Medieval Murals

Kottingwörth developed from a settlement on an island ("Werder") in the Altmühl river. The first wooden church may date back to the time of Christianisation. The first stone church was built in the 12th century. It got consecrated between 1183 and 1195. The towers were built between 1250 and 1310. In the first half of the 16th century, the towers were raised. In the years 1760/61, the medieval church building was replaced by a baroque new building. The oldest part of the church is the basement of the west tower, dated to the 13th century. Around 1310 the choir of the church (now the Vitus chapel) was adorned with frescoes. During the renovation work in the chapel in 1891 these murals were rediscovered under a coat of paint. The paintings are still well preserved. Seen here may be Saint Erasmus of Antiochia (aka Erasmus of Formia or St. Elmo). He has been tortured in many way, according to the legend he died when his abdomen was slit open and his intestines wound around a windlass. He is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers - just like St. Vitus.

Kottingwörth developed from a settlement on an island ("Werder") in the Altmühl river. The first wooden church may date back to the time of Christianisation. The first stone church was built in the 12th century. It got consecrated between 1183 and 1195. The towers were built between 1250 and 1310. In the first half of the 16th century, the towers were raised. In the years 1760/61, the medieval church building was replaced by a baroque new building. The oldest part of the church is the basement of the west tower, dated to the 13th century. Around 1310 the choir of the church (now the Vitus chapel) was adorned with frescoes. During the renovation work in the chapel in 1891 these murals were rediscovered under a coat of paint. The paintings are still well preserved. The right of the two saints, who holds a gridiron, is Saint Lawrence. Who is the left one, holding a loaf of bread? Honoratus of Amiens? Below them are Cain and Abel. God accepts only Abel´s offering but not his brother`s.

Kottingwörth developed from a settlement on an island ("Werder") in the Altmühl river. The first wooden church may date back to the time of Christianisation. The first stone church was built in the 12th century. It got consecrated between 1183 and 1195. The towers were built between 1250 and 1310. In the first half of the 16th century, the towers were raised. In the years 1760/61, the medieval church building was replaced by a baroque new building. The oldest part of the church is the basement of the west tower, dated to the 13th century. Around 1310 the choir of the church (now the Vitus chapel) was adorned with frescoes. During the renovation work in the chapel in 1891 these murals were rediscovered under a coat of paint. The paintings are still well preserved. Under the dome are a "Majestas Domini" (Christ in Majesty), the four evangelists (two by two) and two saints.

Kottingwörth developed from a settlement on an island ("Werder") in the Altmühl river. The first wooden church may date back to the time of Christianisation. The first stone church was built in the 12th century. It got consecrated between 1183 and 1195. The towers were built between 1250 and 1310. In the first half of the 16th century, the towers were raised. In the years 1760/61, the medieval church building was replaced by a baroque new building. The oldest part of the church is the basement of the west tower, dated to the 13th century. Around 1310 the choir of the church (now the Vitus chapel) was adorned with frescoes. During the renovation work in the chapel in 1891 these murals were rediscovered under a coat of paint. The paintings are still well preserved. The weighing of souls (psychostasia). Like mostly, the demons try to interfere with the balance of scales. To the right, the evil souls line up in front of the Hellmouth. Even a bishop (mitra) and a monk (tonsure) are among the roped, well dressed doomed.

Kottingwörth developed from a settlement on an island ("Werder") in the Altmühl river. The first wooden church may date back to the time of Christianisation. The first stone church was built in the 12th century. It got consecrated between 1183 and 1195. The towers were built between 1250 and 1310. In the first half of the 16th century, the towers were raised. In the years 1760/61, the medieval church building was replaced by a baroque new building. The oldest part of the church is the basement of the west tower, dated to the 13th century. Around 1310 the choir of the church (now the Vitus chapel) was adorned with frescoes. During the renovation work in the chapel in 1891 these murals were rediscovered under a coat of paint. The paintings are still well preserved. In the centre, above the Saints, stands Archangel Michael holding the scale. The weighing of souls (psychostasia) is done on Judgement Day. Like mostly, the demons try to interfere with the balance of scales. To the right, the evil souls go to hell.

