Île-de-France

The Sainte-Chapelle ("Holy Chapel") was part of the Palais de la Cité, residence of the French Royals between 10th and 14th century. The chapel was built, to house Louis IX's vast collection of relics, including the Crown of Thorns, the Image of Edessa and the point of the "Holy Lance" - and many more prominent relics. Saint Louis (aka Louis IX) had purchased the "Passion Relics" from Baldwin II, unfortunate emperor of the Latin Empire of Constantinople, for 135,000 livres. The money was actually paid to the Venetians, to whom the relics had been pawned. Begun around 1239 and consecrated in 1248, the Sainte-Chapelle is considered among the highest achievements of the Gothic architecture. A fire damaged the chapel 1630, that got restored after that. The chapel suffered its most grievous destruction during the French Revolution, when the steeple got removed and many of the precious reliquaries were melted down. Reconstruction and restoration was done in the 1840s/1850s. Here are more than 600m² of stained glass, about 1/3 was destroyed and had to be replaced within the 19th century. The light is breathtaking! The sights are neck breaking. This is a fantastic place. This was a sensation, absolutely impressing, when it was completed around 800 years ago - and it still is. sainte-chapelle.monuments-nationaux.fr/

I had difficulties to find this hotel in Cergy Pontoise, as my notes were in a disorder. Near a bus stop I asked an elderly lady for directions. I probably mumbled the question into my beard .... "Pardon. Je ne l'ai pas compris." She got upset, as my pronunciation had caused a severe misunderstanding. No, I was not looking for anything connected to gynecology.

The small single-nave parish church of Le Heaulme (pop. 200) was ercted within the 12th century, but got modified later. It got enlarged by the square apse, supported by butresses,

The small single-nave parish church of Le Heaulme (pop. 200) was erected within the 12th century, but got modified later. It got enlarged by the square apse, seen to the left. A Romanesque portal, meanwhile bricked up, can be seen on wall.

The small single-nave parish church of Le Heaulme (pop. 200) was erected within the 12th century, but got modified later. It got enlarged by the square apse, seen to the left. Here are details of that bricked up Romanesque side portal (previous upload). Depicted in the center of the tympanum is Saint George on horseback on his way, to kill the dragon. To the right are a Lamb of God and a bird further to the left in the sky a person holding a cross. These group is interpreted as the "Trinity". On the left side are two persons. One of them, standing on an object (?) holds a crozier.

The parish church of Brignancourt (pop. 200) is one of the oldest Romanesque churches in the area. The nave was completed already late of the 11th century. The transept on the right dates to the 12th century, when the church got enlarged. The church got severely damaged during the Hundred Years War and rebuilt and restored after that.

The parish church of Brignancourt (pop. 200) is one of the oldest Romanesque churches in the area. The nave was completed already late of the 11th century. A transept dates to the 12th century, when the church got enlarged. The church got severely damaged during the Hundred Years War and rebuilt and restored after that. Here is the southern portal (12th c.). The tympanum has a geometric pattern. The archivolt consists out of daisies. Small lion heads are placed on both ends of it.

The parish church of Brignancourt (pop. 200) is one of the oldest Romanesque churches in the area. The nave was completed already late of the 11th century. A transept dates to the 12th century, when the church got enlarged. The church got severely damaged during the Hundred Years War and rebuilt and restored after that. The tympanum of the southern portal has a geometric pattern. The archivolt consists out of daisies. The portal is flanked by two slim columns. Here is the capital of the right side - a head with long braids, reminding me on dreadlocks.

The parish church of Brignancourt (pop. 200) is one of the oldest Romanesque churches in the area. The nave was completed already late of the 11th century. A transept dates to the 12th century, when the church got enlarged. The church got severely damaged during the Hundred Years War. When it got restored after that, the ruined northern transept arm got demolished completely and never got rebuilt. A bunch of garden gnomes with red caps settled in the shadow of the church.

