Medieval Virgins

Raoul de Bourges (aka "Saint Raoul"), archbishop of Bourges, son of the Count of Turenne founded an abbey on the banks of the Dordogne river in the 9th century with the help of monks from Solignac, where Raoul had started his clerical career. After feudal quarrels, the abbey Saint-Pierre joined the Cluniac movement in 1076 and soon after the erection of this church started. It was completed already mid 12th century. Though not situated at the busy pilgrim routes (eg "Via Podensis" runs about 60kms south) a large, typical "pilgrim church" was created here. It may well been, that the relics, that were on display here (Saint-Prime, Saint-Félicien, Sainte-Félicité) and the proximity to Rocamador (30kms southwest) motivated many pilgrims to do a detour. The abbey slipped into difficult times, when the number of pilgrims shrunk and feudal claims emerged again. The abbey and the city of Beaulieu suffered of the Wars of Religion. The Huguenots took over Beaulieu in 1569 and the monks had to flee. After the "Ligue Catholique" had reconquered the place, the monks returned and soon after the convent joined the Congregation of Saint Maur. The abbey existed upto the French revolution, when the last 6 monks had to leave. The abbey buildings got sold and demolished, while the church was taken over by the parish. The structure was in a ruined state at that time. The nave partly collapsed in 1808, but a difficult renovation undertaken end of the 19th century finally saved the church. The church has a little "tresor", behind iron bars, where precious objects are on display. The Vierge de Beaulieu is a Romanesque Virgin and Child, created probably end of the 12th century. The Virgin is a wooden statue, covered by thin sheets of silver that is partly guilded (see previous uplaod). Here is young Jesus´ head.

Beaune, in the centre of the Department "Côte-d’Or", is one of the key wine centres in France. It is the centre of Burgundy wine production. and business. The annual wine auction of the "Hospices de Beaune" is worldwide noticed and maybe the most important auction in France. The collegiate was founded in Beaune within the 10th century, the building of this church, which is parish church since the French Revolution, started in romanesque style within the 12th century. A Romanesque Madonna, protected by security glass. The sculpture is damaged (arms). Her undamaged head may be a result of restoration.

The "Catedral de Santa Maria" in Huesca got erected over 300 years. The building started end of the 13th century in gothic style, replacing a mosque that had served as a church, since Huesca was conquered in 1096 by Christian troops led by Peter I of Aragon. The diocesan museum, that is hosted inside the cathedral displays an extraordenary collection of medieval art. There are some stunning madonna-figures. Of course they are showcased in glass cabinets, what of causes some reflections.

The "Catedral de Santa Maria" in Huesca got erected over 300 years. The building started end of the 13th century in gothic style, replacing a mosque that had served as a church, since Huesca was conquered in 1096 by Christian troops led by Peter I of Aragon. The diocesan museum, that is hosted inside the cathedral displays an extraordenary collection of medieval art. There are some stunning madonna-figures. Of course they are showcased in glass cabinets, what of causes some reflections.

The "Catedral de Santa Maria" in Huesca got erected over 300 years. The building started end of the 13th century in gothic style, replacing a mosque that had served as a church, since Huesca was conquered in 1096 by Christian troops led by Peter I of Aragon. The diocesan museum, that is hosted inside the cathedral displays an extraordenary collection of medieval art. There are some stunning madonna-figures. Of course they are showcased in glass cabinets, what of causes some reflections.

Raoul de Bourges (aka "Saint Raoul"), archbishop of Bourges, son of the Count of Turenne founded an abbey on the banks of the Dordogne river in the 9th century with the help of monks from Solignac, where Raoul had started his clerical career. After feudal quarrels, the abbey Saint-Pierre joined the Cluniac movement in 1076 and soon after the erection of this church started. It was completed already mid 12th century. Though not situated at the busy pilgrim routes (eg "Via Podensis" runs about 60kms south) a large, typical "pilgrim church" was created here. It may well been, that the relics, that were on display here (Saint-Prime, Saint-Félicien, Sainte-Félicité) and the proximity to Rocamador (30kms southwest) motivated many pilgrims to do a detour. The abbey slipped into difficult times, when the number of pilgrims shrunk and feudal claims emerged again. The abbey and the city of Beaulieu suffered of the Wars of Religion. The Huguenots took over Beaulieu in 1569 and the monks had to flee. After the "Ligue Catholique" had reconquered the place, the monks returned and soon after the convent joined the Congregation of Saint Maur. The abbey existed upto the French revolution, when the last 6 monks had to leave. The abbey buildings got sold and demolished, while the church was taken over by the parish. The structure was in a ruined state at that time. The nave partly collapsed in 1808, but a difficult renovation undertaken end of the 19th century finally saved the church. The church has a little "tresor", behind iron bars, where precious objects are on display. Here is Vierge de Beaulieu, a Romanesque Virgin and Child, created probably end of the 12th century. A wooden statue, covered by thin sheets of silver that is partly guilded. A technique used already earlier. See the reliquary of "Sainte Foy" in Conques and the "Golden Madonna" in Essen.