Kottingwörth developed from a settlement on an island ("Werder") in the Altmühl river. The first wooden church may date back to the time of Christianisation. The first stone church was built in the 12th century. It got consecrated between 1183 and 1195. The towers were built between 1250 and 1310. In the first half of the 16th century, the towers were raised. In the years 1760/61, the medieval church building was replaced by a baroque new building. The oldest part of the church is the basement of the west tower, dated to the 13th century. Around 1310 the choir of the church (now the Vitus chapel) was adorned with frescoes. During the renovation work in the chapel in 1891 these murals were rediscovered under a coat of paint. The paintings are still well preserved. According to this legend, Vitus was a 7-year-old son of a senator of Lucania. He fled his father´s attempts, to make him turn away from his faith and fled with his tutor and his nanny. When Emperor Diocletian heard about the boy, he brought him to Rome because Vitus was supposed to heal his son, who was afflicted by an evil spirit. He did so, but as he remained steadfast in the Christian faith, he was tortured. He was even thrown into boiling oil along with his companions. Miraculously an angel brought back the three to Lucania, where they died from the tortures they had endured.

Kottingwörth developed from a settlement on an island ("Werder") in the Altmühl river. The first wooden church may date back to the time of Christianisation. The first stone church was built in the 12th century. It got consecrated between 1183 and 1195. The towers were built between 1250 and 1310. In the first half of the 16th century, the towers were raised. In the years 1760/61, the medieval church building was replaced by a baroque new building. The oldest part of the church is the basement of the west tower, dated to the 13th century. Around 1310 the choir of the church (now the Vitus chapel) was adorned with frescoes. During the renovation work in the chapel in 1891 these murals were rediscovered under a coat of paint. The paintings are still well preserved.

...the crypt of the church had very nice and well preserved mural paintings. Here the Adoration of the Magi, while their servant (below) holds the horses....

The Vall de Boí is a small valley with a complex medieval history with many political moves, due to the strategic position (there are still eight castles) and the silver that was mined here. Actually the history is too complex, to boil it down to a few lines, so I will not try. The valley is famous for its for its nine Romanesque churches. It was designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2000 and it is claimed to have the "densest concentration of Romanesque architecture in Europe". I am not sure, what density here really means, as Rome and Cologne have a very rich Romanesque architecture as well - but a way larger population. The village of Boí gives its name to the valley. It has a population of about 200 - and has the wonderful parish church Sant Joan de Boí. The church is a three nave-basilica, with a rectangular central apse and two semicircular apsidioles. The church suffered a major fire in the 13th century. Sant Joan de Boí is known for it´s mural paintings. The originals are kept (like most frescoes of the valley´s churches) in the "Museu d'Art de Catalunya" in Barcelona, but I was told that the copies, that now cover the walls are pretty precise. Once (1100) the walls were covered with mural paintings, but only a few survived incomplete. An oLIFAnt! The elephant lost it´s trunk over the time. Similar to the group of grey animals just seen, the tusks protrude like horns. As neither the artist, nor one of the onlookers had ever seen an elephant, this small slip is absolutely forgivable.

To cross high mountain ranges was a very dangerous task in medieval times. It is no surprise that Romanesque churches (or the remains) line the old pass-routes in the Pyrenees as well as in the Alpes. These were places to pray before the final approach and places to thank for having accomplished the task. Sant Joan de Caselles, erected within the 11th century, is exactly next to the old trail, that today is the main road, running south/north through the "Principality of Andorra". The architecture reminds on churches in the Vall de Boí (150kms east), In the 12th century the interior walls of the church probably had frescoes all over. This large crucifix and the frescoes have survived the times. Since medieval times, Andorra is a co-principality with the President of France and the Bishop of Urgell, as co-princes. The original title holders on the French side were the Counts of Foix, later the title was transferred to the French King, so after the Revolution the President inherited it.

Notre Dame, the parish church of the small town of Attigny, dates back to the 12th century was built, where a merovingian chapel, placed in the center of a large merovingian necropolis, stood before. It is proven, that Notre Dame in 1184 existed in dependence of the Benedictian monastery (4kms north). The structure seen today was altered rebuilt and renovated many times. Notre Dame is known for its frescoes. The frescoes of the nave, seen here, are probably older than the frescoes of the "Chapelle Sainte-Catherine", added the the church in 1421. One of the nave´s frescoes depicts "The Last Supper". The supper here includes bread, fish, a small mammal and wine. Note, that there are only knives on the table. Forks were not common in medieval times. Forks were seen as devilish. Evil tools. Many churches in the valley of the Gartempe river are decorated with murals. Tourists may follow "Circuit Vallée des Fresques".

Notre Dame, the parish church of the small town of Attigny, dates back to the 12th century was built, where a merovingian chapel, placed in the center of a large merovingian necropolis, stood before. It is proven, that Notre Dame in 1184 existed in dependence of the Benedictian monastery (4kms north). The structure seen today was altered rebuilt and renovated many times. Notre Dame is known for its frescoes. The frescoes of the nave, seen here, are probably older than the frescoes of the "Chapelle Sainte-Catherine", added the the church in 1421. Many churches in the valley of the Gartempe river are decorated with murals. Tourists may follow "Circuit Vallée des Fresques".

