Pays de la Loire

A Benedictian piory existed here since the 11th century. A large church for the convent was erected from the 12th century on. Of this church only the western facade survived. Though weathered and vandalized the facade still has many elements of the Romanesque church. When the church got rebuilt, after the naves had collapsed, in the 15th century large buttresses were needed, to stabilize the structure. During the French Revolution served as a Temple of Reason and was later used as a saltpeter factory, what means explosive gunpowder (sulfur + charcoal + saltpeter was produced here. Benet is a small town, west of Niort, in the Vendée, the department 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. A closer look onto Sainte-Eulalie´s facade. The elaborate archivolt around the central window makes clear, why this is known as a "bible de pierre", a bible from stone. Many biblical scenes can be found here. The carving style is delicate and reminds on works in the Charente (eg Fenioux). Here is the Nativity scene. From right - to left: (Weathered) Joseph, contemplating, Virgin Mary, exhausted in childbed, Baby Jesus (rather tall already) in the crib, watched by ass and ox.

A Benedictian piory existed here since the 11th century. A large church for the convent was erected from the 12th century on. Of this church only the western facade survived. Though weathered and vandalized the facade still has many elements of the Romanesque church. When the church got rebuilt, after the naves had collapsed, in the 15th century large buttresses were needed, to stabilize the structure. During the French Revolution served as a Temple of Reason and was later used as a saltpeter factory, what means explosive gunpowder (sulfur + charcoal + saltpeter was produced here. 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. A closer look onto Sainte-Eulalie´s facade. The elaborate archivolt around the central window makes clear, why this is known as a "bible de pierre", a bible from stone. Many biblical scenes can be found here. The carving style is delicate and reminds on works in the Charente (eg Fenioux). Here is scene from the life of Isaac. Esau is returning too late from hunting, Isaac has already blessed Jacob. Genesis 27:30

A Benedictian piory existed here since the 11th century. A large church for the convent was erected from the 12th century on. Of this church only the western facade survived. Though weathered and vandalized the facade still has many elements of the Romanesque church. When the church got rebuilt, after the naves had collapsed, in the 15th century large buttresses were needed, to stabilize the structure. During the French Revolution served as a Temple of Reason and was later used as a saltpeter factory, what means explosive gunpowder (sulfur + charcoal + saltpeter was produced here. 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. A closer look onto Sainte-Eulalie´s facade. The elaborate archivolt around the central window makes clear, why this is known as a "bible de pierre", a bible from stone. Many biblical scenes can be found here. The carving style is delicate and reminds on works in the Charente (eg Fenioux). Here is the "Sacrifice of Isaac". Genesis 22:9-13 "When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” "Here I am," he replied. "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son." Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son."

A Benedictian piory existed here since the 11th century. A large church for the convent was erected from the 12th century on. Of this church only the western facade survived. Though weathered and vandalized the facade still has many elements of the Romanesque church. When the church got rebuilt, after the naves had collapsed, in the 15th century large buttresses were needed, to stabilize the structure. During the French Revolution served as a Temple of Reason and was later used as a saltpeter factory, what means explosive gunpowder (sulfur + charcoal + saltpeter was produced here. 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. A closer look onto Sainte-Eulalie´s facade. The elaborate archivolt around the central window makes clear, why this is known as a "bible de pierre", a bible from stone. Many biblical scenes can be found here. The carving style is delicate and reminds on works in the Charente (eg Fenioux). This part of the archivolt may depict the "Presentation of Jesus at the Temple"

A Benedictian piory existed here since the 11th century. A large church for the convent was erected from the 12th century on. Of this church only the western facade survived. Though weathered and vandalized the facade still has many elements of the Romanesque church. When the church got rebuilt, after the naves had collapsed, in the 15th century large buttresses were needed, to stabilize the structure. During the French Revolution served as a Temple of Reason and was later used as a saltpeter factory, what means explosive gunpowder (sulfur + charcoal + saltpeter was produced here. 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. A closer look onto Sainte-Eulalie´s facade. The elaborate archivolt around the central window makes clear, why this is known as a "bible de pierre", a bible from stone. Many biblical scenes can be found here. The carving style is delicate and reminds on works in the Charente (eg Fenioux). This part of the archivolt may depict .. Cain? Is God (beardless, very feminine) holding Cain´s offering, while killed brother Abel lies behind him? Genesis 4:8-9 "Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let’s go out to the field." While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations Genesis 4:9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

