Lot-et-Garonne (47) and Gironde (33)

Saint-Seurin was originally built outside the city walls close to an ancient necropolis. The Abbey of St. Seurin bears the name of the venerated fourth bishop of Bordeaux. A first building, confirmed towards mid 5th century, got destroyed by the Normans in the 8th century. It was reconstructed above the crypt of St. Seurin from the 11th to 13th centuries. The church underwent many modifications and got a new facade during the 19th century. Behind this new facade parts of the Romanesque portal got saved. The Gothique side portal - seen here - depicts the "Last Judgment", an icon that often can be found along the "chemins". Bordeaux was one of the major halts on the Via Turonensis. The grave of Saint-Seurin was an important place for the many pilgrims. Another precious relic, shown here, was the ivory horn of Roland, who died at Roncevaux and whose (legendary) burial place most pilgrims will have seen in Blaye. Tradition claims that the horn "olifant", still reported in the 17th century and lost before the French Revolution, had been left by the Charlemagne on the altar of St. Seurin.

Saint-Seurin was originally built outside the city walls close to an ancient necropolis. The Abbey of St. Seurin bears the name of the venerated fourth bishop of Bordeaux. A first building, confirmed towards mid 5th century, got destroyed by the Normans in the 8th century. It was reconstructed above the crypt of St. Seurin from the 11th to 13th centuries. The church underwent many modifications. Massive romanesque pillars flank the nave. Here I got my last tampon - for 2016. Bordeaux was one of the major halts on the Via Turonensis. The grave of Saint-Seurin was an important place for the many pilgrims. Another precious relic, shown here, was the ivory horn of Roland, who died at Roncevaux and whose (legendary) burial place most pilgrims will have seen in Blaye. Tradition claims that the horn "olifant", still reported in the 17th century and lost before the French Revolution, had been left by the Charlemagne on the altar of St. Seurin.

Saint-Seurin was originally built outside the city walls close to an ancient necropolis. The Abbey of St. Seurin bears the name of the venerated fourth bishop of Bordeaux. A first building, confirmed towards mid 5th century, got destroyed by the Normans in the 8th century. It was reconstructed above the crypt of St. Seurin from the 11th to 13th centuries. Bordeaux was one of the major halts on the Via Turonensis. The grave of Saint-Seurin was an important place for the many pilgrims. Another precious relic, shown here, was the ivory horn of Roland, who died at Roncevaux and whose (legendary) burial place most pilgrims will have seen in Blaye. Tradition claims that the horn "olifant", still reported in the 17th century and lost before the French Revolution, had been left by the Charlemagne on the altar of St. Seurin. The crypt below the church, that underwent many modifications, is part of a paleochristian necropolis. It may (in parts) date back to the 4th century. There are some nice sarcophagi, carved from pyreneen marble and dated into the 6th century. This one has a chrismon with Alpha and Omega and on the sides birds in a vinyard, pecking grapes.

The Basilique Saint-Michel is a Flamboyant Gothic church, built between the end of 14th century and the 16th century. It replaced an older church, that existed here "extra muros". The separate bell tower ("la flèche"), built in the 15th century on an ancient burial ground, is 114 meters tall. It was for centuries the tallest structure in Bordeaux - and ist still the tallest bell tower in Southern France.

The Basilique Saint-Michel is a Flamboyant Gothic church, built between the end of 14th century and the 16th century. It replaced an older church, that existed here "extra muros". The separate bell tower ("la flèche"), built in the 15th century on an ancient burial ground, is 114 meters tall. It was for centuries the tallest structure in Bordeaux - and ist still the tallest bell tower in Southern France.

The Basilique Saint-Michel is a Flamboyant Gothic church, built between the end of 14th century and the 16th century. It replaced an older church, that existed here "extra muros". The separate bell tower ("la flèche"), built in the 15th century on an ancient burial ground, is 114 meters tall. It is partly seen to the left. The church itself is 75 meters long. The fleamarket all around the church was still going on in the early afternoon.

A "villa Tauriaca" was given to the Bishop of Le Mans already in 585 by some Alderic. At that time probably a chapel existed here. The portal seen today dates to the 12th. century - and it is unusual, as it does have tympana in the flanking arches. Modifications were made, when the church got fortified in the 16th century, but meanwhile the portal is pretty much back to the original state. - I had been in this area a couple of times before - and took already lots of fotos, but as I had the time now, I visited places like Tauriac again. If you want more details, just search - for "Tauriac" in my photostream.

