Ardèche (07) and Drôme (26)

A church is known in Mélas (now part of Le Teil), located at the Roman road connecting Lyon and Nîmes, since merovingien times. A noble lady named Fredegonde founded a nunnery in Mélas end of the 6th century, dedicated to Saint-Étienne and Saint Saturnin. The church seen today is younger and consists out of three parts, that were built in different times. The oldest, dated the the 9th/10th century, is an octogonal chapel, that could have been a baptistery or a burial chapel. It is not visible from this point of view. The northern and the central aisle are, just as the two still existing apses and the tower, were erected within the 11th and 12th century, while the southern aisle (left) is an addition of the 19th century.

A church is known in Mélas (now part of Le Teil), located at the Roman road connecting Lyon and Nîmes, since merovingien times. A noble lady named Fredegonde founded a nunnery in Mélas end of the 6th century, dedicated to Saint-Étienne and Saint Saturnin. Today´s church is younger. It consists out of three parts built in different times. Seen here is the roof of the oldest part, an octogonal chapel, dated the the 9th/10th century. The chapel could have been a baptistery or a burial chapel. I tend to the "baptistery" side, though the location is somehow odd, but the place around was sureley different about a thousand years around. The church, that we see now, did not exist - and there was of course no parking lot on a niveau way higher than that on which the chapel was erecetd.

A church is known in Mélas (now part of Le Teil), located at the Roman road connecting Lyon and Nîmes, since merovingien times. A noble lady named Fredegonde founded a nunnery in Mélas end of the 6th century, dedicated to Saint-Étienne and Saint Saturnin. Today´s church is younger. It consists out of three parts built in different times. The oldest part is an octogonal chapel, dated the the 9th/10th century. The chapel could have been a baptistery or a burial chapel. I tend to the "baptistery" side, though the location is somehow odd, but the place around was sureley different about a thousand years around. The church, that we see now, did not exist - and there was of course no parking lot on a niveau way higher than that on which the chapel was erected.

A church is known in Mélas (now part of Le Teil), located at the Roman road connecting Lyon and Nîmes, since merovingien times. A noble lady named Fredegonde founded a nunnery in Mélas end of the 6th century, dedicated to Saint-Étienne and Saint Saturnin. Today´s church is younger. It consists out of three parts built in different times. The oldest part is an octogonal chapel, dated the the 9th/10th century. The chapel could have been a baptistery or a burial chapel. I tend to the "baptistery" side, though the location is somehow odd, but the place around was sureley different about a thousand years around. The church, that we see now, did not exist. Under the dome of the octogonal chapel.

A church is known in Mélas (now part of Le Teil), located at the Roman road connecting Lyon and Nîmes, since merovingien times. A noble lady named Fredegonde founded a nunnery in Mélas end of the 6th century, dedicated to Saint-Étienne and Saint Saturnin. Today´s church is younger. It consists out of three parts built in different times. The oldest part is an octogonal chapel, dated the the 9th/10th century. The chapel could have been a baptistery or a burial chapel. I tend to the "baptistery" side, though the location is somehow odd, but the place around was sureley different about a thousand years around. The church, that we see now, did not exist. The octagon is connected to the church. Some small heads guard the entrance to the chapel. Here is one of them.

A church is known in Mélas (now part of Le Teil), located at the Roman road connecting Lyon and Nîmes, since merovingien times. A noble lady named Fredegonde founded a nunnery in Mélas end of the 6th century, dedicated to Saint-Étienne and Saint Saturnin. Today´s church is younger. It consists out of three parts built in different times. The oldest part is an octogonal chapel, dated the the 9th/10th century (see previous uploads). Two of the three aisles were erected in the 12th/13th century. Here are some Romanesque capitals. This capital depicts the "Weighing of souls".

Snowing had started again, when I passed the very long, but deserted building of the "Colonie L'Espoir Nimes" in Laveyrune...

A church is known in Mélas (now part of Le Teil), located at the Roman road connecting Lyon and Nîmes, since merovingien times. A noble lady named Fredegonde founded a nunnery in Mélas end of the 6th century, dedicated to Saint-Étienne and Saint Saturnin. Today´s church is younger. It consists out of three parts built in different times. The oldest part is an octogonal chapel, dated the the 9th/10th century (see previous uploads). Two of the three aisles were erected in the 12th/13th century. Here are some Romanesque capitals. This capital depicts 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."

Saint-Pierre is located a little outside Larnas, a hamlet with a population of about 200. It was erected in the first half of the 12th century, probably connected to the Benedictine abbey in Cruas (40kms north). Some spolia, reused here, may come from a carolingian church on the same place. The church had fallen in disrepair after the Revolution, but got renovated and rebuilt. Unfortunately it was locked.

Saint-Pierre is located a little outside Larnas, a hamlet with a population of about 200. It was erected in the first half of the 12th century, probably connected to the Benedictine abbey in Cruas (40kms north). Some spolia, reused here, may come from a carolingian church on the same place. The church had fallen in disrepair after the Revolution, but got renovated and rebuilt. Unfortunately it was locked.

The valley of the Ardèche is very scenic and lots of tourists are here over summer to do kayak trips down the gorge. The most famous feature is the Pont d'Arc, a natural 60-metre stone arch spanning the river. It is probably one of the most photographed point in Southern France and has it´s own photo place (just aside of the road), from where this shot was taken. When I took it, I noticed many people swimming though the arch..

The valley of the Ardèche is very scenic and lots of tourists are here over summer to do kayak trips down the gorge. The most famous feature is the Pont d'Arc, a natural 60-metre stone arch spanning the river. It is probably one of the most photographed point in Southern France and has it´s own photo place (just aside of the road). From there I had noticed people swimming thorugh the arch, so I walked down and tried it mayself. It was a nice experience...

The valley of the Ardèche is very scenic and lots of tourists are here over summer to do kayak trips down the gorge. The "Gorges de l'Ardèche" is an about 30kms long canyon running from Vallon-Pont-d'Arc (previous photos) to Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche. Some of the limestone cliffs are upt 300 m high.

The "Gorges de l'Ardèche" is an about 30kms long canyon running from Vallon-Pont-d'Arc to Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche. Some of the limestone cliffs are upt 300 m high. I learned that upto 1 million tourists visit the area over the summer months. Many of them rent kayaks and take trips down the Ardèche. Near the end of the canyon is a pickup, from where kayaks and tourists are collected and brought back to the starting point.

The "Gorges de l'Ardèche" is an about 30kms long canyon running from Vallon-Pont-d'Arc to Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche. The Ardèche forms some large meandres and sSome of the limestone cliffs are upto 300 m high.

When Guillaume Adhemar, bishop of Tricastin residing in nearby Saint Paul Trois Châteaux, returned home from two-year pilgrimage to the Holy Land, he commissioned this hexagonal chapel. It was erected, following the blueprint of the "Holy Sepulchre" in Jerusalem, in 1508. A nice souvenir.

When Guillaume Adhemar, bishop of Tricastin residing in nearby Saint Paul Trois Châteaux, returned home from two-year pilgrimage to the Holy Land, he commissioned this hexagonal chapel. It was erected, following the blueprint of the "Holy Sepulchre" in Jerusalem, in 1508. A nice souvenir.

When Guillaume Adhemar, bishop of Tricastin residing in nearby Saint Paul Trois Châteaux, returned home from two-year pilgrimage to the Holy Land, he commissioned this hexagonal chapel. It was erected, following the blueprint of the "Holy Sepulchre" in Jerusalem, in 1508. A nice souvenir! Unfortunately the blue door was locked.