Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Moissac

Bernburg is today a city with about 32.000 inhabitants. The current district Waldau was already mentioned in 782 for the first time and in 806 as "Waladala" in the chronicle of Moissac, about 1500 km southwest. (the chronicle is in the Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris today). In 782, at the Diet of Lippspringe, what was then Saxony was divided into Frankish counties and thus became part of the Frankish Empire. The next mention of a Bernburg castle was in 1138, when it is reported that the enemies of Albrecht the Bear infected the "Berneburch". Together with the reconstruction of the castle from the second half of the 12th century, a Slavic settlement was established in front of the castle. In the first half of the 13th century, the Nikolai settlement developed due to the targeted settlement of craftsmen and merchants. The first record of a mill on the Saale dates back to 1219, and the first bridge over the Saale was mentioned in 1239. In 1278, Bernhard I of Anhalt-Bernburg granted the old town and the new town the town charter. In 1293, at the instigation of the abbot of the Nienburg monastery, Slavonic was banned as a court language in Anhalt-Bernburg. - The church of St. Stephani in Bernburg-Waldau was mentioned in 964 as the parish of Gernrode. The current church, erected around 1180, is a flat-roofed dry-stone building with the characteristic staggering of the components apse, chancel, nave, and tower of a Romanesque complex. The west transept tower is older in the lower parts with (bricked-up) simple arched windows than the upper floor with the coupled sound openings. This floor was built at the same time as the construction of the nave and the eastern parts. In the course of various renovations, younger baroque fixtures were removed.

Bernburg is today a city with about 32.000 inhabitants. The current district Waldau was already mentioned in 782 for the first time and in 806 as "Waladala" in the chronicle of Moissac, about 1500 km southwest. (the chronicle is in the Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris today). In 782, at the Diet of Lippspringe, what was then Saxony was divided into Frankish counties and thus became part of the Frankish Empire. The next mention of a Bernburg castle was in 1138, when it is reported that the enemies of Albrecht the Bear infected the "Berneburch". Together with the reconstruction of the castle from the second half of the 12th century, a Slavic settlement was established in front of the castle. In the first half of the 13th century, the Nikolai settlement developed due to the targeted settlement of craftsmen and merchants. The first record of a mill on the Saale dates back to 1219, and the first bridge over the Saale was mentioned in 1239. In 1278, Bernhard I of Anhalt-Bernburg granted the old town and the new town the town charter. In 1293, at the instigation of the abbot of the Nienburg monastery, Slavonic was banned as a court language in Anhalt-Bernburg. - The church of St. Stephani in Bernburg-Waldau was mentioned in 964 as the parish of Gernrode. The current church, erected around 1180, is a flat-roofed dry-stone building with the characteristic staggering of the components apse, chancel, nave, and tower of a Romanesque complex. The west transept tower is older in the lower parts with (bricked-up) simple arched windows than the upper floor with the coupled sound openings. This floor was built at the same time as the construction of the nave and the eastern parts.

Bernburg is today a city with about 32.000 inhabitants. The current district Waldau was already mentioned in 782 for the first time and in 806 as "Waladala" in the chronicle of Moissac, about 1500 km southwest. (the chronicle is in the Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris today). In 782, at the Diet of Lippspringe, what was then Saxony was divided into Frankish counties and thus became part of the Frankish Empire. The next mention of a Bernburg castle was in 1138, when it is reported that the enemies of Albrecht the Bear infected the "Berneburch". Together with the reconstruction of the castle from the second half of the 12th century, a Slavic settlement was established in front of the castle. In the first half of the 13th century, the Nikolai settlement developed due to the targeted settlement of craftsmen and merchants. The first record of a mill on the Saale dates back to 1219, and the first bridge over the Saale was mentioned in 1239. In 1278, Bernhard I of Anhalt-Bernburg granted the old town and the new town the town charter. In 1293, at the instigation of the abbot of the Nienburg monastery, Slavonic was banned as a court language in Anhalt-Bernburg. - The church of St. Stephani in Bernburg-Waldau was mentioned in 964 as the parish of Gernrode. The current church, erected around 1180, is a flat-roofed dry-stone building with the characteristic staggering of the components apse, chancel, nave, and tower of a Romanesque complex. The west transept tower is older in the lower parts with (bricked-up) simple arched windows than the upper floor with the coupled sound openings. This floor was built at the same time as the construction of the nave and the eastern parts.