The Kermaria-an-Iskuit chapel has undergone many changes over the centuries. The construction of the oldest existing part is contributed to Henri d'Avaugour (+ 1183), count of Trégor and Goëlo, to give thanks after having returned from a crusade. In the 15th century the porch, seen here, and the transverse chapel were added. During the 19th century the structure was in real danger, when the parish priest wanted to demolish the chapel in order to construct the "modern" village church. The population resisted this plans - and so saved the building. Once this chapel was a place for pilgrimages, as the chapel is dedicated to the worship of "Itron Varia an Iskuit" (Saint Mary of the Healing) and following the local information, a traditional feast is still celebrated on the 3rd Sunday in September. There are some extraordinary statues here. I found three different statues of Virgin Mary holding infant Jesus. Here Jesus seems seems not to like breastfeeding. A "Nursing Madonna" (aka "Madonna Lactans", "Maria lactans") was a popular "icon" from the 14th century on. There is even a "Lactatio Bernardi", based on vision of Bernard of Clairvaux where the Virgin sprinkled milk on Bernard´s lips.

The construction of the cathedral was ordered by King Ferdinand III of Castile and Mauricio, the Bishop of Burgos. Ferdinand had just married Barbarossa´s granddaughter Beatrice of Swabia (aka "Elisabeth of Swabia") and wanted a cathedral, reflecting his new role in the European power game. The former Romanesque cathedral got demolished and on July 20, 1221, the construction of the new Gothic started under the guidance of an unknown French architect. After nine years, the chevet was completed and the high altar was consecrated. Then the construction stopped for about 200 years. Attending the Council of Basel (aka "Council of Florence") in 1435 bishop (and diplomat) Alfonso de Cartagena saw the just completed, elegant towers of the Basel Minster. When he returned to Burgos he was accompanied by German architect Johannes von Köln (aka "Juan de Colonia"), who probably knew the blueprints of the towers, planned for the Cathedral of Cologne. Under his guidance the towers of the Cathedral were completed in open tracery. He was followed on the construction site by his son Simon de Colonia. Francisco de Colonia, Simon´s son, continued the work and created the Pellejería-Portal. This was a family business. Virgin Mary holding infant Jesus. Jesus acts like a very hungry breast-fed baby. This sculpture can be seen in the context of a "Nursing Madonna" (aka "Madonna Lactans", "Maria lactans"). These icons were popular from the 14th century on.

The town was founded by the hermit Domingo de la Calzada (aka "Dominic of the Causeway"), who supported the pilgrims on the way to Santiago de Compostela. Domingo not only built a hospital for the pilgrims, but as well a paved causeway and a bridge. He was such a successful architect, that he is still patron saint of the Spanish civil engineers. The first church, erected by him, got consecrated in 1106. Since 1232 this was the Seat of the Bishops of the Calahorra-La Calzada and Logroño, so the structure got enlarged and modified. Around the former cloister now is a museum, there are many sculptures. Many of them are Baroque, but this Madonna is clearly older (13th c.).

The town was founded by the hermit Domingo de la Calzada (aka "Dominic of the Causeway"), who supported the pilgrims on the way to Santiago de Compostela. Domingo not only built a hospital for the pilgrims, but as well a paved causeway and a bridge. He was such a successful architect, that he is still patron saint of the Spanish civil engineers. The first church, erected by him, got consecrated in 1106. Since 1232 this was the Seat of the Bishops of the Calahorra-La Calzada and Logroño, so the structure got enlarged and modified. Around the former cloister now is a museum, there are many sculptures. Here is a "Nursing Madonna" (aka "Madonna Lactans", "Maria lactans"). This was a popular "icon" from the 14th century on. Little Jesus seems not really enthusiastic about mother´s milk.

Many churches, chapels and abbeys all over continental Europe claim to be founded by Charlemagne. Saint John Abbey in the village of Müstair (= monasterium) is - most likely - founded in deed by Charlemagne or a bishop under Charles´ order around 774. At that time Charlemagne fought war against the Langobards in Northern Italy and needed save and secure passes over the Alps for his army. Fortified monasteries played an important role in this strategy. Dendrochronological surveys found out, that some of the beams used for the construction cut around 775, what is, when Charlemagne´s soldiers conquered the Lombardy. The "Benediktinerinnenkloster St. Johann", today still a Benedictine nunnery, is since 1983 a UNESCO World Heritage Site. - A convent that old of course owns valuable, very old treasures. The nuns run a museum here with some really extraordinary objects. One of them is this Romanesque Madonna.

