Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Occitania

La Chartreuse is a decent hotel in Cahors, located directly on the Lot River, with excellent cuisine. Main course - pork ribs la-chartreuse.com/le-restaurant

La Chartreuse is a decent hotel in Cahors, located directly on the Lot River, with excellent cuisine. entrée la-chartreuse.com/le-restaurant

For many summers I visited this place near the wonderful www.lesrivesdolt.com for swimming, canoeing and to explore the surrounding area. Now I know, how the Lot looks in winter.

Saint-Martin-de-Vers is a small village with a fortified church at its center. The church dates from the 15th century. I found that idyll inside the church.

Souillac is a town, that I cannot pass, without stopping and visiting the former abbey church. Legends tell, that the abbey was founded by Saint Eligius (Saint Eloi), advisor of Merovingian King Dagobert I. The abbey got destroyed by the Saracens, and Charlemagne commissioned the reconstruction, which again was ruined got by Norman invaders. Of course, it got looted during the Wars of Religions but existed up to the French Revolution. The abbey church, today serving the parish, got built on the blueprint of a Latin Cross in the 12th century. The single nave is about 15 ms wide. Above are no vaults, but three domes. Inside this fantastic church are two Romanesque works of art, that are breathtaking. But - the church was locked.

The Gallo-Roman city of Aginnum, which existed here, was very populated and had an amphitheater that could accommodate more than 10,000 people. From the end of the 3rd century , the chronicles relate the martyrdoms of Saint Caprais and Saint Foy, who are said to be buried in Aginnum. The first known bishop, named Phébade, is documented a century later. Over the following centuries, Agen was invaded by the Vandals, the Visigoths, and the Franks before being attacked by the Vikings in the 9th century. Historians have noted three invasions: in 843, 853, and the last in 922. A great loss for Agen was when at the end of the 9th century monks from Conques could steal the relics of St. Foy and transfer them to Conques (where they still are). In the 13th and 14th centuries, the city was contested between the English and the French. In the early stages of the Hundred Years' War, it came to the English but was conquered and recaptured twice. In 1372, the Duke of Anjou established his headquarters here. Although he lost the city the next year, he was able to retake it by 1374. While thereafter part of the towns and castles of Agenais were temporarily under English rule, Agen remained almost permanently in French hands until the end of the war. The Musée des Beaux-Arts is lodged in four magnificent Renaissance mansion houses which open out on to fine inner courtyards. Matinee de septembre / September morning - Alfred Sisley (1839 - 1899)

Fleurance was founded as a bastide in the 13th century. It lies in the heart of the former province of Gascony. The name Fleurance is a reference to the Italian city of Florence. Curiously, in the region there are other such references to cities in Europe, such as Geaune (Genoa), Pavie (Pavia), Miélan (Milan), Koln (Cologne) or Plaisance (Piacenza). Fleurance was built on a hill on a regular plan. After Philippe le Bel Fleurance ceded to Edward I of England in 1287, the latter helped finance brick walls in 1292. The center of the bastide is this building which originally was supported by 28 wooden posts. The building was dilapidated and was rebuilt in 1786. This new building burnt down in 1833. The rebuilding was completed in 1850 and now sixty square stone pillars support the story and create the covered market.

Fleurance was founded as a bastide in the 13th century. It lies in the heart of the former province of Gascony. The name Fleurance is a reference to the Italian city of Florence. Curiously, in the region there are other such references to cities in Europe, such as Geaune (Genoa), Pavie (Pavia), Miélan (Milan), Koln (Cologne) or Plaisance (Piacenza). Fleurance was built on a hill on a regular plan. After Philippe le Bel Fleurance ceded to Edward I of England in 1287, the latter helped finance brick walls in 1292. The center of the bastide is this building which originally was supported by 28 wooden posts. The building was dilapidated and was rebuilt in 1786. This new building burnt down in 1833. The rebuilding was completed in 1850 and now sixty square stone pillars support the story and create the covered market.