Bernburg is today a city with about 32.000 inhabitants. The current district Waldau was already mentioned in 782 for the first time and in 806 as "Waladala" in the chronicle of Moissac, about 1500 km southwest. (the chronicle is in the Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris today). In 782, at the Diet of Lippspringe, what was then Saxony was divided into Frankish counties and thus became part of the Frankish Empire. The next mention of a Bernburg castle was in 1138, when it is reported that the enemies of Albrecht the Bear infected the "Berneburch". Together with the reconstruction of the castle from the second half of the 12th century, a Slavic settlement was established in front of the castle. In the first half of the 13th century, the Nikolai settlement developed due to the targeted settlement of craftsmen and merchants. The first record of a mill on the Saale dates back to 1219, and the first bridge over the Saale was mentioned in 1239. In 1278, Bernhard I of Anhalt-Bernburg granted the old town and the new town the town charter. In 1293, at the instigation of the abbot of the Nienburg monastery, Slavonic was banned as a court language in Anhalt-Bernburg. St. Nikolai was founded as the parish church of the new town in Bernburg. The church was a four-bay Gothic pillar basilica and a westwork originally planned with two towers. The choir as the oldest part of 1240. On the north side is the slightly younger barrel-vaulted sacristy with gable-crowned buttresses, which was extended to the west in a second construction phase. The nave was built by about 1300, of which only the north wall and the pressed ogival northern arcade with square piers from the third quarter of the 13th century are preserved. Luckily I met the lady with the key. She let me in and showed my around. Thank you very much! Once a day the weights of the tower clock have to be pulled up.

Bernburg is today a city with about 32.000 inhabitants. The current district Waldau was already mentioned in 782 for the first time and in 806 as "Waladala" in the chronicle of Moissac, about 1500 km southwest. (the chronicle is in the Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris today). In 782, at the Diet of Lippspringe, what was then Saxony was divided into Frankish counties and thus became part of the Frankish Empire. The next mention of a Bernburg castle was in 1138, when it is reported that the enemies of Albrecht the Bear infected the "Berneburch". Together with the reconstruction of the castle from the second half of the 12th century, a Slavic settlement was established in front of the castle. In the first half of the 13th century, the Nikolai settlement developed due to the targeted settlement of craftsmen and merchants. The first record of a mill on the Saale dates back to 1219, and the first bridge over the Saale was mentioned in 1239. In 1278, Bernhard I of Anhalt-Bernburg granted the old town and the new town the town charter. In 1293, at the instigation of the abbot of the Nienburg monastery, Slavonic was banned as a court language in Anhalt-Bernburg. St. Nikolai was founded as the parish church of the new town in Bernburg. The church was a four-bay Gothic pillar basilica and a westwork originally planned with two towers. The choir as the oldest part of 1240. On the north side is the slightly younger barrel-vaulted sacristy with gable-crowned buttresses, which was extended to the west in a second construction phase. The nave was built by about 1300, of which only the north wall and the pressed ogival northern arcade with square piers from the third quarter of the 13th century are preserved. Luckily I met the lady with the key. She let me in and showed my around. Thank you very much! The Crucifix

Bernburg is today a city with about 32.000 inhabitants. The current district Waldau was already mentioned in 782 for the first time and in 806 as "Waladala" in the chronicle of Moissac, about 1500 km southwest. (the chronicle is in the Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris today). In 782, at the Diet of Lippspringe, what was then Saxony was divided into Frankish counties and thus became part of the Frankish Empire. The next mention of a Bernburg castle was in 1138, when it is reported that the enemies of Albrecht the Bear infected the "Berneburch". Together with the reconstruction of the castle from the second half of the 12th century, a Slavic settlement was established in front of the castle. In the first half of the 13th century, the Nikolai settlement developed due to the targeted settlement of craftsmen and merchants. The first record of a mill on the Saale dates back to 1219, and the first bridge over the Saale was mentioned in 1239. In 1278, Bernhard I of Anhalt-Bernburg granted the old town and the new town the town charter. In 1293, at the instigation of the abbot of the Nienburg monastery, Slavonic was banned as a court language in Anhalt-Bernburg. St. Nikolai was founded as the parish church of the new town in Bernburg. The church was a four-bay Gothic pillar basilica and a westwork originally planned with two towers. The choir as the oldest part of 1240. On the north side is the slightly younger barrel-vaulted sacristy with gable-crowned buttresses, which was extended to the west in a second construction phase. The nave was built by about 1300, of which only the north wall and the pressed ogival northern arcade with square piers from the third quarter of the 13th century are preserved. Luckily I met the lady with the key. She let me in and showed my around. Thank you very much! The center of the winged altar shows the Pentecost scene