Santeuil, just about 2kms south of Brignancourt (previous uplaod), hosts this wonderful parish church. "Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul" was built on a hillock between mid 12th century (apse, transept, bell tower) and the early 13th century (nave). It was erected in the very early Gothic style, that still was blended with many Romanesque parts. As the church never got damaged by wars or restauration, this is very much, how it must have looked 1250. The large window of the apse was probably smaller, the large one of today dates to the 14th century.

Santeuil, just about 2kms south of Brignancourt (previous uplaod), hosts this wonderful parish church. "Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul" was built on a hillock between mid 12th century (apse, transept, bell tower) and the early 13th century (nave). It was erected in the very early Gothic style, that still was blended with many Romanesque parts. As the church never got damaged by wars or restauration, this is very much, how it must have looked 1250. Sorry for this contre-jour shot, but I did not have the time to wait..

Santeuil, just about 2kms south of Brignancourt (previous uplaod), hosts this wonderful parish church. "Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul" was built on a hillock between mid 12th century (apse, transept, bell tower) and the early 13th century (nave). It was erected in the very early Gothic style, that still was blended with many Romanesque parts. As the church never got damaged by wars or restauration, this is very much, how it must have looked 1250. Unfortunately I was not allowed inside, but I could peep through the chicken wire. The nave is narrow and very high. Local information connects this to Notre Dame, erected from 1163 on in the center of Paris, just 50kms southeast.

Santeuil, just about 2kms south of Brignancourt (previous uplaod), hosts this wonderful parish church. "Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul" was built on a hillock between mid 12th century (apse, transept, bell tower) and the early 13th century (nave). It was erected in the very early Gothic style, that still was blended with many Romanesque parts. As the church never got damaged by wars or restauration, this is very much, how it must have looked 1250. So many medieval churches have the former side portals bricked up. Here is just another example, with a nice zig-zag decor.

Santeuil, just about 2kms south of Brignancourt (previous uplaod), hosts this wonderful parish church. "Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul" was built on a hillock between mid 12th century (apse, transept, bell tower) and the early 13th century (nave). It was erected in the very early Gothic style, that still was blended with many Romanesque parts. As the church never got damaged by wars or restauration, this is very much, how it must have looked 1250. Here, on a corbel, a nude beard-puller or a nude flutist, holding a pan flute, is falling down from heaven.

A plane creates a contrail over Le Bellay-en-Vexin. The erection of "Sainte-Marie-Madeleine", below the blue sky, started probably within the early 12th century. The base of the bell tower is Romanesque. I could not see the capitals inside, as the church was locked, but I learned, that they are Romanesque as well. It must have taken a long period to complete the structure - and it looks, that from that moment on the remodelling process started. Here again is a bricked up side portal.

A church was mentioned here the first time in 1071, when William, abbot of Saint Denis, and Jean d'Ivry, archbishop of Rouen, discussed the revenues from here. The Romanesque facade of Saint-Martin, created a few decades later, is not really spectacular. Unfortunately the owner of that car, parked in front of the door, did not have the keys to the church.

A church was mentioned here the first time in 1071, when William, abbot of Saint Denis, and Jean d'Ivry, archbishop of Rouen, discussed the revenues from here. What a contrast! The church was erected over at least two periods. The Romanesque nave was started late 11th/early 12th century. The Gothic chancel to the right was completed mid 13th century. Here the ties to Saint Denis are interesting, as Abbot Suger, rebuilding the Basilique Saint-Denis, had created a very new style with the support of some revolutionary masons/architects. So the Gothic chancel seen here, is for sure, strongly influenced by the "new choir" in Saint Denis. .. and another bricked up side portal...

Just like Saint-Martin in Cormeilles-en-Vexin (previous uploads) this church was transferred to the Abbey of Saint Denis by Jean d'Ivry, archbishop of Rouen, in 1071. Not much has survived from that early times, as the church, surrounded by flowering lilacs, got remodeled and extended numerous times over the centuries.