Fleurance was founded as a bastide in the 13th century. It lies in the heart of the former province of Gascony. The name Fleurance is a reference to the Italian city of Florence. Curiously, in the region there are other such references to cities in Europe, such as Geaune (Genoa), Pavie (Pavia), Miélan (Milan), Koln (Cologne) or Plaisance (Piacenza). Fleurance was built on a hill on a regular plan. After Philippe le Bel Fleurance ceded to Edward I of England in 1287, the latter helped finance brick walls in 1292. A few years later, the construction of Saint-Laurent begins. The imposing church (70 m long and 35 m wide) is an example of the Southern Gothic style. The influence of Toulouse is very evident in this construction.

A ford made it easier to cross the Adour in ancient times, later the Romans settled in the area. A Christian church may have existed as early as the 4th century Around 840 the Vikings led a devastating raid, but the town recovered and by the end of the 12th century the Count of Bigorre settled in his castle at Tarbes. At the end of the Middle Ages, the city consisted of six separate fortified towns. During the Wars of Religion in 1569, Jeanne d'Albret's troops burned the cathedral, the convents, and other churches, as well as the bishopric. The inhabitants were massacred. . The Jardin Massey is a large public garden built in the 19th century by Placide Massey horticulturist of the French King Louis Philippe I and the previous chief of the Palace of Versailles' gardens. The garden contains the cloister of the Saint-Sever-de-Rustan Abbey. Some elements of the cloister were originally built in the 15th century for the Carmelite monastery of Trie-sur-Baïse which had been severely damaged during the Huguenot Wars. These parts of the cloister were sold to the Abbey of Saint-Sever-de-Rustan for the restoration of the cloister there, as there as well a band of Huguenots, under the command of the Earl of Montgomery, had settled in the abbey for months, plundered the treasury and destroyed the church. The abbey got restored by the monks at the end of the 16th century and remodeled in the 18th century. It became state property in 1789 and was sold privately in 1792. In 1890, when numerous capitals had already been sold (some of which can be seen today in The Cloisters Museum in New York City), the remaining parts were bought by the city of Tarbes and moved to Jardin Massey. Harrowing of Hell The descent of Christ into Hell Christ brought salvation to the souls held captive there since the beginning of the world. Here he is guiding Adam and Eve out of the Hell´s Mouth.

A ford made it easier to cross the Adour in ancient times, later the Romans settled in the area. A Christian church may have existed as early as the 4th century Around 840 the Vikings led a devastating raid, but the town recovered and by the end of the 12th century the Count of Bigorre settled in his castle at Tarbes. At the end of the Middle Ages, the city consisted of six separate fortified towns. During the Wars of Religion in 1569, Jeanne d'Albret's troops burned the cathedral, the convents, and other churches, as well as the bishopric. The inhabitants were massacred. . The Jardin Massey is a large public garden built in the 19th century by Placide Massey horticulturist of the French King Louis Philippe I and the previous chief of the Palace of Versailles' gardens. The garden contains the cloister of the Saint-Sever-de-Rustan Abbey. Some elements of the cloister were originally built in the 15th century for the Carmelite monastery of Trie-sur-Baïse which had been severely damaged during the Huguenot Wars. These parts of the cloister were sold to the Abbey of Saint-Sever-de-Rustan for the restoration of the cloister there, as there as well a band of Huguenots, under the command of the Earl of Montgomery, had settled in the abbey for months, plundered the treasury and destroyed the church. The abbey got restored by the monks at the end of the 16th century and remodeled in the 18th century. It became state property in 1789 and was sold privately in 1792. In 1890, when numerous capitals had already been sold (some of which can be seen today in The Cloisters Museum in New York City), the remaining parts were bought by the city of Tarbes and moved to Jardin Massey. Gifted animals

A ford made it easier to cross the Adour in ancient times, later the Romans settled in the area. A Christian church may have existed as early as the 4th century Around 840 the Vikings led a devastating raid, but the town recovered and by the end of the 12th century the Count of Bigorre settled in his castle at Tarbes. At the end of the Middle Ages, the city consisted of six separate fortified towns. During the Wars of Religion in 1569, Jeanne d'Albret's troops burned the cathedral, the convents, and other churches, as well as the bishopric. The inhabitants were massacred. . The Jardin Massey is a large public garden built in the 19th century by Placide Massey horticulturist of the French King Louis Philippe I and the previous chief of the Palace of Versailles' gardens. The garden contains the cloister of the Saint-Sever-de-Rustan Abbey. Some elements of the cloister were originally built in the 15th century for the Carmelite monastery of Trie-sur-Baïse which had been severely damaged during the Huguenot Wars. These parts of the cloister were sold to the Abbey of Saint-Sever-de-Rustan for the restoration of the cloister there, as there as well a band of Huguenots, under the command of the Earl of Montgomery, had settled in the abbey for months, plundered the treasury and destroyed the church. The abbey got restored by the monks at the end of the 16th century and remodeled in the 18th century. It became state property in 1789 and was sold privately in 1792. In 1890, when numerous capitals had already been sold (some of which can be seen today in The Cloisters Museum in New York City), the remaining parts were bought by the city of Tarbes and moved to Jardin Massey. Nativity Annunciation to the shepherds Adoration of the Magi Flight into Egypt / Massacre of the Innocents

