Picardy / Picardie

Parfondal, a village with a population of around 150, is one of the "Plus Beaux Villages de France". It is indeed pretty - and has the best documented fortified churches I visited in the Picardie. Saint-Médard, erected almost entirely of bricks, was built in the 16th century, and got enlarged in 1760. It was once surrounded by a wall and a ditch. It was only accessable through the gate seen here. The church (incl. the tower and the rooms for the refugees) can be visited and there are even informative videos, explaining how people lived up there over longer periods. The room behind the strong gate, under the fortified towers is like a large narthex opening to the nave. The lower aisles were added, when the church got enlarged in 1760.

Parfondal, a village with a population of around 150, is one of the "Plus Beaux Villages de France". It is indeed pretty - and has the best documented fortified churches I visited in the Picardie. Saint-Médard, erected almost entirely of bricks, was built in the 16th century, and got enlarged in 1760. It was once surrounded by a wall and a ditch. It was only accessable through the gate seen here. The church (incl. the tower and the rooms for the refugees) can be visited and there are even informative videos, explaining how people lived up there over longer periods. A very narrow and low passage, that could easily blocked by the defenders, leads to the stair, that runs up to the shelter rooms in the towers.

Parfondal, a village with a population of around 150, is one of the "Plus Beaux Villages de France". It is indeed pretty - and has the best documented fortified churches I visited in the Picardie. Saint-Médard, erected almost entirely of bricks, was built in the 16th century, and got enlarged in 1760. It was once surrounded by a wall and a ditch. It was only accessable through the gate seen here. The church (incl. the tower and the rooms for the refugees) can be visited and there are even informative videos, explaining how people lived up there over longer periods. The "Chambre Caronet" is largest room. Note the hole/oculus in the floor, that was used for hauling up supplies - and the bell ringer as above this room are the church bells.

The former collegiate church, dedicated to Saint Laurent (aka "Lawrence of Rome"), is located on the foot of a hill, that once was occupied by a castle, that got completely demolished in 1817. The choir, dating to the 12th century, is the oldest part of the church, that got much altered and fortified in the 17th century.

The former collegiate church, dedicated to Saint Laurent (aka "Lawrence of Rome"), is located on the foot of a hill, that once was occupied by a castle, that got completely demolished in 1817. The choir, dating to the 12th century, is the oldest part of the church, that got much altered and fortified in the 17th century. The façade, with the large rose-window, was completed in the 13th and got restored end of the 19th.

The former collegiate church, dedicated to Saint Laurent (aka "Lawrence of Rome"), is located on the foot of a hill, that once was occupied by a castle, that got completely demolished in 1817. The Gothic choir, dating to the 12th century, is the oldest part of the church, that got much altered and fortified in the 17th century. This baptismal font may even be older than the choir. Rectangular fonts, carved from bluestone ("Pierre bleue de Tournai"), were very popular in Northern France within the 12th century.

The former collegiate church, dedicated to Saint Laurent (aka "Lawrence of Rome"), is located on the foot of a hill, that once was occupied by a castle, that got completely demolished in 1817. The Gothic choir, dating to the 12th century, is the oldest part of the church, that got much altered and fortified in the 17th century.

Saint-Martin was erected within the 13th century on a "greek-cross floor plan". When Montcornet burnt down in 1547, the church got severely damaged, the bell tower collapsed and destroyed the porch. The church got rebuilt and reconstructed with buttresses. The two towers flanking the facade were added 1609/1610. During the French Revolution the church became a "Temple of Reason" and was later used as a saltpeter factory. Restoration started within the 19th century. The church suffered damage again in WWI, when it was used as a hospital for the wounded soldiers, and during WWII, when in 1940 a train, loaded with ammunition, exploded in the trainstaion of Montcornet.

I have been here a couple of times ... approaching Loan slowly is awesome ... again and again - Laon, placed on a ridge and overlooking the flat Picardy plain, was a strategic, fortified site, already in Roman times. St. Remi founded a bishopric here in 487. Laon was a very important place in the kingdom of the Franks. A Carolingian cathedral, consecrated in 800 in the presence of Charlemagne, existed here. The Carolingian structure got replaced two centuries later by a Romanesque structure, consecrated in 1071. This cathedral was torched by the citizens during the Easter Insurrection on 25 April 1112. Bishop Waldric (aka "Gaudry"), who had served as Lord Chancellor and Lord Keeper of England, from 1103 to 1107 (described as greedy and very violent) was killed during the uproar. The cathedral got repaired, but in the end demolished to give room for the present cathedral. The construction began about 1160. The nave was completed after 1205. The "Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Laon", towering over the town, is a wonderful, early example of the Gothic style that developed in Northern France.

