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

Carcassonne - GR78

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Sun, 19 Oct 2025 16:21:22 +0000

The GR78 "La voie du piémont Pyrénéen" runs through Carcassonne. It is the most southern of the routes to Santiago de Compostela. The better known Via Tolosana rund further north.

Toro - Colegiata de Santa María la Mayor

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 21:32:00 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

The town of Toro lies on a plateau above the Duero River about 40 km east of Zamora.

In medieval times Toro had some importance. Ferdinand III of Castile was crowned king in Toro in 1230, his wife Elisabeth of Swabia died here five years later.

The large collegiate church Colegiata de Santa María la Mayor, whose construction began in 1160 under Alfonso VII, but lasted possibly even until the end of the 13th century. During the reign of the Catholic Monarchs, it was elevated to a collegiate church.

The architectural highlight of the church building is the two-story crossing tower (“cimborrio”) with its sixteen-sided floor plan, with four sides being particularly highlighted by round corner towers, which serve both for architectural decoration and for static stabilization. While the corner towers in the lower part hardly have any architectural decoration, the two levels of the central tower with their windows - accompanied by small columns and ending in oriental-looking multi-aisle arches - are designed in exactly the same way.

St. Jacques blessing the pilgrims who are on their way to Santiago.

Vitoria-Gasteiz - Basílica de San Prudencio (PiP)

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 18:10:07 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

The Basilica of San Prudencio is located in Armentia on the southwestern outskirts of Vitoria-Gasteiz.

According to legend, Saint Prudentius was born here in the 6th century. In the 9th century, Armentia was a bishopric until it was transferred to Calahorra in 1087. The Basilica of San Prudencio then became the collegiate church of a canon's monastery, which existed until 1498. It was then that the canons gave up San Prudencio to settle in Vitoria.

The current church of San Prudencio was built towards the end of the 12th century. Between 1773 and 1776 the church underwent major changes. The south facade was demolished and the porch was built. Parts of the church's original sculptural decoration were embedded in the walls of this south porch.

This image can often be found along the pilgrimage routes. A man on horseback rides over a man on the ground. This may represent Emperor Constantine or St. James, but scholars are not sure.

Havelberg - Dom Sankt Marien

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Sun, 28 May 2023 22:18:59 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

With a victory in the Battle of Lenzen in 929, the Saxens made a significant advance into the dominion of the Slavic tribes. Shortly thereafter, the area around Havelberg was conquered and a castle complex was built on the ridge. Otto I continued the conquest of eastern Elbe areas and founded the bishopric of Havelberg as a suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of Magdeburg. The settlement of a bishopric in Havelberg suggests that the place represented a regional center as early as the 10th century and possibly before. As early as 983, a rebellion broke out among Slavic groups, during which the bishopric of Havelberg was conquered. It was not until 1130 that King Lothar III succeeded. to recapture the place. The city was built in the middle of the 12th century, spatially separate from the cathedral district, on a promontory in a bend in the Havel River, that was made to an island for strategic reasons.

The first construction work on the church must have taken place in the middle of the 10th century. A chronicler reports that the church was destroyed during the uprising in 983. Around 1150, under the influence of the local Bishop, a cathedral was built. The basilica was consecrated in 1170. The church was about 70 meters long and 20 meters wide. The Romanesque building consisted of two tower-like crossbars with a three-aisled nave in between. A large triumphal arch visually separated the chancel from the nave. The chancel itself was rectangular and ended in a semi-circular apse. The westwork, appearing defensively closed from the outside, had five round-arched portals to the naves on the inside. A fire in 1279 destroyed significant parts of the cathedral. Using the existing Romanesque components, the basilica was rebuilt in a Gothic style with bricks. The entire conversion was probably not completed until 1330 when the high altar was consecrated.

After the Reformation, the cathedral chapter converted to Protestantism in 1561. The bishopric of Havelberg itself was dissolved in 1598 by Elector Joachim Friedrich of Brandenburg.
Structural changes then came in the course of the restorations of the 19th century. The appearance of some portals and windows was changed, the floor was renewed and the interior color scheme was changed several times. Finally, between 1907 and 1909, a neo-Romanesque portal was built into the tower and a brick story was added.

