Charente-Maritime (17) and Charente (16)

The parish church Saint-Sulpice in the village of Marignac was erected within the 12th century as part of a priory, founded here by the Charroux Abbey (120kms southeast). The church has a remarkable cloverleaf layout. The eastern part, seen here and the portal are still dating back to the first church here, while the outer walls of the nave have been rebuilt, after destruction by war.

The parish church Saint-Sulpice in the village of Marignac was erected within the 12th century as part of a priory, founded here by the Charroux Abbey (120kms southeast). The church has a remarkable cloverleaf layout. The eastern part, seen here and the portal are still dating back to the first church here, while the outer walls of the nave have been rebuilt, after destruction by war. All around the eastern "cloverleaf" are carved corbels, pillar and capitals. Here a is a group of slightly weathered posing mermaids

The parish church Saint-Sulpice in the village of Marignac was erected within the 12th century as part of a priory, founded here by the Charroux Abbey (120kms southeast). The church has a remarkable cloverleaf layout. The eastern part, seen here and the portal are still dating back to the first church here, while the outer walls of the nave have been rebuilt, after destruction by war. All around the eastern "cloverleaf" are carved corbels, pillar and capitals. Here is a corbel to the left, depicting a wine-grower, holding a barrel. The region is still known for the wine and spirits (Cognac is 30kms northeast). Hard tow say, what was to see on the capital. Two mermaids, flanking a howling creature?

The parish church Saint-Sulpice in the village of Marignac was erected within the 12th century as part of a priory, founded here by the Charroux Abbey (120kms southeast). The church has a remarkable cloverleaf layout. The eastern part, seen here and the portal are still dating back to the first church here, while the outer walls of the nave have been rebuilt, after destruction by war. All around the eastern "cloverleaf" are carved corbels, pillar and capitals. This one is very mysterious. An elderly person (monk) in a strage kind of hood? Or a childbirth?

The parish church Saint-Sulpice in the village of Marignac was erected within the 12th century as part of a priory, founded here by the Charroux Abbey (120kms southeast). The church has a remarkable cloverleaf layout. The eastern part with the side chapels and the apse and the western portal, seen here, are still dating back to the first church here, while the outer walls of the nave have been rebuilt, after destruction by war. Unfortunately most carvings of the large archevolts are weathered away, and the two saints in the little niche to the right have lost their heads.

The parish church Saint-Sulpice in the village of Marignac was erected within the 12th century as part of a priory, founded here by the Charroux Abbey (120kms southeast). The church has a remarkable cloverleaf layout. The eastern part with the side chapels and the apse and the western portal are still dating back to the first church here, while the outer walls of the nave have been rebuilt, after destruction by war. Inside the nave, facing east, under a wooden roof. Left and rigt are the rebuilt walls. The crossing in front is Romanesque.

The parish church Saint-Sulpice in the village of Marignac was erected within the 12th century as part of a priory, founded here by the Charroux Abbey (120kms southeast). The church has a remarkable cloverleaf layout. The eastern part with the side chapels and the apse and the western portal are still dating back to the first church here, while the outer walls of the nave have been rebuilt, after destruction by war. There are some capitals on the pillars, that support the rebuilt walls. Here is a (unicaudal) mermaid, holding fish in her hands. A bird pecks one of the fish. Must be a seagull! Actually the mermaid is a twin. Her sister is on the other side of the capital.

The parish church Saint-Sulpice in the village of Marignac was erected within the 12th century as part of a priory, founded here by the Charroux Abbey (120kms southeast). The church has a remarkable cloverleaf layout. The eastern part with the side chapels and the apse and the western portal are still dating back to the first church here, while the outer walls of the nave have been rebuilt, after destruction by war. The Romanesque apse was probably painted within the late 19th/early 20th century with this lightblue. Note the Romanesque frieze, that runs all around, depicting a dense jungle of entwined vines, full of lurking dangers and strange adventures.

The parish church Saint-Sulpice in the village of Marignac was erected within the 12th century as part of a priory, founded here by the Charroux Abbey (120kms southeast). The church has a remarkable cloverleaf layout. The eastern part with the side chapels and the apse and the western portal are still dating back to the first church here, while the outer walls of the nave have been rebuilt, after destruction by war. The frieze, that runs all around the apse, has a very dense jungle of entwined vines, full of dangers and adventures. Here are lions, guarding the corners or fighting evil creatures.

