Bourgogne-Franche-Comté

Dijon, today a city with a population of about 150.000, was a Roman settlement named Divio, located on the road from Lyon to Paris. Saint Benignus, the city's patron saint, is said to have introduced Christianity to the area before being martyred. The province was home to the Dukes of Burgundy from the early 11th until the late 15th centuries, and Dijon was a place of wealth and power. In 1513, Swiss and Imperial armies invaded Burgundy and besieged Dijon. The siege was extremely violent, but after long negotiations, Louis II de la Trémoille managed to persuade the armies to withdraw. During the siege, the population called on the Virgin Mary for help and saw the withdrawal of the invaders as a miracle. For those reasons, in the years following the siege the inhabitants began to venerate Notre-Dame de Bon-Espoir (Our Lady of Good Hope). Before the second half of the 12th century, the site of today's Notre-Dame was occupied by a simple chapel, which was outside the city walls. Beginning around 1220 the erection of the Gothic church of today started. Sunset in Dijon. Note Notre Dame´s clock with its jacquemart. It has four automatons. Two of them, called Jacquemart and Jacqueline, sound the hours by striking a large bell with a hammer. The other two, their "children", Jacquelinet and Jacquelinette, strike the quarter hours, each on a small bell. The Jacquemart was brought from Kortrijk in Belgium, after the looting of the town by the armies of Philip the Bold in 1382. At that time, only the male figure existed. A second automaton, depicting a woman, was added in 1651 to alternate with Jacquemart in sounding the hours. In 1714 the couple got the first kid (a boy) and in 1884 the second kid (a girl) joined the family.

...the "Cathédrale Saint-Étienne" has a very old crypt, dating back to the 6th century...

...like any decent old abbey-church in the Burgundy Saint-Philibert has a crypt down below...

Tired tourists in front of the "Hôtel-Dieu de Beaune" (aka "Hospices de Beaune") in Beaune. The "Hôtel-Dieu" was founded in 1443 by Nicolas Rolin, chancellor of Burgundy, and his wife Guigone de Salins as a hospital for the poor. The complex actually served as a hospital until the 1970s, when the largest part was converted into a museum. Over the centuries generous benefactors made donations to the hospital, not only woods and works of art but as well vineyards. Since 1859 "Les Trois Glorieuses" takes place here in November. This is a three-day festival and charity wine auction. The Domaine des Hospices de Beaune owns around 61 hectares of vineyard land, much of this classified Grand and Premier cru.

The Cathédrale Saint-Bénigne was the church of the Abbey of St. Benignus. The church, erected in Gothic style 1280-1325, became the seat of the Bishopric of Dijon after the French Revolution. The first church here was a basilica built over the grave of Saint Benignus, who in the third century had come to Gaul from Smyrna as a missionary. He worked successfully in Burgundy - and got martyred. His sarcophagus was placed in a crypt, built by Saint Gregory of Langres in 511, a basilica over that crypt was completed in 535. In 990 Saint Mayeul, Abbot of Cluny, appointed William of Volpiano the new abbot here. William immidiatly started withe the construction of a new Romanesque church, that - instead of an apse - had a rotunda, 17 metres in diameter. In 1137 a fire destroyed most of the town and damaged the monastery and its church. The repaired building was consecrated by Pope Eugene III in 1147. In 1272 the crossing tower collapsed, destroying the whole of the upper church and severely damaging the subterranean one, and smashing some of the supporting columns of the rotunda. In 1280 the construction of a new Gothic abbey church started. This is the church seen today. What was left of the rotunda was destroyed after the Revolution. What remains is the lowest storey, which was excavated in the 19th century and has since been reworked as a crypt.

The Cathédrale Saint-Bénigne was the church of the Abbey of St. Benignus. The church, erected in Gothic style 1280-1325, became the seat of the Bishopric of Dijon after the French Revolution. The first church here was a basilica built over the grave of Saint Benignus, who in the third century had come to Gaul from Smyrna as a missionary. He worked successfully in Burgundy - and got martyred. His sarcophagus was placed in a crypt, built by Saint Gregory of Langres in 511, a basilica over that crypt was completed in 535. In 990 Saint Mayeul, Abbot of Cluny, appointed William of Volpiano the new abbot here. William immidiatly started withe the construction of a new Romanesque church, that - instead of an apse - had a rotunda, 17 metres in diameter. In 1137 a fire destroyed most of the town and damaged the monastery and its church. The repaired building was consecrated by Pope Eugene III in 1147. In 1272 the crossing tower collapsed, destroying the whole of the upper church and severely damaging the subterranean one, and smashing some of the supporting columns of the rotunda. In 1280 the construction of a new Gothic abbey church started. This is the church seen today. What was left of the rotunda was destroyed after the Revolution. What remains is the lowest storey, which was excavated in the 19th century and has since been reworked as a crypt.