The rood screen is almost undamaged. It was built around 1400. The diocese could afford the rood screen because the Wilsnack place of pilgrimage to the "Holy Blood", was in the diocese and taxes were due there.

One of the great statues of the rood screen is St. James, holding the Coquilles Saint-Jacques as a symbol for the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostella. The saint carries a girdle book.

Toruń - Kościół św. Jakuba

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 09:09:21 +0000

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Already in the 7th century, it was the location of a fortified Slavonic settlement, at a ford in the Vistula river. Thorn was established in 1231 under the administration of the Teutonic Order. The Teutonic Order had been called earlier by the Polish Duke Conrad of Mazovia to Christianize the pagan Baltic Pruzzes. However, the Order became active only after Emperor Frederick II granted it the right to rule over the land to be conquered in 1226. The foundation stone of the city of Thorn was laid in 1231 and soon after immigrants from Westphalia populated the town.

In the 14th century, Thorn joined the Hanseatic League. The Order's efforts to simultaneously expand its sovereignty and control trade led to warlike conflicts. The city was captured by Poland in 1410 during the Polish–Lithuanian–Teutonic War however, after the First Peace of Thorn was signed in 1411, the city fell back to the Teutonic Order. In the 1420s, Polish King Władysław II Jagiełło built the Dybów Castle, located in present-day left-bank Toruń.

In 1440, the gentry of Thorn co-founded the Prussian Confederation to further oppose the Knights' policies. The Confederation rose against the Monastic state of the Teutonic Knights in 1454 and its delegation submitted a petition to Polish King Casimir IV Jagiellon asking him to regain power over the region as the rightful ruler.
These events led to the Thirteen Years' War. The citizens of the city conquered the Teutonic castle and dismantled the fortifications. In May 1454, a ceremony was held in Toruń, during which the nobility, knights, landowners, mayors, and local officials solemnly swore allegiance to the Polish King. During the war, Toruń financially supported the Polish Army. The Thirteen Years' War ended in 1466, with the Second Peace of Thorn, in which the Teutonic Order renounced any claims to the city and recognized it as part of Poland.

During the Great Northern War (Deluge), the city was besieged by Swedish troops. In the second half of the 17th century, tensions between Catholics and Protestants grew. In the early 18th century about half of the population, especially the gentry and middle class, was German-speaking and Protestant, while the other half was Polish-speaking Roman Catholic.

The old town of Torun is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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St. Jakub (St. James) was built from 1309 to the 15th century. The cornerstone for the construction was laid by Bishop Herman in 1309. In the same year, the construction of the presbytery began, which was covered with a stellar vault,

In the 14th century, the parish was started to be managed by the cisterns, then the Benedictine nuns. In the years 1557-1667 the parish church belonged to the Evangelical community, then it was regained by the Benedictine nuns, who managed the temple until the 19th century. From then to the present day the parish church.

Due to the characteristic shape and the many architectural details the church is one of the important examples of brick architecture in the Baltic Sea area.

This church was a halt on the long "Camino" to Santiago de Compostella. One of the frescoes that have survived the passage of time depicts St. Jaques with hat (coquille) and the pilgrim's staff.

Nysa - Bazylika św. Jakuba i św. Agnieszki

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Wed, 11 May 2022 21:40:01 +0000

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Nysa was probably founded in the 10th century. The name of the Nysa river, from which the town takes its name, was mentioned in 991 when it was part of the Duchy of Poland under Mieszko I. A Polish stronghold was built in Nysa in the 11th and 12th centuries due to the proximity of the border with the Czech Duchy. From the 14th century on it was administered by the Bishopric of Wrocław. Nysa was granted town rights around 1223 and attracted Flemish and German settlers. In 1241 it was ravaged by the Mongols during the first Mongol invasion. In 1245, it was granted staple right and two yearly fairs were established. Nysa became an important trade and craft center of Poland before it passed under the suzerainty of the Bohemian Crown in 1351, under which it remained until 1742.