Bernburg is today a city with about 32000 inhabitants. The current district Waldau was already mentioned in 782 for the first time and in 806 as "Waladala" in the chronicle of Moissac, about 1500 km southwest. (the chronicle is in the Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris today). In 782, at the Diet of Lippspringe, what was then Saxony was divided into Frankish counties and thus became part of the Frankish Empire. The next mention of a Bernburg castle was in 1138, when it is reported that the enemies of Albrecht the Bear infected the "Berneburch". Together with the reconstruction of the castle from the second half of the 12th century, a Slavic settlement was established in front of the castle. In the first half of the 13th century, the Nikolai settlement developed due to the targeted settlement of craftsmen and merchants. The first record of a mill on the Saale dates back to 1219, and the first bridge over the Saale was mentioned in 1239. In 1278, Bernhard I of Anhalt-Bernburg granted the old town and the new town the town charter. In 1293, at the instigation of the abbot of the Nienburg monastery, Slavonic was banned as a court language in Anhalt-Bernburg. St. Nikolai was founded as the parish church of the new town in Bernburg. The church was a four-bay Gothic pillar basilica and a westwork originally planned with two towers. The choir as the oldest part of 1240. On the north side is the slightly younger barrel-vaulted sacristy with gable-crowned buttresses, which was extended to the west in a second construction phase. The nave was built by about 1300, of which only the north wall and the pressed ogival northern arcade with square piers from the third quarter of the 13th century are preserved. Luckily I met the lady with the key. She let me in and showed my around. Thank you very much! The nave. The left side is still late Romanesque, the right side is Gothic.

Bernburg is today a city with about 32000 inhabitants. The current district Waldau was already mentioned in 782 for the first time and in 806 as "Waladala" in the chronicle of Moissac, about 1500 km southwest. (the chronicle is in the Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris today). In 782, at the Diet of Lippspringe, what was then Saxony was divided into Frankish counties and thus became part of the Frankish Empire. The next mention of a Bernburg castle was in 1138, when it is reported that the enemies of Albrecht the Bear infected the "Berneburch". Together with the reconstruction of the castle from the second half of the 12th century, a Slavic settlement was established in front of the castle. In the first half of the 13th century, the Nikolai settlement developed due to the targeted settlement of craftsmen and merchants. The first record of a mill on the Saale dates back to 1219, and the first bridge over the Saale was mentioned in 1239. In 1278, Bernhard I of Anhalt-Bernburg granted the old town and the new town the town charter. In 1293, at the instigation of the abbot of the Nienburg monastery, Slavonic was banned as a court language in Anhalt-Bernburg. St. Nikolai was founded as the parish church of the new town in Bernburg. The church was a four-bay Gothic pillar basilica and a westwork originally planned with two towers. The choir as the oldest part of 1240. On the north side is the slightly younger barrel-vaulted sacristy with gable-crowned buttresses, which was extended to the west in a second construction phase. The nave was built by about 1300, of which only the north wall and the pressed ogival northern arcade with square piers from the third quarter of the 13th century are preserved. Luckily I met the lady with the key. She let me in and showed my around. Thank you very much!

