Album Lozère (48) and Gard (30) from Martin M. Miles

Uzès - Chapellerie

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 14:43:23 +0000

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Uzès - St.-Théodorit

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 14:28:49 +0000

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Uzès - St.-Théodorit

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 11:47:19 +0000

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Uzès was a small Gallo-Roman oppidum near the huge Roman aqueduct, today named Pont du Gard.
In the early 8th century, Uzès was a fortified civitas and bishopric under the Archbishop of Narbonne. During the Saracen invasion, Uzès became a stronghold of the Saracens and in 736 Charles Martel besieged the, but it remained in Saracen hands up to 752. A year later the former stronghold rebelled against the Franks - unsuccessfully.

The romanesque cathedral Saint-Théodorit was destroyed within the Cathar Crusade, was rebuilt but destroyed again during the Wars of Religion. The church of today was constructed within the 17th century. Just the 12th-century bell-tower, named today "Tour Fenestrelle" survived the centuries (though "reconstructed" in the higher levels). The tower is round - and seems to be a very close cousin of the Italian campaniles. There are many carvings around the tower - here are two of them.

Uzès - St.-Théodorit

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Sun, 21 Mar 2021 23:06:10 +0000

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Gorges du Tarn

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 13:14:36 +0000

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The Gorges du Tarn, and of two tributaries la Jonte and la Dourbie, cut through a high limestone plateau area known as Les Causses.

La Capelle - Saint Martin

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 22:03:37 +0000

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Since 1973 the formerly small, but independent municipality of La Capelle is part of La Canourgue that by now has a population of more than 2000.

St. Martin was probably built after the 12th century and its Romanesque architecture was altered in the course of the centuries. Originally this was a single-nave church with three bays. The side chapels were added in the 17th century, the steeple dates from the 19th century.

The interior once was adorned with frescoes inside as well is this rough carving. The information given here says it "could be a vestige from an older chapel. It represents a hunter holding a spear with an animal on either side (...) So far no reliable interpretation has been given".

La Capelle - Saint Martin

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 14:27:41 +0000

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La Capelle - Saint Martin

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 10:53:53 +0000

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Aubrac

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:40:49 +0000

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....there were no trees. A vast empty place, divided by old stonewalls and populated only by a couple of cows and sheep...

Aubrac

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:38:45 +0000

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..after all I reached the plateau de Aubrac, a high, empty and pretty windy
place. I forgot to say, that it was swampy too...

The Beast de Aubrac

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:42:57 +0000

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... - - immediately - slowly - cautiously - and - cowardly - I climbed back over the electric fence, when the father of all calves in the Aubrac got obviously pretty interested in me. A beast of a bull. As soon, as I was over the fence, he calmed down and I could get my camera out....

--------------

In summer 2010, I saw his even bigger brother, but then, the distance between him and me, was much bigger.

www.flickr.com/photos/martin-m-miles/4986870734/in/pool-s...

La Capelle - Saint Martin

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 21:57:50 +0000

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Les Quatre Chemins - Chez Regine

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 17:59:17 +0000

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All "pelerins" having ever walked the Via Podensis (GR65) know this place. Some hours after having passed through Aumont Aubrac, there is a junction, named "Les Quatre Chemins" and there is this auberge.

It looked different, when I had a (terrible) coffee here in 2009 (Coke is ok). The building was heavily damaged by a fire in February 2011, but it meanwhile got rebuilt.

The auberge was founded by Régine Soulier´s grandparents in 1903 and has seen many thousands of pelerins since then. I had a coke there, Régine was still behind the bar.

Fontans - Saint Pierre

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 14:20:24 +0000

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Fontans - Saint Pierre

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 14:06:15 +0000

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Fontans - Saint Pierre

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 09:38:35 +0000

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Just like neighbouring Saint-Denis-en-Margeride Fontans has lost most of its population over the last decade due to the rural exodus. Today about 200 people live near the 12th century church, dedicated to St. Peter. Four men are needed to ring the bells. The once probably single nave church got obviously enlarged later.

Two modifications are visible at once. One is the Gothic vaulting, the church originally may have a flat ceiling, the other one is the 19th century decoration, that today looks a bit gaudy.

Fontans - Saint Pierre

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Sun, 29 Mar 2020 21:41:41 +0000

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Just like neighbouring Saint-Denis-en-Margeride Fontans has lost most of its population over the last decade due to the rural exodus. Today about 200 people live near the 12th century church, dedicated to St. Peter. Four men are needed to ring the bells. The once probably single nave church got onviously enlarged later.
The bells:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYlLefhruAs

Fontans - Saint Pierre

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Sun, 29 Mar 2020 18:19:14 +0000

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Saint-Denis-en-Margeride - Saint Denis

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Sun, 29 Mar 2020 16:07:34 +0000

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The rural exodus let the population of Saint-Denis-en-Margeride shrink by 80% over the last 120 years. Less than 200 people now live in the village. Located in the centre is this12th century parish church.

Grandrieu - Saint Martin

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Sat, 28 Mar 2020 22:16:26 +0000

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There are two theories around the founding of this church. One connects it to the Lords of Montauroux, who owned the area, the other connects it to the influence of Norman or Breton monks, claiming the 12th/13th century church was built by monks from Brittany. This would explain, why the near chapel (see prev. uploads) was dedicated to (Breton) Saint Méen.

In 1923, when restoration work carried out in the south side chapel, 14th century fresco paintings were found.

The gilded statue of the virgin has a somehow "medieval look", but is probably quite young.