Picardy / Picardie

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 "Grange", the former barn is, with a floor space of 740m² and a (modern) stage, it is a perfect location for concerts. The "Grange" is 44 meters long - and 12 meters high. Note the beams above the heads. According to a dendrochronolocigal survey the oaks, used here, were cut down 1219/1220, what makes it easy to date the building.

About 500 metres east of the center of Therdonne stands the parish church Saint-Ouen, located next to the road and surrounded by an old graveyard. Therdonne exists since the French Revolution. It was created from 6 small hamlets, from the hamlet Saint-Ouen only this church and the graveyard remains. The structure of the church is pretty unique with a Gothic apse and transept seen here, and a Romanesque nave (seen next).

About 500 metres east of the center of Therdonne stands the parish church Saint-Ouen, located next to the road and surrounded by an old graveyard. Therdonne exists since the French Revolution. It was created from 6 small hamlets, from the hamlet Saint-Ouen only this church and the graveyard remains. The structure of the church is pretty unique with a Gothic apse and transept (previous uplaod) and a Romanesque nave and tower, seen here. Due to the isolated location, next to a busy road - and the times of war (1870/71, 1914/18, 1939/45), the outer walls of the church are covered with graffiti.

About 500 metres east of the center of Therdonne stands the parish church Saint-Ouen, located next to the road and surrounded by an old graveyard. Therdonne exists since the French Revolution. It was created from 6 small hamlets, from the hamlet Saint-Ouen only this church and the graveyard remains. The structure of the church is pretty unique with a Gothic apse and transept (previous uplaod) and a Romanesque nave and tower, seen here. Due to the isolated location, next to a busy road - and the times of war (1870/71, 1914/18, 1939/45), the outer walls of the church are covered with graffiti. Here are two examples.

About 500 metres east of the center of Therdonne stands the parish church Saint-Ouen, located next to the road and surrounded by an old graveyard. Therdonne exists since the French Revolution. It was created from 6 small hamlets, from the hamlet Saint-Ouen only this church and the graveyard remains. The structure of the church is pretty unique with a Gothic apse and transept (previous uplaod) and a Romanesque nave and tower, seen here. Due to the isolated location, next to a busy road - and the times of war (1870/71, 1914/18, 1939/45), the outer walls of the church are covered with graffiti. Here are two examples.

Hugues de Dammartin donated land to the abbey of Cluny in 1081. "Cluny" then sent monks to build a priory here dedicated to “St Leu”. At that time a church may have existed here already. Mid 12th century the church got extended to the west, soon after the builders, obviously inspired by the new style (Saint Denis, Senlis Cathedral), started to erect the eastern apse in an early Gothic style - and to construct the nave (1180/1210).

Hugues de Dammartin donated land to the abbey of Cluny in 1081. "Cluny" then sent monks to build a priory here dedicated to “St Leu”. At that time a church may have existed here already. Mid 12th century the church got extended to the west, soon after the builders, obviously inspired by the new style (Saint Denis, Senlis Cathedral), started to erect the eastern apse in an early Gothic style - and to construct the wide and nave (1180/1210), seen here.

Hugues de Dammartin donated land to the abbey of Cluny in 1081. "Cluny" then sent monks to build a priory here dedicated to “St Leu”. At that time a church may have existed here already. Mid 12th century the church got extended to the west, soon after the builders, obviously inspired by the new style (Saint Denis, Senlis Cathedral), started to erect the eastern apse in an early Gothic style - and to construct the wide and nave (1180/1210). The Romanesque portal to the narthex. Some of the sculpted capitals seem to be "new", a result of a recent restoration.

The story goes, that Louis IX of France (aka "Saint Louis", "le Prudhomme") donated this church to Chambly after he had visited the town in 1248. Louis IX is generally remembered for "le siècle d’or de St. Louis", the golden century, what fits into the legend. The erection of the church started soon after, when in 1260 the apse was built. In only 20 years the builders completed the structure in a style called "Gothic rayonannt", influenced by the Sainte Chapelle (1240s). The church, located in the center of Chambly, is 53 metres long and 20 metres wide.