I have been here a couple of times ... approaching Loan slowly is awesome ... again and again - Laon, placed on a ridge and overlooking the flat Picardy plain, was a strategic, fortified site, already in Roman times. St. Remi founded a bishopric here in 487. Laon was a very important place in the kingdom of the Franks. A Carolingian cathedral, consecrated in 800 in the presence of Charlemagne, existed here. The Carolingian structure got replaced two centuries later by a Romanesque structure, consecrated in 1071. This cathedral was torched by the citizens during the Easter Insurrection on 25 April 1112. Bishop Waldric (aka "Gaudry"), who had served as Lord Chancellor and Lord Keeper of England, from 1103 to 1107 (described as greedy and very violent) was killed during the uproar. The cathedral got repaired, but in the end demolished to give room for the present cathedral. The construction began about 1160. The nave was completed after 1205. The "Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Laon", towering over the town, is a wonderful, early example of the Gothic style that developed in Northern France.

Laon, placed on a ridge and overlooking the flat Picardy plain, was a strategic, fortified site, already in Roman times. St. Remi founded a bishopric here in 487. Laon was a very important place in the kingdom of the Franks. A Carolingian cathedral, consecrated in 800 in the presence of Charlemagne, existed here. The Carolingian structure got replaced two centuries later by a Romanesque structure, consecrated in 1071. This cathedral was torched by the citizens during the Easter Insurrection on 25 April 1112. Bishop Waldric (aka "Gaudry"), who had served as Lord Chancellor and Lord Keeper of England, from 1103 to 1107 (described as greedy and violent) was killed during the uproar. The cathedral got repaired, but in the end demolished to give room for the present cathedral. The construction began about 1160. The nave was completed after 1205. The "Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Laon", towering over the town, is a wonderful, early example of the Gothic style that developed in Northern France. Laon had one of the most important cathedral schools in the 11th/12th century. Anselm of Laon and his brother Radulf taught here from about 1090 on . Peter Abelard moved to Laon to attend the lectures of Anselm on biblical exegesis. But when soon after Abelard began to offer his own lectures, he got expelled from this school by Anselm in 1113.

Laon, placed on a ridge and overlooking the flat Picardy plain, was a strategic, fortified site, already in Roman times. St. Remi founded a bishopric here in 487. Laon was a very important place in the kingdom of the Franks. A Carolingian cathedral, consecrated in 800 in the presence of Charlemagne, existed here. The Carolingian structure got replaced two centuries later by a Romanesque structure, consecrated in 1071. This cathedral was torched by the citizens during the Easter Insurrection on 25 April 1112. Bishop Waldric (aka "Gaudry"), who had served as Lord Chancellor and Lord Keeper of England, from 1103 to 1107 (described as greedy and violent) was killed during the uproar. The cathedral got repaired, but in the end demolished to give room for the present cathedral. The construction began about 1160. The nave was completed after 1205. The "Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Laon", towering over the town, is a wonderful, early example of the Gothic style that developed in Northern France.

Laon, placed on a ridge and overlooking the flat Picardy plain, was a strategic, fortified site, already in Roman times. St. Remi founded a bishopric here in 487. Laon was a very important place in the kingdom of the Franks. A Carolingian cathedral, consecrated in 800 in the presence of Charlemagne, existed here. The Carolingian structure got replaced two centuries later by a Romanesque structure, consecrated in 1071. This cathedral was torched by the citizens during the Easter Insurrection on 25 April 1112. Bishop Waldric (aka "Gaudry"), who had served as Lord Chancellor and Lord Keeper of England, from 1103 to 1107 (described as greedy and violent) was killed during the uproar. The cathedral got repaired, but in the end demolished to give room for the present cathedral. The construction began about 1160. The nave was completed after 1205. The "Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Laon", towering over the town, is a wonderful, early example of the Gothic style that developed in Northern France. Laon had one of the most important cathedral schools in the 11th/12th century. Anselm of Laon and his brother Radulf taught here from about 1090 on . Peter Abelard moved to Laon to attend the lectures of Anselm on biblical exegesis. But when soon after Abelard began to offer his own lectures, he got expelled from this school by Anselm in 1113.