The Cathédrale Saint-Bénigne was the church of the Abbey of St. Benignus. The church, erected in Gothic style 1280-1325, became the seat of the Bishopric of Dijon after the French Revolution. The first church here was a basilica built over the grave of Saint Benignus, who in the third century had come to Gaul from Smyrna as a missionary. He worked successfully in Burgundy - and got martyred. His sarcophagus was placed in a crypt, built by Saint Gregory of Langres in 511, a basilica over that crypt was completed in 535. In 990 Saint Mayeul, Abbot of Cluny, appointed William of Volpiano the new abbot here. William immidiatly started withe the construction of a new Romanesque church, that - instead of an apse - had a rotunda, 17 metres in diameter. In 1137 a fire destroyed most of the town and damaged the monastery and its church. The repaired building was consecrated by Pope Eugene III in 1147. In 1272 the crossing tower collapsed, destroying the whole of the upper church and severely damaging the subterranean one, and smashing some of the supporting columns of the rotunda. In 1280 the construction of a new Gothic abbey church started. This is the church seen today. What was left of the rotunda was destroyed after the Revolution. What remains is the lowest storey, which was excavated in the 19th century and has since been reworked as a crypt.

The Cathédrale Saint-Bénigne was the church of the Abbey of St. Benignus. The church, erected in Gothic style 1280-1325, became the seat of the Bishopric of Dijon after the French Revolution. The first church here was a basilica built over the grave of Saint Benignus, who in the third century had come to Gaul from Smyrna as a missionary. He worked successfully in Burgundy - and got martyred. His sarcophagus was placed in a crypt, built by Saint Gregory of Langres in 511, a basilica over that crypt was completed in 535. In 990 Saint Mayeul, Abbot of Cluny, appointed William of Volpiano the new abbot here. William immidiatly started withe the construction of a new Romanesque church, that - instead of an apse - had a rotunda, 17 metres in diameter. In 1137 a fire destroyed most of the town and damaged the monastery and its church. The repaired building was consecrated by Pope Eugene III in 1147. In 1272 the crossing tower collapsed, destroying the whole of the upper church and severely damaging the subterranean one, and smashing some of the supporting columns of the rotunda. In 1280 the construction of a new Gothic abbey church started. This is the church seen today. What was left of the rotunda was destroyed after the Revolution. What remains is the lowest storey, which was excavated in the 19th century and has since been reworked as a crypt, seen here.

The Cathédrale Saint-Bénigne was the church of the Abbey of St. Benignus. The church, erected in Gothic style 1280-1325, became the seat of the Bishopric of Dijon after the French Revolution. The first church here was a basilica built over the grave of Saint Benignus, who in the third century had come to Gaul from Smyrna as a missionary. He worked successfully in Burgundy - and got martyred. His sarcophagus was placed in a crypt, built by Saint Gregory of Langres in 511, a basilica over that crypt was completed in 535. In 990 Saint Mayeul, Abbot of Cluny, appointed William of Volpiano the new abbot here. William immidiatly started withe the construction of a new Romanesque church, that - instead of an apse - had a rotunda, 17 metres in diameter. In 1137 a fire destroyed most of the town and damaged the monastery and its church. The repaired building was consecrated by Pope Eugene III in 1147. In 1272 the crossing tower collapsed, destroying the whole of the upper church and severely damaging the subterranean one, and smashing some of the supporting columns of the rotunda. In 1280 the construction of a new Gothic abbey church started. This is the church seen today. What was left of the rotunda was destroyed after the Revolution. What remains is the lowest storey, which was excavated in the 19th century and has since been reworked as a crypt, seen here. There are some nicely carved capitals. Saint Benignus´ sacrophagus is empty. I learned, that the bones "got lost" during the Revolution.

The Cathédrale Saint-Bénigne was the church of the Abbey of St. Benignus. The church, erected in Gothic style 1280-1325, became the seat of the Bishopric of Dijon after the French Revolution. The first church here was a basilica built over the grave of Saint Benignus, who in the third century had come to Gaul from Smyrna as a missionary. He worked successfully in Burgundy - and got martyred. His sarcophagus was placed in a crypt, built by Saint Gregory of Langres in 511, a basilica over that crypt was completed in 535. In 990 Saint Mayeul, Abbot of Cluny, appointed William of Volpiano the new abbot here. William immidiatly started withe the construction of a new Romanesque church, that - instead of an apse - had a rotunda, 17 metres in diameter. In 1137 a fire destroyed most of the town and damaged the monastery and its church. The repaired building was consecrated by Pope Eugene III in 1147. In 1272 the crossing tower collapsed, destroying the whole of the upper church and severely damaging the subterranean one, and smashing some of the supporting columns of the rotunda. In 1280 the construction of a new Gothic abbey church started. This is the church seen today. What was left of the rotunda was destroyed after the Revolution. What remains is the lowest storey, which was excavated in the 19th century and has since been reworked as a crypt, seen here. There are some nicely carved capitals. Saint Benignus´ sacrophagus is empty. I learned, that the bones "got lost" during the Revolution.