The remains of a Gallo-Roman settlement were discovered as early as 1840. This settlement was replaced by the Visigoths. Their fortifications here controlled the route from Toulouse to Lyon, as there was a ford to cross the river. At the end of the 12th century, the beginning of the 13th century, the town was a stronghold of the Cathars. During the Albigensian Crusade, Rabastens was loyal to Raymond VII of Toulouse, who lost - and so the town had to demolish its walls in 1229. As in Castelsarrasin, the "shepherds" (Crusade of the Shepherds, Croisade des pastoureaux) attacked the Jewish communities. In 1337, during the Hundred Years War, the troops of Gaston Febus, Count of Foix and Béarn, massacred more than a thousand men inside the city walls. The Notre-Dame du Bourg church was built between 1230 and 1260 on the initiative of the Benedictine monks of Moissac, who were present at the priory in the 12th century. It has a large, rectangular, single-nave nave and is made entirely of brick modeled on the Saint-Étienne Cathedral in Toulouse. In the 14th century, Prior Bernard Latour decided to add a polygonal chancel to the nave. In July 2022 the church was under renovation and closed.

The remains of a Gallo-Roman settlement were discovered as early as 1840. This settlement was replaced by the Visigoths. Their fortifications here controlled the route from Toulouse to Lyon, as there was a ford to cross the river. At the end of the 12th century, the beginning of the 13th century, the town was a stronghold of the Cathars. During the Albigensian Crusade, Rabastens was loyal to Raymond VII of Toulouse, who lost - and so the town had to demolish its walls in 1229. As in Castelsarrasin, the "shepherds" (Crusade of the Shepherds, Croisade des pastoureaux) attacked the Jewish communities. In 1337, during the Hundred Years War, the troops of Gaston Febus, Count of Foix and Béarn, massacred more than a thousand men inside the city walls. The Notre-Dame du Bourg church was built between 1230 and 1260 on the initiative of the Benedictine monks of Moissac, who were present at the priory in the 12th century. It has a large, rectangular, single-nave nave and is made entirely of brick modeled on the Saint-Étienne Cathedral in Toulouse. In the 14th century, Prior Bernard Latour decided to add a polygonal chancel to the nave. In July 2022 the church was under renovation and closed.

A legend has it that Saint-Pierre Abbey was founded by the Frankish king Clovis in 506, but historians proved that it was actually founded by the Bishop of Cahors in the 7th century. The monastery did not have it easy. It was attacked twice by Moorish troops in the 8th century. A hundred years later, the Normans rowed up the Garonne and raided the place. After Hungarian troops plundered and finally destroyed it in the 10th century, the monastery was rebuilt. When the pilgrimage to Santiago became popular, the Abbey of Cluny was annexed and was an important stop on the Via Podensis. This was the golden age for the abbey and abbots investing in architecture and art. The Romanesque church, consecrated in 1063, was completely destroyed during the Albigensian Crusade. The church was rebuilt after the war, but the portal, which was built around 1110/1130, has survived the times. ---- I have been to Moissac a number of times and have uploaded many photos. Now I will only add a few. The Entombment of Christ / Mise au Tombeau 15th century - A detail

A legend has it that Saint-Pierre Abbey was founded by the Frankish king Clovis in 506, but historians proved that it was actually founded by the Bishop of Cahors in the 7th century. The monastery did not have it easy. It was attacked twice by Moorish troops in the 8th century. A hundred years later, the Normans rowed up the Garonne and raided the place. After Hungarian troops plundered and finally destroyed it in the 10th century, the monastery was rebuilt. When the pilgrimage to Santiago became popular, the Abbey of Cluny was annexed and was an important stop on the Via Podensis. This was the golden age for the abbey and abbots investing in architecture and art. The Romanesque church, consecrated in 1063, was completely destroyed during the Albigensian Crusade. The church was rebuilt after the war, but the portal, which was built around 1110/1130, has survived the times. ---- I have been to Moissac a number of times and have uploaded many photos. Now I will only add a few. The Entombment of Christ / Mise au Tombeau 15th century

A legend has it that Saint-Pierre Abbey was founded by the Frankish king Clovis in 506, but historians proved that it was actually founded by the Bishop of Cahors in the 7th century. The monastery did not have it easy. It was attacked twice by Moorish troops in the 8th century. A hundred years later, the Normans rowed up the Garonne and raided the place. After Hungarian troops plundered and finally destroyed it in the 10th century, the monastery was rebuilt. When the pilgrimage to Santiago became popular, the Abbey of Cluny was annexed and was an important stop on the Via Podensis. This was the golden age for the abbey and abbots investing in architecture and art. The Romanesque church, consecrated in 1063, was completely destroyed during the Albigensian Crusade. The church was rebuilt after the war, but the portal, which was built around 1110/1130, has survived the times. ---- I have been to Moissac a number of times and have uploaded many photos. Now I will only add a few.

