Pays de la Loire

Notre Dame, the parish church of Oulmes, was erected in the 12th century. During the wars later, the tower got strongly fortified, to offer a safe place for the villagers.

Sainte-Eulalie, parish church of Benet, was erected in the 12th century, but renovated and altered in the 15th century. The facade, seen here, still has many elements of the Romanesque church, though they are weathered and vandalized. Only the shape of the horseman can be seen on the left. Much better preserved are the remarkable archivolts around the windows. Benet is a small town, west of Niort, in the Vendée, the deprtament where in 1793 the "War in the Vendée", an uprise against the young republic, was fought. The counterrevolutionary rebellion ended, when tens of thousands of civilians were massacred by the Republican army.

Sainte-Eulalie, parish church of Benet, was erected in the 12th century, but renovated and altered in the 15th century. Some of the Romanesque elements of the are weathered and vandalized. This archivolt around the left blind arch is "repaired" but in good condition. Six elegant angels flank a very archaic baby in the center. To the right a devilish head. Benet is a town in the south of the Vendée, the deprtament where in 1793 the "War in the Vendée", an uprise against the young republic, was fought. The counterrevolutionary rebellion ended, when tens of thousands of civilians were massacred by the Republican army.

Sainte-Eulalie, parish church of Benet, was erected in the 12th century, but renovated and altered in the 15th century. Some of the Romanesque elements of the western facade are weathered and vandalized. The higher the carvings, the less vandalized they are. Sainte-Eulalie is known, to have a "bible de pierre", a bible from stone, as the archivolts around the central window depict many biblical scenes.

Sainte-Eulalie, parish church of Benet, was erected in the 12th century, but renovated and altered in the 15th century. Some of the Romanesque elements of the western facade are weathered and vandalized. The higher the carvings, the less vandalized they are. Sainte-Eulalie is known, to have a "bible de pierre", a bible from stone, as the archivolts around the central window depict many biblical scenes. Here is the "Annunciation to the shepherds".

Maillezais, a small town with a population of less than 1000, is known for it´s old monastery, founded in the very swampy "Marais Poitevin" in 989. It developed well, when the land around got reclaimed. Later even was a bishop´s see was here. Only some ruins are left of the former Gothic cathedral, as it was burned down by Huguenots during the Wars of Religion and sold as a quarry to local entrepreneurs after the French Revolution. Saint Nicolas, the parish church, here seen from the east, had a better fate. Though vandalized and severely damaged, it did not get ruined like the cathedral. The oldest part of the structure is probably the tower, that obviously was strongly fortified. The apse, with many corbels, and the nave look like they were "added" to that massive tower.

Maillezais, a small town with a population of less than 1000, is known for it´s old monastery, founded in the very swampy "Marais Poitevin" in 989. It developed well, when the land around got reclaimed. Later even was a bishop´s see was here. Only some ruins are left of the former Gothic cathedral, as it was burned down by Huguenots during the Wars of Religion and sold as a quarry to local entrepreneurs after the French Revolution. Saint Nicolas, the parish church had a better fate. Though vandalized and severely damaged as well, it did not get ruined like the cathedral. The oldest part of the structure is probably the tower, that was strongly fortified and looks like a donjon. The little sacristy with the chimney was probably added to the structure within the 19th century.

Maillezais, a small town with a population of less than 1000, is known for it´s old monastery, founded in the very swampy "Marais Poitevin" in 989. It developed well, when the land around got reclaimed. Later even was a bishop´s see was here. Only some ruins are left of the former Gothic cathedral, as it was burned down by Huguenots during the Wars of Religion and sold as a quarry to local entrepreneurs after the French Revolution. Saint Nicolas, the parish church had a better fate, though vandalized and severely damaged during the Wars of Religion as well, it did not get ruined like the cathedral. The western facade, built in the "style saintonge" with the flanking blind arches, is impressive. The portal looks much better in the afternoon sun, but I could not wait.