The story goes, that Louis IX of France (aka "Saint Louis", "le Prudhomme") donated this church to Chambly after he had visited the town in 1248. Louis IX is generally remembered for "le siècle d’or de St. Louis", the golden century, what fits into the legend. The erection of the church started soon after, when in 1260 the apse was built. In only 20 years the builders completed the structure in a style called "Gothic rayonannt", influenced by the Sainte Chapelle (1240s). The church, located in the center of Chambly, is 53 metres long and 20 metres wide.

The story goes, that Louis IX of France (aka "Saint Louis", "le Prudhomme") donated this church to Chambly after he had visited the town in 1248. Louis IX is generally remembered for "le siècle d’or de St. Louis", the golden century, what fits into the legend. The erection of the church started soon after, when in 1260 the apse was built. In only 20 years the builders completed the structure in a style called "Gothic rayonannt", influenced by the Sainte Chapelle (1240s). The church, located in the center of Chambly, is 53 metres long and 20 metres wide. The large windows of the apse.. there are indeed parallels to the Sainte Chapelle, that is a few decades older and only about 40 kms south.

The story goes, that Louis IX of France (aka "Saint Louis", "le Prudhomme") donated this church to Chambly after he had visited the town in 1248. Louis IX is generally remembered for "le siècle d’or de St. Louis", the golden century, what fits into the legend. The erection of the church started soon after, when in 1260 the apse was built. In only 20 years the builders completed the structure in a style called "Gothic rayonannt", influenced by the Sainte Chapelle (1240s). The church, located in the center of Chambly, is 53 metres long and 20 metres wide. The nave and the light-flooded choir.

Saint Leger´s Romanesque tower, seen here from the road (RN 31) to Clermont-de-l'Oise, dates back to the 13th century, when Agnetz was an important village in the area. It took about three centuries to complete the structure - in Gothic style.

Saint Leger´s crossing tower, the facade and the nave date back to the 13th century. At that time Agnetz was an important village in the area. Over the next three centuries the structure got altered, it got finally completed, when the Gothic choir was added in 1540. Unfortunately the church as locked.

Saint Leger´s crossing tower, the facade and the nave date back to the 13th century. At that time Agnetz was an important village in the area. Over the next three centuries the structure got altered, it got finally completed, when the Gothic choir was added in 1540. The outer walls of the church are covered with ancient graffiti.

A settlement is known as "Clarimonte" or "Clarus Mons" since the 10th century, when the place got fortified during the Norman invasions. The town, that developed here in medieval times got several times taken and retaken during the Hundred Years' War. When the Hôtel de Ville was built in the 14th century it got fortified with thick walls. It was not only used as town hall and shelter for the population, but as well linen hall, what explains the lenghts of 52 metres. The building got restored in the 19th century. To the right Saint-Samson, the parish church, can be seen.

A settlement is known as "Clarimonte" or "Clarus Mons" since the 10th century, when the place got fortified during the Norman invasions. The town, that developed here in medieval times got several times taken and retaken during the Hundred Years' War. When the Hôtel de Ville (left) was built in the 14th century it got fortified with thick walls. It was not only used as town hall and shelter for the population, but as well linen hall, what explains the lenghts of 52 metres. The parish church, dedicated to Saint Samson (= "Samson de Dol", one of the "Seven founder saints of Brittany") towers over the "Place de l'Hôtel-de-Ville". The church erected within the 12th and 13th century burnt down during the Hundred Years' War. It got rebuilt from 1495 on. In 1785 the upper part of the tower was destroyed by lightning, so what is seen today is the rebuilt structure from 1812.

The elegant "Salle Paul Lebrun" from 1912 is now home of the "Cinéma du Clermontois".