A legend has it that Saint-Pierre Abbey was founded by the Frankish king Clovis in 506, but historians proved that it was actually founded by the Bishop of Cahors in the 7th century. The monastery did not have it easy. It was attacked twice by Moorish troops in the 8th century. A hundred years later, the Normans rowed up the Garonne and raided the place. After Hungarian troops plundered and finally destroyed it in the 10th century, the monastery was rebuilt. When the pilgrimage to Santiago became popular, the Abbey of Cluny was annexed and was an important stop on the Via Podensis. This was the golden age for the abbey and abbots investing in architecture and art. The Romanesque church, consecrated in 1063, was completely destroyed during the Albigensian Crusade. The portal, which was built around 1110/1130, has survived the times. It's a magnificent piece of Romanesque art. ---- I have been to Moissac a number of times and have uploaded many photos. Now I will only add a few. ---- The Presentation in the Temple and the Flight into Egypt

Raoul de Bourges (aka "Saint Raoul"), archbishop of Bourges, son of the Count of Turenne founded an abbey on the banks of the Dordogne river in the 9th century with the help of monks from Solignac, where Raoul had started his clerical career. After feudal quarrels, the abbey Saint-Pierre joined the Cluniac movement in 1076 and soon after the erection of this church started. It was completed already mid 12th century. Though not situated at the busy pilgrim routes (eg "Via Podensis" runs about 60kms south) a large, typical "pilgrim church" was created here. It may well been, that the relics, that were on display here (Saint-Prime, Saint-Félicien, Sainte-Félicité) and the proximity to Rocamador (30kms southwest) motivated many pilgrims to do a detour. The abbey slipped into difficult times, when the number of pilgrims shrunk and feudal claims emerged again. The abbey and the city of Beaulieu suffered of the Wars of Religion. The Huguenots took over Beaulieu in 1569 and the monks had to flee. After the "Ligue Catholique" had reconquered the place, the monks returned and soon after the convent joined the Congregation of Saint Maur. The abbey existed upto the French revolution, when the last 6 monks had to leave. The abbey buildings got sold and demolished, while the church was taken over by the parish. The structure was in a ruined state at that time. The nave partly collapsed in 1808, but a difficult renovation undertaken end of the 19th century finally saved the church. Here is a detail of Saint-Pierre´s southern portal, that has a wonderful tympanum and pretty undamaged tympanum, created 1130/40 (see previous upload). Like the portal of the Abbaye Saint-Pierre in Moissac, the sides of the porch have carvings. These carvings are very weathered and were probably vandalized. This is the porch´s right side. It is hard to find out, what scene is seen here. I see Christ (cross-nimbus) and a devil, so this may be the Temptation. Again here are interesting architectural details. The tower to the left has an inscription, but I could not read it.

Raoul de Bourges (aka "Saint Raoul"), archbishop of Bourges, son of the Count of Turenne founded an abbey on the banks of the Dordogne river in the 9th century with the help of monks from Solignac, where Raoul had started his clerical career. After feudal quarrels, the abbey Saint-Pierre joined the Cluniac movement in 1076 and soon after the erection of this church started. It was completed already mid 12th century. Though not situated at the busy pilgrim routes (eg "Via Podensis" runs about 60kms south) a large, typical "pilgrim church" was created here. It may well been, that the relics, that were on display here (Saint-Prime, Saint-Félicien, Sainte-Félicité) and the proximity to Rocamador (30kms southwest) motivated many pilgrims to do a detour. The abbey slipped into difficult times, when the number of pilgrims shrunk and feudal claims emerged again. The abbey and the city of Beaulieu suffered of the Wars of Religion. The Huguenots took over Beaulieu in 1569 and the monks had to flee. After the "Ligue Catholique" had reconquered the place, the monks returned and soon after the convent joined the Congregation of Saint Maur. The abbey existed upto the French revolution, when the last 6 monks had to leave. The abbey buildings got sold and demolished, while the church was taken over by the parish. The structure was in a ruined state at that time. The nave partly collapsed in 1808, but a difficult renovation undertaken end of the 19th century finally saved the church. Here is a detail of Saint-Pierre´s southern portal, that has a wonderful tympanum and pretty undamaged tympanum, created 1130/40. Like the portal of the Abbaye Saint-Pierre in Moissac, the sides of the porch have carvings. These carvings are very weathered and were probably vandalized. This is the porch´s left side. It is hard to find out, what scene is seen here. Interesting are the bits of architecture. There are three arches and two towers on the left (looks like a church) - and a large, elaborate arch covers the couple and the animals to the right. Daniel in the Lion´s Den? The angel to the left carried Habakuk? And now Habakuk sits next to Daniel in the Den? Daniel petting a lion on his lap?