The parish church Saint-Sulpice in the village of Marignac was erected within the 12th century as part of a priory, founded here by the Charroux Abbey (120kms southeast). The church has a remarkable cloverleaf layout. The eastern part with the side chapels and the apse and the western portal are still dating back to the first church here, while the outer walls of the nave have been rebuilt, after destruction by war. The frieze, that runs all around the apse, has a very dense jungle of entwined vines, full of dangers and adventures. Humans are wrestling between the vines. Grabbing the opponent´s genitals is neither covered by the rules of freestyle-wrestling, nor Graeco-Roman style.

The parish church Saint-Sulpice in the village of Marignac was erected within the 12th century as part of a priory, founded here by the Charroux Abbey (120kms southeast). The church has a remarkable cloverleaf layout. The eastern part with the side chapels and the apse and the western portal are still dating back to the first church here, while the outer walls of the nave have been rebuilt, after destruction by war. The frieze, that runs all around the apse, has a very dense jungle of entwined vines, full of dangers and adventures. There were free-style wrestlers around the corner (previous upload), the wrestlers ,seen here, obviously prefer the Graeco-Roman style.

The parish church Saint-Sulpice in the village of Marignac was erected within the 12th century as part of a priory, founded here by the Charroux Abbey (120kms southeast). The church has a remarkable cloverleaf layout. The eastern part with the side chapels and the apse and the western portal are still dating back to the first church here, while the outer walls of the nave have been rebuilt, after destruction by war. The frieze, that runs all around the apse, has a very dense jungle of entwined vines, full of dangers and adventures. The large eagle seems very unconcerned, while the two dogs attack the deer.

The construction of the parish Saint-Pierre started in the 12th century, when the facade got erected in Romanesque sytle, typical for the Saintonge area. The apse was added to the structure some centuries later in Gothic style.

Saint-Pierre, parish church of Champagnolles (pop. 500), got erected on the floorplan of a Latin Cross in the second half of the 12th century. To enrich the floorplan, semicircular absidioles were added in the east. The portal of Saint-Pierre got remodeled during the 15th century, the heydays of "Flamboyant Gothic".

Saint-Pierre, parish church of Champagnolles (pop. 500), got erected on the floorplan of a Latin Cross in the second half of the 12th century. To enrich the floorplan, semicircular absidioles were added in the east. The builders did not invest much artistic creativity into the portal or the interior, as only some rough capitals can be found there. They obviously concentrated on the rich decoration of eastern walls of Saint-Pierre. All around the apses are dozends of carved mystic and fantastic corbels and capitals.

Saint-Pierre, parish church of Champagnolles (pop. 500), got erected on the floorplan of a Latin Cross in the second half of the 12th century. To enrich the floorplan, semicircular absidioles were added in the east. The builders did not invest much artistic creativity into the portal or the interior, as only some rough capitals can be found there. They obviously concentrated on the rich decoration of eastern walls of Saint-Pierre. All around the apses are dozends of carved mystic and fantastic corbels and capitals. Here, seen in a close up is the central apse.

Saint-Pierre, parish church of Champagnolles (pop. 500), got erected on the floorplan of a Latin Cross in the second half of the 12th century. To enrich the floorplan, semicircular absidioles were added in the east. The builders did not invest much artistic creativity into the portal or the interior, as only some rough capitals can be found there. They obviously concentrated on the rich decoration of eastern walls of Saint-Pierre. All around the apses are dozends of carved mystic and fantastic corbels and capitals.

Saint-Pierre, parish church of Champagnolles (pop. 500), got erected on the floorplan of a Latin Cross in the second half of the 12th century. To enrich the floorplan, semicircular absidioles were added in the east. The builders did not invest much artistic creativity into the portal or the interior, as only some rough capitals can be found there. They obviously concentrated on the rich decoration of eastern walls of Saint-Pierre. All around the apses are dozends of carved mystic and fantastic corbels and capitals. Actually this church is known for "rude carvings. This "megaphallus" is one of them, hidden in the dark corner and guarded by a neighbouring owl. The protected position saved the corbel from weathering.