The town's fortifications from 1350 served to defend against the Hussites in 1424. During the Thirty Years' War, it was besieged three times. It was looted by the Saxons and Swedes. During the First Silesian War in 1741, it was captured by Prussians. In 1758 it was unsuccessfully besieged by the Austrians and stayed Prussian.

Towards the end of WWII, about 80% of the city center was destroyed. Most affected were the houses on the Rynek (Market Place) and the houses along the main streets.
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There has been a Romanesque church at the site since the first was built between 1195 and 1198. This church was destroyed during the first Mongol raid in 1241. The rebuilding process started immediately, but in 1249, during a dispute between Bolesław II the Horned and Henry III the White the church burned down. After the reconstruction, the church survived for about 150 years, despite the damage caused in 1285 by the forces of Henryk IV Probus (aka "Henry the Just").

The first stage of the new Gothic church was built before 1392. The Gothic choir with an ambulatory and the nave with six bays were built, but it burned down in 1401. In 1424 the master-builder Peter Frankenstein was commissioned to continue. He built a Gothic three-nave hall church from bricks on the model of the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and St. Adalbert in Gniezno.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, the interior was remodeled in the Baroque style, covering the wall and ceiling paintings with stucco and removing many Gothic items.

The church suffered significant damage in 1741 during the Silesian Wars and again in 1807 during the artillery bombardment by the Grande Armée.

In 1889-1895 the church was thoroughly renovated The baroque interior was replaced by a neo-Gothic one. Just before WWII, an attempt was made to restore the original appearance of the church, but during the fighting in 1945 the interior burned down, and the western gable collapsed.

Meanwhile, the restoration is done. The new roof structure was made of steel to avoid fire hazards.

In medieval times this church was a halt on the way to Santiago. And it is again!

Slupsk - Pomorska Droga św. Jakuba

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Wed, 24 Nov 2021 22:52:25 +0000

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The "Pomorska Droga św. Jakuba" is the Pomeranian Way of St. James.
It runs through Slupsk.

www.pomorskadrogaswjakuba.pl/

Pleyben - Saint Germain

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Wed, 03 Oct 2018 08:41:12 +0000

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"Saint Germain" is in the center of the large "enclos paroissial".
The enclosure comprises of the parish church, the calvary and a funeral chapel/ ossuary.

The construction of "Saint Germain" began in 1530. It was consecrated in 1583. Over the centuries, the church has undergone several restorations and reconstructions.

The way to the portal is flanked by the 12 apostles. Here are the heads of the six statues of the right side.

Tongeren - Onze-Lieve-Vrouwebasiliek

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 22:05:32 +0000

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Tongeren, founded 15BC under the name of "Aduatuca Tungrorum", is the oldest town in Belgium. The Romans set up a military camp, that was later abandoned, - but the settlement, that had grown around the camp developed into an important trading center near the Roman road linking Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium (Cologne) to Bononia (Boulogne-sur-Mer). Though strongly fortified the Franks sacked the town in 275.

The Roman reign endet when the town got destroyed in 451 probably by the Huns. At that time a seat of a bishop existed here already. This see later moved on to Maastricht (595) and finally to Liege (718). In 881 Tongeren was raided and looted by the Normans. The largely destroyed city was rebuilt in the 10th century.

Tongeren prospered but in 1677 Louis XIV’s troops blew up the city walls and burned the town down. It took the town two centuries to recover from this.

Where the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwebasiliek stands now, was the bishopric see with Saint Maternus and Saint Servatius, the first bishops of the diocese founded here. In Carolingian times a collegiate convent existed and a pre-Romanesque church was erected, that later got replaced by a Romanesque structure. This church burned down during a war, fought by the prince-bishop of Liège, the Count of Loon, the Duke of Brabant and the French King.