The Cathédrale Saint-Bénigne was the church of the Abbey of St. Benignus. The church, erected in Gothic style 1280-1325, became the seat of the Bishopric of Dijon after the French Revolution. The first church here was a basilica built over the grave of Saint Benignus, who in the third century had come to Gaul from Smyrna as a missionary. He worked successfully in Burgundy - and got martyred. His sarcophagus was placed in a crypt, built by Saint Gregory of Langres in 511, a basilica over that crypt was completed in 535. In 990 Saint Mayeul, Abbot of Cluny, appointed William of Volpiano the new abbot here. William immidiatly started withe the construction of a new Romanesque church, that - instead of an apse - had a rotunda, 17 metres in diameter. In 1137 a fire destroyed most of the town and damaged the monastery and its church. The repaired building was consecrated by Pope Eugene III in 1147. In 1272 the crossing tower collapsed, destroying the whole of the upper church and severely damaging the subterranean one, and smashing some of the supporting columns of the rotunda. In 1280 the construction of a new Gothic abbey church started. This is the church seen today. What was left of the rotunda was destroyed after the Revolution. What remains is the lowest storey, which was excavated in the 19th century and has since been reworked as a crypt. There are some nicely carved capitals. Saint Benignus´ sacrophagus is empty. I learned, that the bones "got lost" during the Revolution. The dome over the central rotunda.

The Cathédrale Saint-Bénigne was the church of the Abbey of St. Benignus. The church, erected in Gothic style 1280-1325, became the seat of the Bishopric of Dijon after the French Revolution. The first church here was a basilica built over the grave of Saint Benignus, who in the third century had come to Gaul from Smyrna as a missionary. He worked successfully in Burgundy - and got martyred. His sarcophagus was placed in a crypt, built by Saint Gregory of Langres in 511, a basilica over that crypt was completed in 535. In 990 Saint Mayeul, Abbot of Cluny, appointed William of Volpiano the new abbot here. William immidiatly started withe the construction of a new Romanesque church, that - instead of an apse - had a rotunda, 17 metres in diameter. In 1137 a fire destroyed most of the town and damaged the monastery and its church. The repaired building was consecrated by Pope Eugene III in 1147. In 1272 the crossing tower collapsed, destroying the whole of the upper church and severely damaging the subterranean one, and smashing some of the supporting columns of the rotunda. In 1280 the construction of a new Gothic abbey church started. This is the church seen today. What was left of the rotunda was destroyed after the Revolution. What remains is the lowest storey, which was excavated in the 19th century and has since been reworked as a crypt. There are some nicely carved capitals. Saint Benignus´ sacrophagus is empty. I learned, that the bones "got lost" during the Revolution.

Beaune, in the centre of the Department "Côte-d’Or", is one of the key wine centres in France. It is the centre of Burgundy wine production. and business. The annual wine auction of the "Hospices de Beaune" is worldwide noticed and maybe the most important auction in France. The collegiate was founded in Beaune within the 10th century, the building of this church, which is a parish church since the French Revolution, started in Romanesque style within the 12th century. The town, seen from the gothic narthex, which is 200 years younger. Since 1958 this is an official "Basilica". The PiP has the narthex from another pov.

Beaune, in the centre of the Department "Côte-d’Or", is one of the key wine centres in France. It is the centre of Burgundy wine production. and business. The annual wine auction of the "Hospices de Beaune" is worldwide noticed and maybe the most important auction in France. The collegiate was founded in Beaune within the 10th century, the building of this church, which is parish church since the French Revolution, started in romanesque style within the 12th century. The former collegiate´s cloister is Gothic.

Beaune, in the centre of the Department "Côte-d’Or", is one of the key wine centres in France. It is the centre of Burgundy wine production. and business. The annual wine auction of the "Hospices de Beaune" is worldwide noticed and maybe the most important auction in France. The collegiate was founded in Beaune within the 10th century, the building of this church, which is a parish church since the French Revolution, started in Romanesque style within the 12th century. The Romanesque capitals are very detailed and have a specific "soft" style. This one is symmetric. Two kings holding pomegranates? See the PiPs for more examples of the carving style.

Beaune, in the centre of the Department "Côte-d’Or", is one of the key wine centres in France. It is the centre of Burgundy wine production. and business. The annual wine auction of the "Hospices de Beaune" is worldwide noticed and maybe the most important auction in France. The collegiate was founded in Beaune within the 10th century, the building of this church, which is parish church since the French Revolution, started in romanesque style within the 12th century. The Romanesque capitals are very detailed and have a specific "soft" style. Passengers are leaving Noah's Ark.

....walking within the ruins of Cluny, once the most important and most influentual abbey in Europe. This church was the largest in the world (187 meter in length) , before Saint Peter was built in Rome. Demolished after the french revolution...

....the Abbaye de Pontigny shows a different style, as Cistercians, lead by Bernard of Clairvaux, did not like any luxury. Every thing had to be simple and utilitarian, as any kind of ornamentation would distract the monks....