Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Saint-Médard

Parfondal, a village with a population of around 150, is one of the "Plus Beaux Villages de France". It is indeed pretty - and has the best documented fortified churches I visited in the Picardie. Saint-Médard, erected almost entirely of bricks, was built in the 16th century, and got enlarged in 1760. It was once surrounded by a wall and a ditch. It was only accessable through the gate seen here. The church (incl. the tower and the rooms for the refugees) can be visited and there are even informative videos, explaining how people lived up there over longer periods. The "Chambre Caronet" is largest room. Note the hole/oculus in the floor, that was used for hauling up supplies - and the bell ringer as above this room are the church bells.

Parfondal, a village with a population of around 150, is one of the "Plus Beaux Villages de France". It is indeed pretty - and has the best documented fortified churches I visited in the Picardie. Saint-Médard, erected almost entirely of bricks, was built in the 16th century, and got enlarged in 1760. It was once surrounded by a wall and a ditch. It was only accessable through the gate seen here. The church (incl. the tower and the rooms for the refugees) can be visited and there are even informative videos, explaining how people lived up there over longer periods. A very narrow and low passage, that could easily blocked by the defenders, leads to the stair, that runs up to the shelter rooms in the towers.

Parfondal, a village with a population of around 150, is one of the "Plus Beaux Villages de France". It is indeed pretty - and has the best documented fortified churches I visited in the Picardie. Saint-Médard, erected almost entirely of bricks, was built in the 16th century, and got enlarged in 1760. It was once surrounded by a wall and a ditch. It was only accessable through the gate seen here. The church (incl. the tower and the rooms for the refugees) can be visited and there are even informative videos, explaining how people lived up there over longer periods. The room behind the strong gate, under the fortified towers is like a large narthex opening to the nave. The lower aisles were added, when the church got enlarged in 1760.

Parfondal, a village with a population of around 150, is one of the "Plus Beaux Villages de France". It is indeed pretty - and has the best documented fortified churches I visited in the Picardie. Saint-Médard, erected almost entirely of bricks, was built in the 16th century, and got enlarged in 1760. It was once surrounded by a wall and a ditch. It was only accessable through the gate seen here. The church (incl. the tower and the rooms for the refugees) can be visited and there are even informative videos, explaining how people lived up there over longer periods.

The church, dedicated to Saint-Médard, dates to the 12th century and has some nicely sculpted Romanesque corbels. The huge donjon-like tower, built out of bricks, was added in the 16th century. The tower is massive, 25 metres high - and "dwarfs" the approaching visitor, this effect may have frighten mercenaries away, that roamed the area in search for any easy prey, - inbetween paid jobs.

The church, dedicated to Saint-Médard, dates to the 12th century and has some nicely sculpted Romanesque corbels. The huge donjon-like tower, built out of bricks, was added in the 16th century. The Thiérache area in Northern France has been a place, where many wars and battles were fought over the centuries (upto WW1). To fortify the church, and so to offer shelter to the rural population, was an idea many villagers followed here.

Thouars was an Aquitanien fortress, placed in a loop of the river Thouet. It was conquered and burnt down in 762 down by Pepin the Short, King of the Franks, who was accompanied by his 14 years old son, the future Charlemagne. In medieval times, the town prospered, and in the 12th century a large basilica-style church named "Saint-Médard-des-Champs" was erected just outside the city walls. Today this church is in the center of the town, that once was a stronghold of the Huguenots. After the revocation of the Edict of Nantes (1685) Thouars lost about half of its population, as most of the Huguenots migrated. The facade of Saint-Médard is created in the late Romanesque "style poitevin". The facade got "heavily" renovated during the 1870s. Here are two of the facade´s capitals. The the left is a musician accompanied by devils, probably standing for profane (sinful) music. To the right a man, being caught by the ears by a bird and a dragon. I doubt, that these carvings date back to the 12th century. They are so smooth, mint and complete, compared to other parts of the facade. I have the impression that they were added during the renovation end of the 19th century.

Thouars was an Aquitanien fortress, placed in a loop of the river Thouet. It was conquered and burnt down in 762 down by Pepin the Short, King of the Franks, who was accompanied by his 14 years old son, the future Charlemagne. In medieval times, the town prospered, and in the 12th century a large basilica-style church named "Saint-Médard-des-Champs" was erected just outside the city walls. Today this church is in the center of the town, that once was a stronghold of the Huguenots. After the revocation of the Edict of Nantes (1685) Thouars lost about half of its population, as most of the Huguenots migrated. The facade of Saint-Médard is created in the late Romanesque "style poitevin". The facade got "heavily" renovated during the 1870s. Most of the archivolts and the corbels, seen here, are a result of that work. Above the entrance door are large statues of Christ, flanked by angels, that are weathered and/or vandalized. The design seems like a prototype of the The "gallery of the kings", often seen on Gothic cathedrals (eg Reims Cathedral, Notre-Dame de Paris).

Thouars was an Aquitanien fortress, placed in a loop of the river Thouet. It was conquered and burnt down in 762 down by Pepin the Short, King of the Franks, who was accompanied by his 14 years old son, the future Charlemagne. In medieval times, the town prospered, and in the 12th century a large basilica-style church named "Saint-Médard-des-Champs" was erected just outside the city walls. Today this church is in the center of the town, that once was a stronghold of the Huguenots. After the revocation of the Edict of Nantes (1685) Thouars lost about half of its population, as most of the Huguenots migrated. The facade of Saint-Médard is created in the late Romanesque "style poitevin", the rose-window was added within the 15th century, when the bell tower was erected. The facade got "heavily" renovated during the 1870s. Most of the archivolts are a result of that work. Above the entrance door are large statues of Christ, flanked by angels. To the sides apostles and prophets. The design seems like a prototype of the The "gallery of the kings", often seen on Gothic cathedrals (eg Reims Cathedral, Notre-Dame de Paris )

Thouars was an Aquitanien fortress, placed in a loop of the river Thouet. It was conquered and burnt down in 762 down by Pepin the Short, King of the Franks, who was accompanied by his 14 years old son, the future Charlemagne. In medieval times, the town prospered, and in the 12th century a large basilica-style church named "Saint-Médard-des-Champs" was erected just outside the city walls. Today this church is in the center of the town, that once was a stronghold of the Huguenots. After the revocation of the Edict of Nantes (1685) Thouars lost about half of its population, as most of the Huguenots migrated. The facade of Saint-Médard is an example of the late Romanesque "style poitevin", the rose-window was added within the 15th century, when the bell tower was erected. It got "heavily" renovated during the 19th century.