Raoul de Bourges (aka "Saint Raoul"), archbishop of Bourges, son of the Count of Turenne founded an abbey on the banks of the Dordogne river in the 9th century with the help of monks from Solignac, where Raoul had started his clerical career. After feudal quarrels, the abbey Saint-Pierre joined the Cluniac movement in 1076 and soon after the erection of this church started. It was completed already mid 12th century. Though not situated at the busy pilgrim routes (eg "Via Podensis" runs about 60kms south) a large, typical "pilgrim church" was created here. It may well been, that the relics, that were on display here (Saint-Prime, Saint-Félicien, Sainte-Félicité) and the proximity to Rocamador (30kms southwest) motivated many pilgrims to do a detour. The abbey slipped into difficult times, when the number of pilgrims shrunk and feudal claims emerged again. The abbey and the city of Beaulieu suffered of the Wars of Religion. The Huguenots took over Beaulieu in 1569 and the monks had to flee. After the "Ligue Catholique" had reconquered the place, the monks returned and soon after the convent joined the Congregation of Saint Maur. The abbey existed upto the French revolution, when the last 6 monks had to leave. The abbey buildings got sold and demolished, while the church was taken over by the parish. The structure was in a ruined state at that time. The nave partly collapsed in 1808, but a difficult renovation undertaken end of the 19th century finally saved the church. Here is a detail of Saint-Pierre´s southern portal, that has a wonderful tympanum and pretty undamaged tympanum, created 1130/40 (see previous upload). These three carvings are older, rougher and may have been created for another place once. The rough reliefs do not really "fit" into the portal, they seem like spolia, glued onto the outside wall. I´m not sure about the left figure. Maybe a beggar, holding a bowl. In the center a miser with a moneybag. On the right a large Luxuria. She has a cousin in Moissac.

Raoul de Bourges (aka "Saint Raoul"), archbishop of Bourges, son of the Count of Turenne founded an abbey on the banks of the Dordogne river in the 9th century with the help of monks from Solignac, where Raoul had started his clerical career. After feudal quarrels, the abbey Saint-Pierre joined the Cluniac movement in 1076 and soon after the erection of this church started. It was completed already mid 12th century. Though not situated at the busy pilgrim routes (eg "Via Podensis" runs about 60kms south) a large, typical "pilgrim church" was created here. It may well been, that the relics, that were on display here (Saint-Prime, Saint-Félicien, Sainte-Félicité) and the proximity to Rocamador (30kms southwest) motivated many pilgrims to do a detour. The abbey slipped into difficult times, when the number of pilgrims shrunk and feudal claims emerged again. The abbey and the city of Beaulieu suffered of the Wars of Religion. The Huguenots took over Beaulieu in 1569 and the monks had to flee. After the "Ligue Catholique" had reconquered the place, the monks returned and soon after the convent joined the Congregation of Saint Maur. The abbey existed upto the French revolution, when the last 6 monks had to leave. The abbey buildings got sold and demolished, while the church was taken over by the parish. The structure was in a ruined state at that time. The nave partly collapsed in 1808, but a difficult renovation undertaken end of the 19th century finally saved the church. Here is Saint-Pierre´s southern portal. Under a porch is a huge (and pretty undamaged!) tympanum, created 1130/40. It has parallels to (little older) Moissac, but differs in many details, themes and style. Like Moissac it has a remarkable trumeau supporting a "double"-lintel.