade (see previous upload) is very damaged. Here are two musicians, carved in the lavish "style saintonge". The left one holds a vielle, the right musician plays the harp. To the very right either Samson or Daniel and a lion. Most of the artworks, that could be moved out from here, are now in museums in Paris, Bostson, New York, Cambridge ..

Parthenay is a very well fortified town, sited on a rocky spur, surrounded by the River Thouet. It has a (now ruined) castle inside and is known since the 11th century. Many pilgrims, following a branch of the Via Turonensis passed through here. The main gate of Parthenay, where the pilgrims once entered the town, still bears the name of Saint Jaques. Notre-Dame-de-la-Couldre, built in the 12th century, was the parish church of Partenay, while Sainte-Croix (previous uploads) was a Collegiate church. In 1623 the church was taken over by Ursulines, who had a convent here. After the French Revolution the church was sold as "National Property". The new owner, a former priest, planned to establish a spinning mill, but failed - and ruined the buildings. In 1847 the Ursulines opened a private school and integrated the ruins into the surrounding buildings. The school is still existing, here is the website: www.ndlacouldre.com/ Only the lower section of the Romanesque facade and the apse survived the times. The facade, here seen from the sidewalk of the street, is very damaged. The specific style with the three arches, typical for the area of the Saintonge and Poitou is still visible. Most of the artworks, that could be moved out from here, are now in museums in Paris, Boston, New York, Cambridge ...

Parthenay is a very well fortified town, sited on a rocky spur, surrounded by the River Thouet. It has a (now ruined) castle inside and is known since the 11th century. Many pilgrims, following a branch of the Via Turonensis passed through here. The main gate of Parthenay, where the pilgrims once entered the town, still bears the name of Saint Jaques. Notre-Dame-de-la-Couldre, built in the 12th century, was the parish church of Partenay, while Sainte-Croix (previous uploads) was a Collegiate church. In 1623 the church was taken over by Ursulines, who had a convent here. After the French Revolution the church was sold as "National Property". The new owner, a former priest, planned to establish a spinning mill, but failed - and ruined the buildings. In 1847 the Ursulines opened a private school and integrated the ruins into the surrounding buildings. The school is still existing, here is the website: www.ndlacouldre.com/ Only the lower section of the Romanesque facade and the apse survived the times. The facade (previous upload) now seen from the right side, is very damaged. I learned, that the northern blind arch (right) had a equestrian statue, while the southern (left) depicted Samson and the lion. The specific style with the three arches, typical for the area of the Saintonge and Poitou is still visible. Most of the artworks, that could be moved out from here, are now in museums in Paris, Bostson, New York, Cambridge ... Early morning is not a good time to take photos of western portals...