Photos, videos and docs of Martin M. Miles, with the keywords: "Maillezais"

Maillezais - Saint-Nicolas

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Sat, 19 Oct 2013 22:27:27 +0000

Maillezais, a small town with a population of less than 1000, is known for it´s old monastery, founded in the very swampy "Marais Poitevin" in 989. It developed well, when the land around got reclaimed. Later even was a bishop´s see was here. Only some ruins are left of the former Gothic cathedral, as it was burned down by Huguenots during the Wars of Religion and sold as a quarry to local entrepreneurs after the French Revolution.

Saint Nicolas, the parish church had a better fate, though vandalized and severely damaged during the Wars of Religion as well, it did not get ruined like the cathedral. The western facade is built in the "style saintonge" with the flanking blind arches.

Capitals and corbels decorate the walls of the nave and the apse. Many corbels are renovated, sometimes even missing parts have been replaced.

Here is a duo, that must have sucessfully toured around western France in the 12th century, as the musician playing the vielle and his collegue, the harpist, can be found under the roofs of many churches.

Maillezais - Saint-Nicolas

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Sat, 19 Oct 2013 21:55:45 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Maillezais, a small town with a population of less than 1000, is known for it´s old monastery, founded in the very swampy "Marais Poitevin" in 989. It developed well, when the land around got reclaimed. Later even was a bishop´s see was here. Only some ruins are left of the former Gothic cathedral, as it was burned down by Huguenots during the Wars of Religion and sold as a quarry to local entrepreneurs after the French Revolution.

Saint Nicolas, the parish church had a better fate, though vandalized and severely damaged during the Wars of Religion as well, it did not get ruined like the cathedral. The western facade is built in the "style saintonge" with the flanking blind arches.

Capitals and corbels decorate the walls of the nave and the apse. Many corbels are renovated, sometimes missing parts have been replaced. Here is a very flexible cat with a pretty short tail.

Maillezais - Saint-Nicolas

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Sat, 19 Oct 2013 20:19:39 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Maillezais, a small town with a population of less than 1000, is known for it´s old monastery, founded in the very swampy "Marais Poitevin" in 989. It developed well, when the land around got reclaimed. Later even was a bishop´s see was here. Only some ruins are left of the former Gothic cathedral, as it was burned down by Huguenots during the Wars of Religion and sold as a quarry to local entrepreneurs after the French Revolution.

Saint Nicolas, the parish church had a better fate, though vandalized and severely damaged during the Wars of Religion as well, it did not get ruined like the cathedral. The western facade is built in the "style saintonge" with the flanking blind arches.

Capitals and corbels decorate the walls of the nave and the apse. Many corbels are renovated, sometimes missing parts have been replaced. Though a part of the right side got lost, the sunbathing manticore is untouched.

Maillezais - Saint-Nicolas

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Sat, 19 Oct 2013 19:54:32 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Maillezais, a small town with a population of less than 1000, is known for it´s old monastery, founded in the very swampy "Marais Poitevin" in 989. It developed well, when the land around got reclaimed. Later even was a bishop´s see was here. Only some ruins are left of the former Gothic cathedral, as it was burned down by Huguenots during the Wars of Religion and sold as a quarry to local entrepreneurs after the French Revolution.

Saint Nicolas, the parish church had a better fate, though vandalized and severely damaged during the Wars of Religion as well, it did not get ruined like the cathedral. The western facade is built in the "style saintonge" with the flanking blind arches.

Many capitals and corbels decorate the walls of the nave. Here is a knight in a "Present Arms"-pose, the winged dragon is already impatiently waiting for the fight around the corner. I can hear announcer Michael Buffer´s "Let's get ready to rumble!"

Maillezais - Saint-Nicolas

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Sat, 19 Oct 2013 19:06:03 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Maillezais, a small town with a population of less than 1000, is known for it´s old monastery, founded in the very swampy "Marais Poitevin" in 989. It developed well, when the land around got reclaimed. Later even was a bishop´s see was here. Only some ruins are left of the former Gothic cathedral, as it was burned down by Huguenots during the Wars of Religion and sold as a quarry to local entrepreneurs after the French Revolution.

Saint Nicolas, the parish church had a better fate, though vandalized and severely damaged during the Wars of Religion as well, it did not get ruined like the cathedral. The western facade is built in the "style saintonge" with the flanking blind arches.

There are nice capitals at the facade. The "Master off Beasts" is well dressed - and seems to be a bit chicken-hearted, but he is not. The lions display their teeth and are frightening, but the master firmly holds their paws with his hands.

