Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Espalion

Where the graveyard of Espalion is today was once a monastery, that got destroyed during the Wars of Religion. The only remaining structure is the "Eglise de St. Perse", built in the 11th and 12th century. Legend tells, St. Hilarian was beheaded here by the Saracens around 730, and that´s why the monastry was founded here. The interesting church has some phantastic carvings. One of the corbels over the tympanon shows this very weathered and damaged small mermaid. She has lost both arms, but the scales on the lower part of her body are clearly visible. As well as the left fin.

.. of Espalion. There is not much left of the former monastry, but - on a graveyard - the old "Eglise de St Perse", with an phantastic portal. Here the legend tells, Saint Hilarian was beheaded by the Saracens around 730....