Maillezais, a small town with a population of less than 1000, is known for it´s old monastery, founded in the very swampy "Marais Poitevin" in 989. It developed well, when the land around got reclaimed. Later even was a bishop´s see was here. Only some ruins are left of the former Gothic cathedral, as it was burned down by Huguenots during the Wars of Religion and sold as a quarry to local entrepreneurs after the French Revolution. Saint Nicolas, the parish church had a better fate, though vandalized and severely damaged during the Wars of Religion as well, it did not get ruined like the cathedral. The western facade, built in the "style saintonge" with the flanking blind arches, is impressive. Here a closeup of the portal, that -for sure- looks much better in the afternoon sun, but I could not wait.

Maillezais, a small town with a population of less than 1000, is known for it´s old monastery, founded in the very swampy "Marais Poitevin" in 989. It developed well, when the land around got reclaimed. Later even was a bishop´s see was here. Only some ruins are left of the former Gothic cathedral, as it was burned down by Huguenots during the Wars of Religion and sold as a quarry to local entrepreneurs after the French Revolution. Saint Nicolas, the parish church had a better fate, though vandalized and severely damaged during the Wars of Religion as well, it did not get ruined like the cathedral. The western facade is built in the "style saintonge" with the flanking blind arches. These are the pillars on the right side of the central door. They are all masterly carved. The six acrobats, who together press the heavy, but weathered capital, are very unique. We will see them again at the International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo next January, when they´ll perform with the six acrobats, who do the same stunt on the left side of the door.

Maillezais, a small town with a population of less than 1000, is known for it´s old monastery, founded in the very swampy "Marais Poitevin" in 989. It developed well, when the land around got reclaimed. Later even was a bishop´s see was here. Only some ruins are left of the former Gothic cathedral, as it was burned down by Huguenots during the Wars of Religion and sold as a quarry to local entrepreneurs after the French Revolution. Saint Nicolas, the parish church had a better fate, though vandalized and severely damaged during the Wars of Religion as well, it did not get ruined like the cathedral. The western facade is built in the "style saintonge" with the flanking blind arches. Here are the highly intricate carvings of the archivolt round the central portal. The horizontal side is populated with dwarf like humans, who hold giant birds that "live" on the vertical side. Maybe the dwarfs fight the birds. The birds had vines in the beaks, but most of the fragile branches are broken off.

Maillezais, a small town with a population of less than 1000, is known for it´s old monastery, founded in the very swampy "Marais Poitevin" in 989. It developed well, when the land around got reclaimed. Later even was a bishop´s see was here. Only some ruins are left of the former Gothic cathedral, as it was burned down by Huguenots during the Wars of Religion and sold as a quarry to local entrepreneurs after the French Revolution. Saint Nicolas, the parish church had a better fate, though vandalized and severely damaged during the Wars of Religion as well, it did not get ruined like the cathedral. The western facade is built in the "style saintonge" with the flanking blind arches. There are nice capitals at the facade. This one depicts a dangerous encounter in the thick forest, the pilgrim has to pass through on his "chemin" to Santiago. In the twilight, entangled by vines all of a sudden there was a centaur. There is a straight object starting between the centaurs legs - and ending (in a snake´s head?) in the pilgrim´s chest. It is not the common walking stick, used by medieval pilgrims.. Anyway, the bearded pilgrim starts to run..

Maillezais, a small town with a population of less than 1000, is known for it´s old monastery, founded in the very swampy "Marais Poitevin" in 989. It developed well, when the land around got reclaimed. Later even was a bishop´s see was here. Only some ruins are left of the former Gothic cathedral, as it was burned down by Huguenots during the Wars of Religion and sold as a quarry to local entrepreneurs after the French Revolution. Saint Nicolas, the parish church had a better fate, though vandalized and severely damaged during the Wars of Religion as well, it did not get ruined like the cathedral. The western facade is built in the "style saintonge" with the flanking blind arches. There are nice capitals at the facade. A weathered mermaid with two flippers and four long braids under a frieze of partridges. The seashore was very near to Maillezais within the 12th century. So the carvers will have had first hand experiences with mermaids.