A Benedictian piory existed here since the 11th century. A large church for the convent was erected from the 12th century on. Of this church only the western facade survived. Though weathered and vandalized the facade still has many elements of the Romanesque church. When the church got rebuilt, after the naves had collapsed, in the 15th century large buttresses were needed, to stabilize the structure. During the French Revolution served as a Temple of Reason and was later used as a saltpeter factory, what means explosive gunpowder (sulfur + charcoal + saltpeter was produced here. 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. A closer look onto Sainte-Eulalie´s facade. The elaborate archivolt around the central window makes clear, why this is known as a "bible de pierre", a bible from stone. Many biblical scenes can be found here. The carving style is delicate and reminds on works in the Charente (eg Fenioux). A detail of the archivolt. The creation of Eve. Genesis 2:21-22 "So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man." Again (see previous uploud) God is well dressed, beardless and somehow feminin.

A Benedictian piory existed here since the 11th century. A large church for the convent was erected from the 12th century on. Of this church only the western facade survived. Though weathered and vandalized the facade still has many elements of the Romanesque church. When the church got rebuilt, after the naves had collapsed, in the 15th century large buttresses were needed, to stabilize the structure. During the French Revolution served as a Temple of Reason and was later used as a saltpeter factory, what means explosive gunpowder (sulfur + charcoal + saltpeter was produced here. 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. A closer look onto Sainte-Eulalie´s facade. The elaborate archivolt around the central window makes clear, why this is known as a "bible de pierre", a bible from stone. Many biblical scenes can be found here. The carving style is delicate and reminds on works in the Charente (eg Fenioux). A detail of the archivolt. Adam and Eve haven eaten the apple. Both wear already the leave of a figtree. God watches from behind.

A Benedictian piory existed here since the 11th century. A large church for the convent was erected from the 12th century on. Of this church only the western facade survived. Though weathered and vandalized the facade still has many elements of the Romanesque church. When the church got rebuilt, after the naves had collapsed, in the 15th century large buttresses were needed, to stabilize the structure. During the French Revolution served as a Temple of Reason and was later used as a saltpeter factory, what means explosive gunpowder (sulfur + charcoal + saltpeter was produced here. 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. A closer look onto Sainte-Eulalie´s facade. The elaborate archivolt around the central window is known as a "bible de pierre", a bible from stone. The carving style is delicate and reminds on works in the Charente (eg Fenioux). The corbels came from a different workshop, the style here is much rougher. When the butcher strokes the pig...

A Benedictian piory existed here since the 11th century. A large church for the convent was erected from the 12th century on. Of this church only the western facade survived. Though weathered and vandalized the facade still has many elements of the Romanesque church. When the church got rebuilt, after the naves had collapsed, in the 15th century large buttresses were needed, to stabilize the structure. During the French Revolution served as a Temple of Reason and was later used as a saltpeter factory, what means explosive gunpowder (sulfur + charcoal + saltpeter was produced here. 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. A closer look onto Sainte-Eulalie´s facade. The elaborate archivolt around the central window is known as a "bible de pierre", a bible from stone. The carving style is delicate and reminds on works in the Charente (eg Fenioux). The corbels came from a different workshop, the style here is much rougher. Two medieval exhibitionists. The female one got obviously damaged by pious vandals, while the male one stayed intact.

The abbey was founded in 1068 by Ayraud Gadessenier, the Lord of Vouvant. Augustine Regulars lived here, responsible for cleansing the Poitevin swamps around. Aénor de Châtellerault (1103 - 1130) is buried here. She was the mother of Eleanor of Aquitaine, who became tone of the most powerful women in medieval Europe. The status of the abbey was promoted to an "Abbaye Royale" in 1141 by King Louis VII, then husband of Eleanor of Aquitaine. Later, by her marriage to Henry II (Plantagenet), Eleanor was to become Queen of England. The abbey was burnt down by the Huguenots in 1568 and went into decline. It got restored during the 19th century and still has a wonderful cloister. Unfortunately my "timing" was quite bad that time. I reached at noon time - and was not patient enough to wait for some hours, as the cloister was locked for the lunchbreak. I´ll be back here later. But at least the church was open for visitors. The church is indeed well restored. The tower - was added in the 19th century.