Maillezais - Saint-Nicolas

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Sat, 19 Oct 2013 15:23:35 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Maillezais, a small town with a population of less than 1000, is known for it´s old monastery, founded in the very swampy "Marais Poitevin" in 989. It developed well, when the land around got reclaimed. Later even was a bishop´s see was here. Only some ruins are left of the former Gothic cathedral, as it was burned down by Huguenots during the Wars of Religion and sold as a quarry to local entrepreneurs after the French Revolution.

Saint Nicolas, the parish church had a better fate, though vandalized and severely damaged during the Wars of Religion as well, it did not get ruined like the cathedral. The western facade is built in the "style saintonge" with the flanking blind arches.

There are nice capitals at the facade. A weathered mermaid with two flippers and four long braids under a frieze of partridges. The seashore was very near to Maillezais within the 12th century. So the carvers will have had first hand experiences with mermaids.

Maillezais - Saint-Nicolas

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Sat, 19 Oct 2013 14:44:12 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Maillezais, a small town with a population of less than 1000, is known for it´s old monastery, founded in the very swampy "Marais Poitevin" in 989. It developed well, when the land around got reclaimed. Later even was a bishop´s see was here. Only some ruins are left of the former Gothic cathedral, as it was burned down by Huguenots during the Wars of Religion and sold as a quarry to local entrepreneurs after the French Revolution.

Saint Nicolas, the parish church had a better fate, though vandalized and severely damaged during the Wars of Religion as well, it did not get ruined like the cathedral. The western facade is built in the "style saintonge" with the flanking blind arches.

There are nice capitals at the facade. This one depicts a dangerous encounter in the thick forest, the pilgrim has to pass through on his "chemin" to Santiago. In the twilight, entangled by vines all of a sudden there was a centaur. There is a straight object starting between the centaurs legs - and ending (in a snake´s head?) in the pilgrim´s chest. It is not the common walking stick, used by medieval pilgrims..

Anyway, the bearded pilgrim starts to run..

Maillezais - Saint-Nicolas

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Sat, 19 Oct 2013 14:05:10 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Maillezais, a small town with a population of less than 1000, is known for it´s old monastery, founded in the very swampy "Marais Poitevin" in 989. It developed well, when the land around got reclaimed. Later even was a bishop´s see was here. Only some ruins are left of the former Gothic cathedral, as it was burned down by Huguenots during the Wars of Religion and sold as a quarry to local entrepreneurs after the French Revolution.

Saint Nicolas, the parish church had a better fate, though vandalized and severely damaged during the Wars of Religion as well, it did not get ruined like the cathedral. The western facade is built in the "style saintonge" with the flanking blind arches.

Here are the highly intricate carvings of the archivolt round the central portal. The horizontal side is populated with dwarf like humans, who hold giant birds that "live" on the vertical side. Maybe the dwarfs fight the birds. The birds had vines in the beaks, but most of the fragile branches are broken off.

Maillezais - Saint-Nicolas

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Sat, 19 Oct 2013 10:15:45 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Maillezais, a small town with a population of less than 1000, is known for it´s old monastery, founded in the very swampy "Marais Poitevin" in 989. It developed well, when the land around got reclaimed. Later even was a bishop´s see was here. Only some ruins are left of the former Gothic cathedral, as it was burned down by Huguenots during the Wars of Religion and sold as a quarry to local entrepreneurs after the French Revolution.

Saint Nicolas, the parish church had a better fate, though vandalized and severely damaged during the Wars of Religion as well, it did not get ruined like the cathedral. The western facade is built in the "style saintonge" with the flanking blind arches.

These are the pillars on the right side of the central door. They are all masterly carved. The six acrobats, who together press the heavy, but weathered capital, are very unique.

We will see them again at the International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo next January, when they´ll perform with the six acrobats, who do the same stunt on the left side of the door.

Maillezais - Saint-Nicolas

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Sat, 19 Oct 2013 09:30:13 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Maillezais, a small town with a population of less than 1000, is known for it´s old monastery, founded in the very swampy "Marais Poitevin" in 989. It developed well, when the land around got reclaimed. Later even was a bishop´s see was here. Only some ruins are left of the former Gothic cathedral, as it was burned down by Huguenots during the Wars of Religion and sold as a quarry to local entrepreneurs after the French Revolution.

Saint Nicolas, the parish church had a better fate, though vandalized and severely damaged during the Wars of Religion as well, it did not get ruined like the cathedral. The western facade, built in the "style saintonge" with the flanking blind arches, is impressive. Here a closeup of the portal, that -for sure- looks much better in the afternoon sun, but I could not wait.

Maillezais - Saint-Nicolas

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 22:34:21 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Maillezais - Saint-Nicolas

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 21:52:27 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Maillezais - Saint-Nicolas

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 21:38:08 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted: