Charente-Maritime (17) and Charente (16)

Since 1104 a priory existed here, depending from the Abbaye aux Dames in Saintes. The erection of the church was completed in 1200 - and by now is the parish church for the population of Corme-Écluse. All other building, that belonged to the priory are lost. Notre Dame has a wonderful facade, a perfect example of the "style saintongeais". The carvings around the arcs are delicate like fine lace. Here a "cross section" through the archivolts of the left side. Again a dangerous maze of entwisted vines. Some humans got trapped already by the sinister creeping branches and obviously became part of the jungle. Vines sprout out of their mouths.

Since 1104 a priory existed here, depending from the Abbaye aux Dames in Saintes. The erection of the church was completed in 1200 - and by now is the parish church for the population of Corme-Écluse. All other building, that belonged to the priory are lost. Notre Dame has a wonderful facade, a perfect example of the "style saintongeais". The carvings here are delicate like fine lace. One of the capitals depicts a person riding a lion through the jungle.

Since 1104 a priory existed here, depending from the Abbaye aux Dames in Saintes. The erection of the church was completed in 1200 - and by now is the parish church for the population of Corme-Écluse. All other building, that belonged to the priory are lost. Notre Dame has a wonderful facade, a perfect example of the "style saintongeais". The carvings here are delicate like fine lace. Notre Dame has a wonderful facade, a perfect example of the "style saintongeais". The carvings are delicate like fine lace. At the corner a person that is will soon devoured by the two creatures seen left and right. Above the trio a person, "floating" in the air and holding the vines.

Since 1104 a priory existed here, depending from the Abbaye aux Dames in Saintes. The erection of the church was completed in 1200 - and by now is the parish church for the population of Corme-Écluse. All other building, that belonged to the priory are lost. Notre Dame has a wonderful facade, a perfect example of the "style saintongeais". The carvings here are delicate like fine lace. Notre Dame has a wonderful facade, a perfect example of the "style saintongeais". The carvings are delicate like fine lace. A centaur hunting in the jungle.

Since 1104 a priory existed here, depending from the Abbaye aux Dames in Saintes. The erection of the church was completed in 1200 - and by now is the parish church for the population of Corme-Écluse. All other building, that belonged to the priory are lost. Notre Dame has a wonderful facade, a perfect example of the "style saintongeais". The carvings here are delicate like fine lace. Notre Dame has a wonderful facade, a perfect example of the "style saintongeais". The carvings are delicate like fine lace. A poor guy has lost his way in the jungle. Danger all around him. Suddenly a giant wolf attacks.

Since 1104 a priory existed here, depending from the Abbaye aux Dames in Saintes. The erection of the church was completed in 1200 - and by now is the parish church for the population of Corme-Écluse. All other building, that belonged to the priory are lost. Notre Dame has a wonderful facade, a perfect example of the "style saintongeais". The carvings here are delicate like fine lace. Notre Dame has a wonderful facade, a perfect example of the "style saintongeais". The carvings are delicate like fine lace. There are some extraordenary corbels here, what is no suprise, having seen the portal. I am actually not sure, what is depicted on this corbel. A mother holding a child? Pretty large head for a child. The person is obviously placed in a kind of basket. Where are the legs?

Since 1104 a priory existed here, depending from the Abbaye aux Dames in Saintes. The erection of the church was completed in 1200 - and by now is the parish church for the population of Corme-Écluse. All other building, that belonged to the priory are lost. Notre Dame has a wonderful facade, a perfect example of the "style saintongeais". The carvings here are delicate like fine lace. Notre Dame has a wonderful facade, a perfect example of the "style saintongeais". The carvings are delicate like fine lace. There are some extraordenary corbels here, what is no suprise, having seen the portal. This is by far the weirdest hairdo, I have ever seen. This was the church of a priory belonging to the Benedictian nunnery "Abbaye aux Dames", so what did this mean?

Another former priory church, that now is a parish church. Built within the 12th century it burned down later, got poorly rebuilt and was near to collapse, when the "renovation process" started alrady within the 17th century. Not much more than the crossing is left from the Romanesque structure. The tower seen here was erected in 1830. The two domes, seen here, date back to 1901. The architect was obvously inspired by Paul Abadie´s work, who after the renovation of Saint-Front in Périgueux, had designed Sacré-Cœur in Paris.

Another former priory church, that now is a parish church. Built within the 12th century it burned down later, got poorly rebuilt and was near to collapse, when the "renovation process" started alrady within the 17th century. Not much more than pillars around the crossing of Saint Romain are left from the Romanesque structure. These still have capitals from the 12th century. Here is one side. While to the right are two heads/faces (one "framed"), on the left are two crowned persons. One riding on horseback, the other flanked by a very large bird. Probably this is the same person, but who is the King?

Another former priory church, that now is a parish church. Built within the 12th century it burned down later, got poorly rebuilt and was near to collapse, when the "renovation process" started alrady within the 17th century. Not much more than pillars around the crossing of Saint Romain are left from the Romanesque structure. These still have capitals from the 12th century. Two lions fighting on the right, while a knight on horseback leaves the scene to the left. He holds a pretty large shield.

Late afternoon in Saujon. The parish church is a very sober structure, erected 1679 - 1684. Since 1912 the nave hosts four Romanesque capitals that once were part of a (lost) church dedicated to Saint Martin.

The parish church in Saujon is a sober structure, erected 1679. Since 1912 the nave hosts four Romanesque capitals that once were part of a (lost) church dedicated to Saint Martin. One of the masterly carved capitals, has this "psychostasia", the Weighing of souls. Depending from the scale - the soul will go either the heaven or hell. Often the scale is held by archangel Michael and often the devil is cheating by holding down the left side of the scale. Here the long-haired devil, who is dotted with pimples, is pushed back be the angel in the center.

The parish church in Saujon is a sober structure, erected 1679. Since 1912 the nave hosts four Romanesque capitals that once were part of a (lost) church dedicated to Saint Martin. One of the masterly carved capitals, has this "psychostasia", the Weighing of souls. Often devil is cheating by holding down the left side of the scale. Here the long-haired devil, who is dotted with pimples, is pushed back be an angel. When I took this photo, the devil looked at me and whispered "Come closer, come closer". He even blinked. I was so shocked and frightened, that I spoiled the photo!

The parish church in Saujon is a sober structure, erected 1679. Since 1912 the nave hosts four Romanesque capitals that once were part of a (lost) church dedicated to Saint Martin. The capitals are masterly carved. Here is a man carrying a huge fish on his shoulder. He is dressed in luxurious clothing, so this may not be a poor fisherman. The person obviously donates/ offers/ sacrifies the fish, as otherwise, he would not be on his knee. What species of fish reaches this size? Wels catfish? Salmon?

The parish church in Saujon is a sober structure, erected 1679. Since 1912 the nave hosts four Romanesque capitals that once were part of a church dedicated to Saint Martin, that got "lost" during the French Revolution. The capitals are masterly carved. Following the informations provided in Saujon, this capital depicts Daniel in the lions' den. It differs from the many "Masters of Beasts" I saw so far, as Daniel here sits in a mandorla.

The parish church in Saujon is a sober structure, erected 1679. Since 1912 the nave hosts four Romanesque capitals that once were part of a church dedicated to Saint Martin, that got "lost" during the French Revolution. The capitals are masterly carved. This capital depicts the three women (aka "The Three Marys", "Myrrhbearers", ) approaching the empty tomb. Mark 16:2-5 "Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed." The angel is sitting on the empty tomb and greeting the Marys. Mark 16:6 "And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him."

A early church has been on this outcrop, overlooking the mouth of the Gironde, since the 11th century. Owned by the abbey of Vaux (today "Vaux-sur-Mer", 24kms north) a new church was erected within the 12th century. Later the structure, built on a Latin-cross-floorplan, got enlarged and altered a couple of times. The facade seen here dates back to the early 18th century, when a renovation was undertaken thanks to the financial support of Louis XIV. Despite the many renovation and reconstructions, the Romanesque choir, with its capitals, was kept intact, as it got integrated into the "new" church.

An early church has been on this outcrop, overlooking the mouth of the Gironde, since the 11th century. Owned by the abbey of Vaux (today "Vaux-sur-Mer", 24kms north) a new church was erected within the 12th century. Later the structure, built on a Latin-cross-floorplan, got enlarged and altered a couple of times. The facade dates back to the early 18th century, when a renovation was undertaken thanks to the financial support of Louis XIV. Despite the many renovation and reconstructions, the Romanesque choir and the crossing, seen here, with the many capitals, were kept intact, as they got integrated into the "new", enlarged church.