Notre Dame, the parish church of the small town of Attigny, dates back to the 12th century was built, where a merovingian chapel, placed in the center of a large merovingian necropolis, stood before. It is proven, that Notre Dame in 1184 existed in dependence of the Benedictian monastery (4kms north). The structure seen today was altered rebuilt and renovated many times. Notre Dame is known for its frescoes. In 1421 Renaud de Montléon, squire of the noble Seigneurs de Boismorand, bequeathed by last will, that a chapel should be erected here. This chapel, dedicated to Sainte-Catherine, was built and all the walls were covered with frescoes between 1430 and 1490. Seen here in the center is the "Adoration of the Magi". Left of them are the "Angels and Shepherds" and to the right the "Massacre of the Innocents". Below is the Flagellation of Christ - and above three knights meeting three devils. Many churches in the valley of the Gartempe river are decorated with murals. Tourists may follow "Circuit Vallée des Fresques".

It is unknown when this important abbey was founded here. Legends tell, that Charlemagne was involved as well as his son Louis the Pious and Benedict of Aniane. The church was erected from about 1050 on. As in the crypt of the large church the relics of St. Savin and St. Cyprian were displayed, a large ambulatory with five radial chapels was added for the many pilgrims. The church burnt down during the Hundred Years' War, but got rebuilt and reconstructed in the 17th and 19th century. As many medieval frescoes and murals have survived here since 1983 the "Abbey Church of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe" has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here the nave of Saint Savin. Some of the 11th-century-frecoes and the Romanesque capitals can be seen.

It is unknown when this important abbey was founded here. Legends tell, that Charlemagne was involved as well as his son Louis the Pious and Benedict of Aniane. The church was erected from about 1050 on. As in the crypt of the large church the relics of St. Savin and St. Cyprian were displayed, a large ambulatory with five radial chapels was added for the many pilgrims. The church burnt down during the Hundred Years' War, but got rebuilt and reconstructed in the 17th and 19th century. As many medieval frescoes and murals have survived here since 1983 the "Abbey Church of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe" has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here is the ceiling of the nave, seen from a different pov.

It is unknown when this important abbey was founded here. Legends tell, that Charlemagne was involved as well as his son Louis the Pious and Benedict of Aniane. The church was erected from about 1050 on. As in the crypt of the large church the relics of St. Savin and St. Cyprian were displayed, a large ambulatory with five radial chapels was added for the many pilgrims. The church burnt down during the Hundred Years' War, but got rebuilt and reconstructed in the 17th and 19th century. As many medieval frescoes and murals have survived here since 1983 the "Abbey Church of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe" has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here is a large part of the nave´s ceiling. This is indeed a "picture book", 17 meters over ground. André Malraux hailed this as "the Sistine Chapel of the Romanesque period". It is well restored and breathtaking! Seen in the center is Noah's Ark.

It is unknown when this important abbey was founded here. Legends tell, that Charlemagne was involved as well as his son Louis the Pious and Benedict of Aniane. The church was erected from about 1050 on. As in the crypt of the large church the relics of St. Savin and St. Cyprian were displayed, a large ambulatory with five radial chapels was added for the many pilgrims. The church burnt down during the Hundred Years' War, but got rebuilt and reconstructed in the 17th and 19th century. As many medieval frescoes and murals have survived here since 1983 the "Abbey Church of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe" has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are about 400m² of frescoes. Under the barrel vault of the nave´s ceiling, 17 meters over ground, is indeed a "picture book". André Malraux hailed this as "the Sistine Chapel of the Romanesque period". It is well restored and breathtaking! Here is Noah's Ark.

It is unknown when this important abbey was founded here. Legends tell, that Charlemagne was involved as well as his son Louis the Pious and Benedict of Aniane. The church was erected from about 1050 on. As in the crypt of the large church the relics of St. Savin and St. Cyprian were displayed, a large ambulatory with five radial chapels was added for the many pilgrims. The church burnt down during the Hundred Years' War, but got rebuilt and reconstructed in the 17th and 19th century. As many medieval frescoes and murals have survived here since 1983 the "Abbey Church of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe" has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are about 400m² of frescoes. Under the barrel vault of the nave´s ceiling, 17 meters over ground, is indeed a "picture book". André Malraux hailed this as "the Sistine Chapel of the Romanesque period". It is well restored and breathtaking! Here is the "Tower of Babel".