A ford made it easier to cross the Adour in ancient times, later the Romans settled in the area. A Christian church may have existed as early as the 4th century Around 840 the Vikings led a devastating raid, but the town recovered and by the end of the 12th century the Count of Bigorre settled in his castle at Tarbes. At the end of the Middle Ages, the city consisted of six separate fortified towns. During the Wars of Religion in 1569, Jeanne d'Albret's troops burned the cathedral, the convents, and other churches, as well as the bishopric. The inhabitants were massacred. . The Jardin Massey is a large public garden built in the 19th century by Placide Massey horticulturist of the French King Louis Philippe I and the previous chief of the Palace of Versailles' gardens. The garden contains the cloister of the Saint-Sever-de-Rustan Abbey. Some elements of the cloister were originally built in the 15th century for the Carmelite monastery of Trie-sur-Baïse which had been severely damaged during the Huguenot Wars. These parts of the cloister were sold to the Abbey of Saint-Sever-de-Rustan for the restoration of the cloister there, as there as well a band of Huguenots, under the command of the Earl of Montgomery, had settled in the abbey for months, plundered the treasury and destroyed the church. The abbey got restored by the monks at the end of the 16th century and remodeled in the 18th century. It became state property in 1789 and was sold privately in 1792. In 1890, when numerous capitals had already been sold (some of which can be seen today in The Cloisters Museum in New York City), the remaining parts were bought by the city of Tarbes and moved to Jardin Massey. Adam and Eve

A ford made it easier to cross the Adour in ancient times, later the Romans settled in the area. A Christian church may have existed as early as the 4th century Around 840 the Vikings led a devastating raid, but the town recovered and by the end of the 12th century the Count of Bigorre settled in his castle at Tarbes. At the end of the Middle Ages, the city consisted of six separate fortified towns. During the Wars of Religion in 1569, Jeanne d'Albret's troops burned the cathedral, the convents, and other churches, as well as the bishopric. The inhabitants were massacred. . The Jardin Massey is a large public garden built in the 19th century by Placide Massey horticulturist of the French King Louis Philippe I and the previous chief of the Palace of Versailles' gardens. The garden contains the cloister of the Saint-Sever-de-Rustan Abbey. Some elements of the cloister were originally built in the 15th century for the Carmelite monastery of Trie-sur-Baïse which had been severely damaged during the Huguenot Wars. These parts of the cloister were sold to the Abbey of Saint-Sever-de-Rustan for the restoration of the cloister there, as there as well a band of Huguenots, under the command of the Earl of Montgomery, had settled in the abbey for months, plundered the treasury and destroyed the church. The abbey got restored by the monks at the end of the 16th century and remodeled in the 18th century. It became state property in 1789 and was sold privately in 1792. In 1890, when numerous capitals had already been sold (some of which can be seen today in The Cloisters Museum in New York City), the remaining parts were bought by the city of Tarbes and moved to Jardin Massey.

A ford made it easier to cross the Adour in ancient times, later the Romans settled in the area. A Christian church may have existed as early as the 4th century Around 840 the Vikings led a devastating raid, but the town recovered and by the end of the 12th century the Count of Bigorre settled in his castle at Tarbes. At the end of the Middle Ages, the city consisted of six separate fortified towns. During the Wars of Religion in 1569, Jeanne d'Albret's troops burned the cathedral, the convents, and other churches, as well as the bishopric. The inhabitants were massacred. . The Jardin Massey is a large public garden built in the 19th century by Placide Massey horticulturist of the French King Louis Philippe I and the previous chief of the Palace of Versailles' gardens.