Album Vienne (86) and Deux-Sèvres (79) from Martin M. Miles

Nécropole de Monpalais

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 19:50:03 +0000

The Nécropole de Monpalais is located south-east of Thouars. The necropolis originally consisted of nine dolmens and a tumulus. The megalithic structures were excavated and partially restored in the 1950s and 1960s.

Nécropole de Monpalais

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 22:07:59 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Bressuire - Saint-Cyprien

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 21:50:16 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Bressuire - Château de Bressuire

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 20:28:58 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

In the Middle Ages, the town was called Castrum Berzoriacum. During the Hundred Years' War, it was temporarily caught between the English and French fronts; it was destroyed during the Huguenot Wars. It was also fought over during the Vendée Uprising at the time of the French Revolution.
eau de Bressuire
The site of the castle has been inhabited continuously since the Celtic era. The castle was built on the site of an oppidum of the Gauls and was first mentioned in a document in 1029. In 1190, the castle consisted of an almost 700 metre long complex with 38 towers surrounding the center fortress, which in turn was defended by eight towers.

The visible remains essentially date from the end of the 12th and the beginning of the 13th century. Over the centuries the castle belonged to several families, but its maintenance was neglected. In 1876, the building partially collapsed. The Bernard family bought the castle in the same year. In 1880, a neo-Gothic castle was built in the castle courtyard, which was set back from the earlier building.

Bressuire - Notre-Dame

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 19:57:29 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

In the Middle Ages, the town was called Castrum Berzoriacum. During the Hundred Years' War, it was temporarily caught between the English and French fronts; it was destroyed during the Huguenot Wars. It was also fought over during the Vendée Uprising at the time of the French Revolution.

The church was mentioned as early as 1090, and parts of Notre-Dame date back to the 12th century. The late Gothic, square choir area dates back to the 15th century. At the mid of the 16th century, the 56m-metre-high massive tower was added.

Details of the capitals.

On the left, shepherds carrying sheep on their shoulders. An icon that is frequently found in Auvergne.
On the right, a musician with a double flute. This icon was very common in the 12th century.

Bressuire - Notre-Dame

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 17:42:36 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

In the Middle Ages, the town was called Castrum Berzoriacum. During the Hundred Years' War, it was temporarily caught between the English and French fronts; it was destroyed during the Huguenot Wars. It was also fought over during the Vendée Uprising at the time of the French Revolution.

The church was mentioned as early as 1090, and parts of Notre-Dame date back to the 12th century. The late Gothic, square choir area dates back to the 15th century. At the mid of the 16th century, the 56m-metre-high massive tower was added.

Details of the capitals.

On the left, shepherds carrying sheep on their shoulders. An icon that is frequently found in Auvergne.
On the right, a musician with a double flute. This icon was very common in the 12th century.

Bressuire - Notre-Dame

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 17:05:54 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Bressuire - Notre-Dame

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 16:54:12 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Bressuire - Notre-Dame

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 16:40:39 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Bressuire - Notre-Dame

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 15:10:30 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Dolmen de la Voie

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 13:43:12 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

The Dolmen de la Voie is an "allée couverte", a very long dolmen consisting of a single chamber. Its floor plan corresponds to that of a long corridor. Date of origin ca 3000 BC

Château de Saint-Mesmin

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 22:06:02 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

The Château de Saint-Mesmin, a medieval fortress from the 14th century, is located in the commune of Saint-André-sur-Sèvre. However, the castle bears the name of a commune in the Vendée department , located less than two kilometers away: Saint-Mesmin .

A fiefdom of several families since the 14th century. After a long period of deterioration, the castle was restored in the 1980s and is now the property of a joint syndicate bringing together the departments of Vendée and Deux-Sèvres, which open it to visitors.

Saint Savin - Saint Savin

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 11:37:04 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

It is unknown when this important abbey was founded here. Legends tell, that Charlemagne was involved as well as his son Louis the Pious and Benedict of Aniane.

The church was erected from about 1050 on. As in the crypt of the large church the relics of St. Savin and St. Cyprian were displayed, a large ambulatory with five radial chapels was added for the many pilgrims. The church burnt down during the Hundred Years' War, but got rebuilt and reconstructed in the 17th and 19th century.

As many medieval frescoes and murals have survived here since 1983 the "Abbey Church of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe" has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are about 400m² of frescoes. Under the barrel vault of the nave´s ceiling, 17 meters over ground, is indeed a "picture book". André Malraux hailed this as "the Sistine Chapel of the Romanesque period". It is well restored and breathtaking!

Though I have already uploaded photos from previous visits, I will add some more.

Saint Savin - Saint Savin

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 09:30:30 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Saint Savin - Saint Savin

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Sun, 07 Mar 2021 20:27:39 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Saint Savin - Saint Savin

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Sun, 07 Mar 2021 19:43:47 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Saint Savin - Saint Savin

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Sun, 07 Mar 2021 15:39:29 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Saint Savin - Saint-Savin

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Sun, 07 Mar 2021 11:07:40 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Saint-Germain - Saint-Germain

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Fri, 05 Mar 2021 09:39:29 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

The area along the Gartempe is known for medieval murals. One or more studios have worked here and even small village churches often have fantastic works. Some years ago I followed the Gartempe, but the church in Saint-Germain was locked, so I tried again.

It was still locked.

Civaux - Boulangerie Rambault

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Sat, 09 May 2020 08:51:18 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Civaux had a Christian church with a baptistery already in very early times. Today there is a wonderful Romanesque church. Once there was a huge Merovingian necropolis (estimated are up to 16000 sarcophagi), of which hundreds can still be seen on the local graveyard. There is as well an ugly nuclear power plant - and just opposite the church this boulangerie.