Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Morienval

A Benedictine nunnery existed here for centuries. It was founded already within the 9th century. In 920 Carolingian Charles III (aka "Charles the Simple") signed a document confirming privileges bestowed to the convent by his grandfather Charles II (aka "Charles the Bald"). Since the end of the 11th century relics of Saint Annobert were venerated here, about the same time the erection of this church may have started. The process was slow. The "Abbaye Notre-Dame de Morienval" existed upto 1745 and since then the church serves as a parish church. The style and the quality of the sculpted capitals around nave and choir differs. Some carvings are complex and symmetric, some look new (19th century restored?), some even pre-Romanesque or carolingian with spirals like this one.

A Benedictine nunnery existed here for centuries. It was founded already within the 9th century. In 920 Carolingian Charles III (aka "Charles the Simple") signed a document confirming privileges bestowed to the convent by his grandfather Charles II (aka "Charles the Bald"). Since the end of the 11th century relics of Saint Annobert were venerated here, about the same time the erection of this church may have started. The process was slow. The "Abbaye Notre-Dame de Morienval" existed upto 1745 and since then the church serves as a parish church. The style and the quality of the sculpted capitals around nave and choir differs. Some carvings are complex and symmetric, some look new (19th century restored?), some even pre-Romanesque or carolingian with spirals. Here are two large birds.

A Benedictine nunnery existed here for centuries. It was founded already within the 9th century. In 920 Carolingian Charles III (aka "Charles the Simple") signed a document confirming privileges bestowed to the convent by his grandfather Charles II (aka "Charles the Bald"). Since the end of the 11th century relics of Saint Annobert were venerated here, about the same time the erection of this church may have started. The process was slow. The "Abbaye Notre-Dame de Morienval" existed upto 1745 and since then the church serves as a parish church. The church was locked, but thanks to a friendly French couple, the doors opened. Following Anne Prache ("Ile-de-France Romane"), the choir dates to the 12th century, replacing an earlier one. As the terrain on which the apse was built is very steep, it needed a special construction, that is pretty unique! Here is a "row" of capitals from the choir.

A Benedictine nunnery existed here for centuries. It was founded already within the 9th century. In 920 Carolingian Charles III (aka "Charles the Simple") signed a document confirming privileges bestowed to the convent by his grandfather Charles II (aka "Charles the Bald"). Since the end of the 11th century relics of Saint Annobert were venerated here, about the same time the erection of this church may have started. The process was slow. The "Abbaye Notre-Dame de Morienval" existed upto 1745 and since then the church serves as a parish church. The church was locked, but thanks to a friendly French couple, the doors opened. Following Anne Prache ("Ile-de-France Romane"), the choir dates to the 12th century, replacing an earlier one. As the terrain on which the choir was built is very steep, it needed a special construction, that is pretty unique!

A Benedictine nunnery existed here for centuries. It was founded already within the 9th century. In 920 Carolingian Charles III (aka "Charles the Simple") signed a document confirming privileges bestowed to the convent by his grandfather Charles II (aka "Charles the Bald"). Since the end of the 11th century relics of Saint Annobert were venerated here, about the same time the erection of this church may have started. The process was slow. The "Abbaye Notre-Dame de Morienval" existed upto 1745 and since then the church serves as a parish church. The church was locked, but thanks to a friendly French couple, the doors opened. Following Anne Prache ("Ile-de-France Romane"), the choir seen here, dates to the 12th century, replacing an earlier one. As the terrain on which the choir was built is very steep, it needed a special construction. Pretty unique!

A Benedictine nunnery existed here for centuries. It was founded already within the 9th century. In 920 Carolingian Charles III (aka "Charles the Simple") signed a document confirming privileges bestowed to the convent by his grandfather Charles II (aka "Charles the Bald"). Since the end of the 11th century relics of Saint Annobert were venerated here, about the same time the erection of this church may have started. The process was slow. The "Abbaye Notre-Dame de Morienval" existed upto 1745 and since then the church serves as a parish church. The church was locked, but thanks to a friendly French couple, the doors opened. Following Anne Prache ("Ile-de-France Romane"), the first church here had a single nave, enlarged by the side aisles in the 11th century. The vaulting is obviously much younger. The large arch at the crossing reminds me a bit on Vignory, but here is looks more elegant. Note the extraordinary choir.

A Benedictine nunnery existed here for centuries. It was founded already within the 9th century. In 920 Carolingian Charles III (aka "Charles the Simple") signed a document confirming privileges bestowed to the convent by his grandfather Charles II (aka "Charles the Bald"). Since the end of the 11th century relics of Saint Annobert were venerated here, about the same time the erection of this church may have started. The process was slow. The "Abbaye Notre-Dame de Morienval" existed upto 1745 and since then the church serves as a parish church. The church was locked, but thanks to a friendly French couple, the doors were open after while. Waiting for the keys, I found this carving, mounted on a wall next to the church. A medieval abbess, holding crosier and bible, or the Virgin (crown? nimbus?) on a throne. Or saying the abbess represents the Virgin here. Morienval = Valley of Mary?

A Benedictine nunnery existed here for centuries. It was founded already within the 9th century. In 920 Carolingian Charles III (aka "Charles the Simple") signed a document confirming privileges bestowed to the convent by his grandfather Charles II (aka "Charles the Bald"). Since the end of the 11th century relics of Saint Annobert were venerated here, about the same time the erection of this church may have started. The process was slow. The "Abbaye Notre-Dame de Morienval" existed upto 1745 and since then the church serves as a parish church. Two elegant towers flank the choir. The arm of the transept obviously got extended later.

A Benedictine nunnery existed here for centuries. It was founded already within the 9th century. In 920 Carolingian Charles III (aka "Charles the Simple") signed a document confirming privileges bestowed to the convent by his grandfather Charles II (aka "Charles the Bald"). Since the end of the 11th century relics of Saint Annobert were venerated here, about the same time the erection of this church may have started. The process was slow. Major modifications were undertaken around 1625, when the facade, seen here, got created. The convent existed upto 1745 and since then "Notre Dame" serves as a parish church.