The church was known already in the 11th century, when it was located outside the city walls. In 1180 this church burnt down and got rebuilt in the 12th/13th century in the in a late Romanesque style. The collegiate church served the parish, while the Bishop tried to erect only about 400 metres away the huge cathedral in the "modern" Gothic style. So it was decided, to replace the Romanesque, "old fashioned" church here with a new one, as well in Gothic style. The Romanesque choir got teared down. Around 1520 the late Gothic choir with side chappels - and elegant flying buttresses (seen here) was completed. The new apse was much longer, much wider and much higher, than the old one had been. After the crossing tower of the neighbouring cathedral had collapsed in 1573, the architects stopped the work here - and started to stabilize the structure of Saint Etienne. This was done with the massive tower end of the 16th century. So the Romanesque transept and the nave survived. During the early years of the French Revolution the church got vanadlized and then used as storage space. It got restored and was used as parish church, but got severely damaged by the German Luftwaffe in 1940. To restore that took 14 years after WWII.

The church was known already in the 11th century, when it was located outside the city walls. In 1180 this church burnt down and got rebuilt in the 12th/13th century in the in a late Romanesque style. The collegiate church served the parish, while the Bishop tried to erect only about 400 metres away the huge cathedral in the "modern" Gothic style. So it was decided, to replace the Romanesque, "old fashioned" church here with a new one, as well in Gothic style. The Romanesque choir got teared down. Around 1520 the late Gothic choir with side chappels - and elegant flying buttresses was completed. The new apse was much longer, much wider and much higher, than the old one had been. After the crossing tower of the neighbouring cathedral had collapsed in 1573, the architects stopped the work here - and started to stabilize the structure of Saint Etienne. This was done with this massive tower end of the 16th century. So the Romanesque transept and the nave survived. During the early years of the French Revolution the church got vanadlized and then used as storage space. It got restored and was used as parish church, but got severely damaged by the German Luftwaffe in 1940. To restore that took 14 years after WWII. While the carvings of the Gothic portal got mutilated and severely damaged by the vandals of the Revolution, the Romanesque side portal, seen here, still is pretty intact.

The church was known already in the 11th century, when it was located outside the city walls. In 1180 this church burnt down and got rebuilt in the 12th/13th century in the in a late Romanesque style. The collegiate church served the parish, while the Bishop tried to erect only about 400 metres away the huge cathedral in the "modern" Gothic style. So it was decided, to replace the Romanesque, "old fashioned" church here with a new one, as well in Gothic style. The Romanesque choir got teared down. Around 1520 the late Gothic choir with side chappels - and elegant flying buttresses was completed. The new apse was much longer, much wider and much higher, than the old one had been. After the crossing tower of the neighbouring cathedral had collapsed in 1573, the architects stopped the work here - and started to stabilize the structure of Saint Etienne. This was done with this massive tower end of the 16th century. So the Romanesque transept and the nave survived. During the early years of the French Revolution the church got vanadlized and then used as storage space. It got restored and was used as parish church, but got severely damaged by the German Luftwaffe in 1940. To restore that took 14 years after WWII. While the carvings of the Gothic portal got mutilated and severely damaged by the vandals of the Revolution, the Romanesque side portal, seen here, still is pretty intact. Style and iconography remind of Romanesque carvings from the Poitou-Charentes.

The "Maladrerie Saint-Lazare" is a former large leprosy station, existing about 2kms out of Beauvais´ center since the 12th century. The oldest document about the Maladrerie dates from 1131. Other than "hopitals" for sick people and pilgrims, this was a place, where only lepers were cared for. Well, care had probably a very different meaning in those times, as once here, the lepers could not leave the walled area around Maladrerie - lifelong. They got food, clothes - and maybe an occasional bath, as there was no cure. At the French Revolution the buildings and the land of the Maladrerie Saint-Lazare were sold as national property - and used as a large farm. Meanwhile most of the buildings are well restored and the 3 hectares-compound is a museum, while the largest building serves for cultural events.

The "Maladrerie Saint-Lazare" is a former large leprosy station, existing about 2kms out of Beauvais´ center since the 12th century. The oldest document about the Maladrerie dates from 1131. Other than "hopitals" for sick people and pilgrims, this was a place, where only lepers were cared for. Well, care had probably a very different meaning in those times, as once here, the lepers could not leave the walled area around Maladrerie - lifelong. They got food, clothes - and maybe an occasional bath, as there was no cure. At the French Revolution the buildings and the land of the Maladrerie Saint-Lazare were sold as national property - and used as a large farm. Meanwhile most of the buildings are well restored and the 3 hectares-compound is a museum, while the largest building serves for cultural events. The "Logis" seen here is not the largest building here, the "Grange", the former barn is larger. With a floor space of 740m² and a (modern) stage, it is a perfect location for concerts.