Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Vals

Looking south from the church Notre-Dame de Vals that towers over the tiny village of Vals (pop 90). The Pyrénées are seen on the horizon.

The enigmatic church Notre-Dame de Vals towers over the tiny village of Vals (pop 90). The church, that is partly "troglodyte", carved into the giant rock, has three levels. The oldest part, called "the crypt", probably dates to the 9th or 10th century. Most surprising here are frescoes, discovered under several layers of plaster in 1952. They are dated to around 1100/1120 and meanwhile got restaurated. Seen to the very left is the "Annunciation", what adds to the frescoes "Nativity" and "First Bath". Very hard to see is - the "Adoration of the Magi", as this icon is -nearly- lost. There are still some traces. The head of Mary is in the center. To the left is a flower/star - and an inscription STELLA, what can only be the "Star of Bethlehem" Below this is another inscription BALTASAR and a head (with a tonsur?) below, one of Magi. His two collegues - are unfortunately lost.

The enigmatic church Notre-Dame de Vals towers over the tiny village of Vals (pop 90). The church, that is partly "troglodyte", carved into the giant rock, has three levels. The oldest part, called "the crypt", probably dates to the 9th or 10th century. Most surprising here are frescoes, discovered under several layers of plaster in 1952. They are dated to around 1100/1120 and meanwhile got restaurated. A closer look onto the "First Bath". The midwives (nimbus!) flank the vessel, that reminds on a baptismal font. Young Jesus (cross-nimbus, red (?) hair) does not really look like a newborn baby. The scene reminds me on - Byzantine icons from Italy. Ravenna maybe. Peter Hubert´s interesting article on the iconography of the Nativity and the First Bath: www.green-man-of-cercles.org/articles/nativity_of_christ.pdf

The enigmatic church Notre-Dame de Vals towers over the tiny village of Vals (pop 90). The church, that is partly "troglodyte", carved into the giant rock, has three levels. The oldest part, called "the crypt", probably dates to the 9th or 10th century. Most surprising here are frescoes, discovered under several layers of plaster in 1952. They are dated to around 1100/1120 and meanwhile got restaurated. The Virgin reclined on a bed under an ornamented blanket. Below is the "First Bath". The midwives (nimbus) flank the vessel. Young Jesus does not really look like a newborn baby. The scene reminds me on - Byzantine icons from Italy. Ravenna maybe. Peter Hubert´s interesting article on the iconography of the Nativity and the First Bath: www.green-man-of-cercles.org/articles/nativity_of_christ.pdf

The enigmatic church Notre-Dame de Vals towers over the tiny village of Vals (pop 90). The church, that is partly "troglodyte", carved into the giant rock, has three levels. The oldest part, called "the crypt", probably dates to the 9th or 10th century. Most surprising here are frescoes, discovered under several layers of plaster in 1952. They are dated to around 1100/1120 and meanwhile got restaurated. SANCTUS ANDREAS - SANCTUS PETRUS

The enigmatic church Notre-Dame de Vals towers over the tiny village of Vals (pop 90). The church, that is partly "troglodyte", carved into the giant rock, has three levels. The oldest part, called "the crypt", probably dates to the 9th or 10th century. Most surprising here are frescoes, discovered under several layers of plaster in 1952. They are dated to around 1100/1120 and meanwhile got restaurated.

The enigmatic church Notre-Dame de Vals towers over the tiny village of Vals (pop 90). The church, that is partly "troglodyte", carved into the giant rock, has three levels. The oldest part, called "the crypt", probably dates to the 9th or 10th century.

The enigmatic church Notre-Dame de Vals towers over the tiny village of Vals (pop 90). The church, that is partly "troglodyte", carved into the giant rock, has three levels. The oldest part, called "the crypt", probably dates to the 9th or 10th century. Narrow steps lead up to the entrance of the crypt. In 2008 a Neolithic burial ground was found in the cracks of the rock. It was dated to around 2500 BC.

The enigmatic church Notre-Dame de Vals towers over the tiny village of Vals (pop 90). The church, that is partly "troglodyte", carved into the giant rock, has three levels. The oldest part, called "the crypt", probably dates to the 9th or 10th century. The age of the donjon like tower is very disputed. Was it part of a medieval castle?