Epinal was founded end of the 10th century by Dietrich I, Bishop of Metz (cousin of Emperor Otto I). A church will have existed here, that mid of the 11th century got replaced by a Romanesque structure, consecrated by Pope Leo IX, who was born in the near Alsace. This church probably had the same dimensions as the building today as some walls of the nave can be traced back to that church. A convent once adjoint the church to the south. The nuns could enter the church through a particular portal from the cloister. The parishioners entered the church through this portal, called "Portail des Bourgeois". It was decorated with statues once and had a carved tympanum. All was lost in 1793, when stirred up revolutionists raided the church. Iconoclastic waves rolled all over France just after the Revolution. In the center, between the doors, is a statue of the "Madonna and Child" from the 13th century. There are still traces of colours.

Boppard (known in Roman times as Vicus Baudobriga) lies on the Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2002. After the end of the Roman Empire the population continued to live in the former Roman fort, that in the 5th century became a Merovingian royal seat. A century later a predecessor of today's St. Severus Church was built from the remains of the abandoned Roman bath. In medieval times Boppard was often visited by the German kings, who then resided in the royal court. Excavations proofed that the early Christian church from the 6th century was a 9 × 32 meter church room with a small apse to the East. This church burnt down in the 10th century and got replaced by a smaller building. Around 1000 canons had formed a collegiate and cared for the pastoral needs. Today´s St. Severus church was erected in the 12th and 13th centuries. The two church towers date from the middle of the 12th century (the helmets are from the 17th century), the nave was built at the beginning of the 13th century and its likely completion is dated to 1225. The choir finally dates to around the year 1234. The enthroned Madonna was carved from alder wood around 1260.

The town of Chaource (pop. 1100) is known for the Chaource cheese and the church dedicated to Saint-Jean-Baptiste. The choir was part of a church built within the 14th century, but from 1531 on the old nave got teared down and was replaced by nave and aisles seen here. Chapels were added to the structure – and a great number of sculptures was collected. They survived iconoclasts and revolutionary vandals and now are on display. Mother and child.

A Roman settlement, named "Aeminium" existed here. When the neighbouring town "Conimbriga" got conquered and destroyed by the Suebes in 468, the survivors moved to "Aeminium" - and renamed it. The Visigoths under King Wittiza named the town "Eminio" later. In 714 the town was conquered by Muslim troops, who changed the name again. Coimbra was finally recaptured in 1064 by King Fernando de Castilla y León. Coimbra became the second capital of the Kingdom of Portugal (after Guimarãesin) 1139, a status that moved to Lisbon in 1256. The University of Coimbra, founded by Denis of Portugal (aka "Dom Dinis") in 1290, is one of the oldest in Europe. Coimbra hosts the "Machado de Castro National Museum", named after Machado de Castro, a Portuguese sculptor of the late 18th century. It has a wide, very interesting collection. Here are some examples. A "Virgem do Leite" (aka "Virgo lactans") attributed to the "Mestre dos Túmulos Reais", a sculptor otherwise known from his works around the tomb of Afonso I de Portugal. The breastfeeding Virgin was a theme, that was made popular by the Cistercians. The "Lactatio Bernardi" is based on a miracle or vision concerning Cistercian Bernard of Clairvaux where the Virgin sprinkled milk on his lips. www.museumachadocastro.gov.pt/en-GB/2%20museu/ContentList...

A monastery had been here since the 6th century, dedicated to the martyr St. Valerian, whose grave is in the crypt. It got raided by the Maurs and in 875 Charles the Bald offered the abbey to a group of homeless of monks from Normoutier as their monastery had been destroyed by the Normans. These monks carried the relics of St. Philibert with them, so for a while the abbey was shared by two communities, each dedicated to their own saint. After Hungarian troops had damaged the buildings in 936-37, the church got rebuild in the form we know it today. The construction lasted from the late 10th century to the early 12th century. It was consecrated in 1019, when it had a flat, wooden ceiling. A stone vault replaced the wooden ceiling in 1066-1108. I had been here many times before (and uploaded lots of photos) over the years, but I just had to stop - and take more shots. The side aisle hosts "Notre Dame la Brune" (the brown Madonna"), carved in the early 12th century and worshipped by many pilgrims ever since.

A settlement has existed here already before Romans and Gauls settled here, the town Belleville was actually founded by the House of Beaujeu. Humbert III de Beaujeu (+ 1194), the 8th Sir de Beaujeu, had a city wall built and founded a commanderie that in 1158 was converted into a Augustinian priory and 6 years later became an abbey. The church, that now serves the parish is the only remaining structure of this abbey. The construction of the large church (63m long) started in 1168. It was completed only 11 years later and was consecrated and dedicated to the Virgin in 1179. The nave (and the choir) seem already early Gothic in some parts. The church was the burial site for the House of Beaujeu. Though much of the interior got destroyed durig the Wars of the Religions, there are still nice (and well restored) Romanesque carvings and capitals here. The statue has the specific "Romanesque stiffness", but I reckon it is pretty new. I have already uploaded many photos of the unusual capitals, I took during previous visits. So I will just add a few "new" ones.

In Laon, placed on a ridge and overlooking the flat Picardy plain, St. Remi founded a bishopric 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 (and 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. The trumeau in the very center of the portal depicts Virgin Mary, holding the child (see previous upload). Here are Mother and Child.