The abbey was founded in 1068 by Ayraud Gadessenier, the Lord of Vouvant. Augustine Regulars lived here, responsible for cleansing the Poitevin swamps around. Aénor de Châtellerault (1103 - 1130) is buried here. She was the mother of Eleanor of Aquitaine, who became tone of the most powerful women in medieval Europe. The status of the abbey was promoted to an "Abbaye Royale" in 1141 by King Louis VII, then husband of Eleanor of Aquitaine. Later, by her marriage to Henry II (Plantagenet), Eleanor was to become Queen of England. The abbey was burnt down by the Huguenots in 1568 and went into decline. It got restored during the 19th century and still has a wonderful cloister. Unfortunately my "timing" was quite bad that time. I reached at noon time - and was not patient enough to wait for some hours, as the cloister was locked for the lunchbreak. I´ll be back here later. The portal of the former abbey churches has many parallels to the churches erected within the 12th century in the neighbouring Charente Poitou (eg St. Hilaire, Melle).

The abbey was founded in 1068 by Ayraud Gadessenier, the Lord of Vouvant. Augustine Regulars lived here, responsible for cleansing the Poitevin swamps around. Aénor de Châtellerault (1103 - 1130) is buried here. She was the mother of Eleanor of Aquitaine, who became tone of the most powerful women in medieval Europe. The status of the abbey was promoted to an "Abbaye Royale" in 1141 by King Louis VII, then husband of Eleanor of Aquitaine. Later, by her marriage to Henry II (Plantagenet), Eleanor was to become Queen of England. The abbey was burnt down by the Huguenots in 1568 and went into decline. It got restored during the 19th century and still has a wonderful cloister. Unfortunately my "timing" was quite bad that time. I reached at noon time - and was not patient enough to wait for some hours, as the cloister was locked for the lunchbreak. I´ll be back here later. The portal of the former abbey churches has many parallels to the churches erected within the 12th century in the neighbouring Charente Poitou. I have actually no idea, what is depicted here.

The abbey was founded in 1068 by Ayraud Gadessenier, the Lord of Vouvant. Augustine Regulars lived here, responsible for cleansing the Poitevin swamps around. Aénor de Châtellerault (1103 - 1130) is buried here. She was the mother of Eleanor of Aquitaine, who became tone of the most powerful women in medieval Europe. The status of the abbey was promoted to an "Abbaye Royale" in 1141 by King Louis VII, then husband of Eleanor of Aquitaine. Later, by her marriage to Henry II (Plantagenet), Eleanor was to become Queen of England. The abbey was burnt down by the Huguenots in 1568 and went into decline. It got restored during the 19th century and still has a wonderful cloister. Unfortunately my "timing" was quite bad that time. I reached at noon time - and was not patient enough to wait for some hours, as the cloister was locked for the lunchbreak. I´ll be back here later. But at least the former abbey church was open for visitors.

La Baule, officialy named "La Baule-Escoublac", is a "young" seaside resort. Around 1880 Parisian industrialist Jules-Joseph Hennecart bought about 40 ha of dunes for the "Société des dunes d'Escoublac" and comissioned architects to design a seaside resort. After the railroad connected the new resort to Paris ,ore than 250 posh villas were built. After WWI the resort was "redesigned" based on experiences from Deauville, combining casinos, luxury hotels and sports facilities. La Baule had become a very fashionable seaside resort in the 1920s. Meanwhile old grand hotels and new appartment buildings form the backdrop of the long beach.

Saint-Nazaire on the rivermouth of the Loire served as a harbour for Nantes, which was a center of the slave trade between the 17th century and 1830. 43% of the French slave trade was organized in Nantes, what means that about 450.000 slaves were transported from Western Africa to Central America where they were traded for goods produced in the colonies. French artist Jean-Claude Mayo created this monument in 1989 to commemorate the abolution of slavery.

The "Saint-Nazaire Bridge" spans the Loire River and so links Saint-Nazaire on the north bank and Saint-Brevin-les-Pins on the south bank. In 1975, when the bridge was opened, it was the longest one ever built in France (3356m). It even held the world record for the longest cable-stayed bridge for eight years (720m).

The "Saint-Nazaire Bridge" spans the Loire River and so links Saint-Nazaire on the north bank and Saint-Brevin-les-Pins on the south bank. In 1975, when the bridge was opened, it was the longest one ever built in France (3356m). It even held the world record for the longest cable-stayed bridge for eight years (720m).

Sallertaine hosts two churches, both dedicated to Saint Martin. When the old church, erected within the 11th/12th century could not cope with population growth. The "Nouvelle Église", seen here, was consecrated in 1911.