Maillezais, a small town with a population of less than 1000, is known for it´s old monastery, founded in the very swampy "Marais Poitevin" in 989. It developed well, when the land around got reclaimed. Later even was a bishop´s see was here. Only some ruins are left of the former Gothic cathedral, as it was burned down by Huguenots during the Wars of Religion and sold as a quarry to local entrepreneurs after the French Revolution. Saint Nicolas, the parish church had a better fate, though vandalized and severely damaged during the Wars of Religion as well, it did not get ruined like the cathedral. The western facade is built in the "style saintonge" with the flanking blind arches. There are nice capitals at the facade. The "Master off Beasts" is well dressed - and seems to be a bit chicken-hearted, but he is not. The lions display their teeth and are frightening, but the master firmly holds their paws with his hands.

Maillezais, a small town with a population of less than 1000, is known for it´s old monastery, founded in the very swampy "Marais Poitevin" in 989. It developed well, when the land around got reclaimed. Later even was a bishop´s see was here. Only some ruins are left of the former Gothic cathedral, as it was burned down by Huguenots during the Wars of Religion and sold as a quarry to local entrepreneurs after the French Revolution. Saint Nicolas, the parish church had a better fate, though vandalized and severely damaged during the Wars of Religion as well, it did not get ruined like the cathedral. The western facade is built in the "style saintonge" with the flanking blind arches. Many capitals and corbels decorate the walls of the nave. Here is a knight in a "Present Arms"-pose, the winged dragon is already impatiently waiting for the fight around the corner. I can hear announcer Michael Buffer´s "Let's get ready to rumble!"

Maillezais, a small town with a population of less than 1000, is known for it´s old monastery, founded in the very swampy "Marais Poitevin" in 989. It developed well, when the land around got reclaimed. Later even was a bishop´s see was here. Only some ruins are left of the former Gothic cathedral, as it was burned down by Huguenots during the Wars of Religion and sold as a quarry to local entrepreneurs after the French Revolution. Saint Nicolas, the parish church had a better fate, though vandalized and severely damaged during the Wars of Religion as well, it did not get ruined like the cathedral. The western facade is built in the "style saintonge" with the flanking blind arches. Capitals and corbels decorate the walls of the nave and the apse. Many corbels are renovated, sometimes missing parts have been replaced. Though a part of the right side got lost, the sunbathing manticore is untouched.

Maillezais, a small town with a population of less than 1000, is known for it´s old monastery, founded in the very swampy "Marais Poitevin" in 989. It developed well, when the land around got reclaimed. Later even was a bishop´s see was here. Only some ruins are left of the former Gothic cathedral, as it was burned down by Huguenots during the Wars of Religion and sold as a quarry to local entrepreneurs after the French Revolution. Saint Nicolas, the parish church had a better fate, though vandalized and severely damaged during the Wars of Religion as well, it did not get ruined like the cathedral. The western facade is built in the "style saintonge" with the flanking blind arches. Capitals and corbels decorate the walls of the nave and the apse. Many corbels are renovated, sometimes missing parts have been replaced. Here is a very flexible cat with a pretty short tail.

Maillezais, a small town with a population of less than 1000, is known for it´s old monastery, founded in the very swampy "Marais Poitevin" in 989. It developed well, when the land around got reclaimed. Later even was a bishop´s see was here. Only some ruins are left of the former Gothic cathedral, as it was burned down by Huguenots during the Wars of Religion and sold as a quarry to local entrepreneurs after the French Revolution. Saint Nicolas, the parish church had a better fate, though vandalized and severely damaged during the Wars of Religion as well, it did not get ruined like the cathedral. The western facade is built in the "style saintonge" with the flanking blind arches. Capitals and corbels decorate the walls of the nave and the apse. Many corbels are renovated, sometimes even missing parts have been replaced. Here is a duo, that must have sucessfully toured around western France in the 12th century, as the musician playing the vielle and his collegue, the harpist, can be found under the roofs of many churches.