Following the complete demolition of the burnt church, the construction of the large-scale gothic collegiate and town church began in 1240. It was completed in its present form in the 16th century.

Onze-Lieve-Vrouwebasiliek is a place of prilgrimage, as the miraculous statue of "Onze Lieve Vrouw" is displayed here. It is as well a stopover for "pelerins" on their way to Santiago. They even get a "tampon" here into the "credencial".

Muttenz - St. Arbogast

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Sat, 10 Dec 2016 13:06:08 +0000

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St. Arbogast is the only church in Switzerland that is surrounded by a defensive wall. A church has existed here already in the 5th century. Mid 12th century the erection of a Romanesque church started, but it got never completed, due to the Basel earthquake of 18 October 1356, the most significant earthquake, historically documented in Central Europe.

Rebuilding started in 1359, from around the fortification of the church started and the wall around the church got built. It is 7 metres high!

The interior walls of the church once were covered with frescoes, dating back to 1450/1500. They were hidden under plaster but since the 1970s are renovated and can be seen again. Some of the frescoes are attributed to Martin Schongauer.

When the frescoes were created, Martin Luther had not written down the the "Ninety-Five Theses", that started the Reformation in 1517, so it is now wonder to see Saint James (St. Jaques) here as a pilgrim.

Things changed dramatically very soon, as the Swiss Reformators (Zwingli, Calvin, Oekolampad..) had a way more radical approach, than their Lutherian collegues in Germany.

In February 1529 a group of about 200 people forced their way into the (at that time still catholic) Muenster in Basel (only about 6kms apart from Muttenz,) and destroyed all reachable crucifixes, statues and altars, just everything what was connected to "idolatry" in their thinking. The same afternoon the iconoclasm extended to many other churches in Basel as well.

Erasmus of Rotterdam was an eyewittness of the iconoclasm and wrote about it.

Schondorf - St. Jakobus

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:00:47 +0000

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See the apse of "St. Jakobus" to the right - and a bavarian pub and beer garden to the left. This combination may have started, when the church was built. So here the pilgrims could have dinner, before the went up the stairs into the dormitory - centuries ago. Actually the floor in the church still exists, but is not used as a dorm any longer. The symbiosis of pub and church is still very strong in Bavaria. The strongest it is in nearby Andechs. But that is another story.

Rouen - Cathedral

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 10:27:50 +0000

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A church was present here since the late 4th century, later even a Carolingian cathedral existed , but all buildings burnt down during a Viking raid in the 9th century.

Rollo, last of the raiders and (after a treaty with Charles III ("Charles the Simple") founder of what became the Normandy, was baptized here in 915 - and changed his name to Robert.

The erection of the "St. Romain Tower" (left) began in the 1140, after the bishop had visited his friend Suger in Saint Denis, where the choir of the new cathedral got consecrated.

The construction of the "Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen" began around 1180. It took centuries to complete the building.

Many of the statues, that once were placed on the facade, were destroyed by Calvinists in the late 16th century, when the cathedral was badly damaged during the Wars of Religion. The remaining are weathered and meanwhile can be found in the choir.

St. Gilles-du-Gard - Abbey

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 07:56:08 +0000

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The monastery St. Gilles, founded within the 7th century. A hermit lived here - with a hind. After Visigothic King Wamba had injured this hind during a hunt, he founded a monastry. St. Gilles was the first abbot there. St. Gilles was one of the most popular saints in medieval times,
pilgrims flocked to his tomb in the crypt - and continued to Santiago from here. St. Gilles today is still one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.

During the Wars of Religion the abbey and the church were totally destroyed and burnt down, what was in 1562. 1622 the campanile got demolished. After that only the crypt, part of the clocher, some eastern walls of the choir existed.

The portal, which reminds on roman Triumph-arches, got demolished after the french revolution, - but puzzled together again within the 19th century, with material found all around. The precise knowledge about many details was lost, so in some parts it still is an unfinshed puzzle.
For sure some parts are still missing - and this is visible. Probably different masters have worked here, as there are different styles in carving on this portal.

Here some pretty exotic animals.

A skinny dromedary to the right and two monkeys in chains on the left. The carver had a very creative idea: one leg of the monkey in the middle reaches over the frame.

Behind them (this is a "3D-puzzle") a bust sculpture of a saint. Maybe this is only the top part of a "full" figure - and the second part is lost. It is placed so far in the background, that I do not believe, that this is the original place. Though there are letters on the nimbus, I could not find out the name of the saint.

Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert - Abbey

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:51:30 +0000

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The carved head of a monkey - or maybe an ape. The carving are is different in style and material from the surrounding capitals. I could not find out, how much "restaurantion" was done here in the late 19th century. This carving seems to be much older. It may - like some others - originate from an older structure - and reused here.

Santiago de Compostela - Cathedral

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 21:43:14 +0000

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The capital of one of the pillars next to the "Puerta Santa", the center of the ambulatory, shows a row of mermaids and angels. A very prominent place for mermaids.

Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert - Abbey

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 13:35:47 +0000

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The cloister of the abbey - or maybe better, what is left of it.

At the end of the medieval times, the community was not in a really good shape. In 1569, during the wars of religion, protestant troops pillaged the abbey, that later was the property of the "Congregation of St. Maur". 1789, during the French Revolution, only six monks lived here. They had to leave, as the buildings were sold as national property. The church became parish church at that time. Small enterprises moved in, most of the buildings were used as a quarry. Half of the cloister "vanished", only two sides are still there. A citizen of Aniane bought the carved capitals of the cloister for his garden. When he died, his son sold them to an art-dealer in Paris. In the end, most of these carvings were sold to New York, where John D. Rockefeller II., bought them in 1905 for some 60.000$, forming with them (and others) "The Cloisters", now a branch the Metropolitan Museum of Art. So if you want to see the original medieval capitals from this cloister - fly to New York.

Here are the details:

www.metmuseum.org/Works_Of_Art/department.asp?dep=7

Meanwhile a small collection of artwork found later in and around the abbey, including the tomb of St. Guilhelm, are in a little "lapidarium" next to this cloister.

Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert - Abbey

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 10:47:40 +0000

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A sunbeam crossing the nave of the abbey-church in the arly monring. A pure and sober structure. A
barrel-vaulted central nave, two aisles, a transept, a main and two side apses. Below the choir is a crypt from the 12th century, that for centuries was filled and forgotten.

Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert - Abbey

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 10:07:59 +0000

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The "Abbey of Gellone" in Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert was founded 806 by Saint William of Gellone, known in France as Guillaume d'Aquitaine or Guillaume au Court Nez (William Short Nose).

William, born 754 in Autun was a grandson of Charles Martel, and so a cousin of Charlemagne, who made him his paladin. As a commander William took part in numerous wars and battles against the Maurs in Spain and Southern France and from 790 on, he was "Count of Toulouse" and "Duke of Aquitaine". 804, he withdrew from "public life" and joined the monastry, Bernard of Aniane had founded in Aniane. Two years later, he left Aniane and founded with Bernard´s support the Abbey of Gellone in what is the village of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert today.

Charlemagne presented his cousin a piece of the True Cross for the Abbey of Gellone. William died in 812. His tomb and the piece of the True Cross, shown in the abbey, made this place to a major stop for the pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostella.

Saint-Jean-de-Fos - Gorge de Hérault

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 22:45:02 +0000

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The Hérault river forms a narrow gorge. Very romantic. The trail runs next to the road to Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert. This photo is taken from the bridge over the river on an early evening. From here to St. Guilhem is just about an hour walk.

Saint-Jean-de-Fos - Rue de Caminol

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 22:24:03 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

... stayed at Mr. et Mme du Boullay´s wonderful chambre d'hôtes. Merci beaucoup, Jaqueline!
We really recommend that place. For an excellent dinner try "Le Zanzibar" on the central square...

Here are the details:
www.saintguilhem-valleeherault.fr/1-15158-Details-d-un-ac...