A "villa Tauriaca" was given to the Bishop of Le Mans already in 585 by some Alderic. At that time probably a chapel existed here. The portal seen today dates to the 12th. century - and it is unusual, as it does have tympana in the flanking arches. Modifications were made, when the church got fortified in the 16th century, but meanwhile the portal is pretty much back to the original state. Some of the corbels and most of the capitals went through the centuries without much damage.

A "villa Tauriaca" was given to the Bishop of Le Mans already in 585 by some Alderic. At that time probably a chapel existed here. The portal seen today dates to the 12th. century - and it is unusual, as it does have tympana in the flanking arches. Modifications were made, when the church got fortified in the 16th century, but meanwhile the portal is pretty much back to the original state. This is the tympanum from the right arch. The stone and the carving style differ from all other carvings around. It seems to be older and may explain, that the expression "merovingian" somewhere. There is an inscription around the "Agnus Dei" and another one on the bottom, but other than "pax" I could not decipher any word.

A "villa Tauriaca" was given to the Bishop of Le Mans already in 585 by some Alderic. At that time probably a chapel existed here. The portal seen today dates to the 12th. century - and it is unusual, as it does have tympana in the flanking arches. Modifications were made, when the church got fortified in the 16th century, but meanwhile the portal is pretty much back to the original state. Most capitals and corbels of the church are undamaged, like this contortionist under the roof, demonstrating his flexibility.

A "villa Tauriaca" was given to the Bishop of Le Mans already in 585 by some Alderic. At that time probably a chapel existed here. The portal seen today dates to the 12th. century - and it is unusual, as it does have tympana in the flanking arches. Modifications were made, when the church got fortified in the 16th century, but meanwhile the portal is pretty much back to the original state. Most capitals and corbels of the church are undamaged. The musician, holding his vielle, is obviously impressed by the flexibility of his neighbour (see previous upload).

A "villa Tauriaca" was given to the Bishop of Le Mans already in 585 by some Alderic. At that time probably a chapel existed here. The portal seen today dates to the 12th. century - and it is unusual, as it does have tympana in the flanking arches. Modifications were made, when the church got fortified in the 16th century, but meanwhile the portal is pretty much back to the original state. Most capitals and corbels of the church are undamaged. The person, seen here, has by far the weirdest hairdo I have seen in a very long time. Not to talk about the beard, plaited to feathers. The guy looks like a medieval Rastafari with his long dreadlocks. Ganja-style?!

Saint-Seurin was originally built outside the city walls close to an ancient necropolis. The Abbey of St. Seurin bears the name of the venerated fourth bishop of Bordeaux. A first building, confirmed towards mid 5th century, got destroyed during the 8th century Norman invasions. It was reconstructed above the crypt of St. Seurin from the 11th to 13th centuries. The church underwent important modifications during the 19th century. Bordeaux was one of the major halts on the Via Turonensis. The grave of Saint-Seurin was an important place for the many pilgrims. Another precious relic, shown here, was the ivory horn of Roland, who died at Roncevaux. Tradition claims that the horn "olifant", still reported in the 17th century and lost before the French Revolution, had been left by the Charlemagne on the altar of St. Seurin.

Saint-Seurin was originally built outside the city walls close to an ancient necropolis. The Abbey of St. Seurin bears the name of the venerated fourth bishop of Bordeaux. A first building, confirmed towards mid 5th century, got destroyed during the 8th century Norman invasions. It was reconstructed above the crypt of St. Seurin from the 11th to 13th centuries. The church underwent important modifications and got a new facade during the 19th century. Behind this facade parts of the Romanesque portal got saved and so the birds still share the pine-cones. Bordeaux was a major halt on the Via Turonensis and the grave of Saint-Seurin was an important place for the many pilgrims.

Saint-Seurin was originally built outside the city walls close to an ancient necropolis. The Abbey of St. Seurin bears the name of the venerated fourth bishop of Bordeaux. A first building, confirmed towards mid 5th century, got destroyed during the 8th century Norman invasions. It was reconstructed above the crypt of St. Seurin from the 11th to 13th centuries. The church underwent important modifications and got a new facade during the 19th century. Behind this facade parts of the Romanesque portal got saved. On one of the capitals is the Binding 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-Seurin was originally built outside the city walls close to an ancient necropolis. The Abbey of St. Seurin bears the name of the venerated fourth bishop of Bordeaux. A first building, confirmed towards mid 5th century, got destroyed during the 8th century Norman invasions. It was reconstructed above the crypt of St. Seurin from the 11th to 13th centuries. The crypt is part of a paleochristian necropolis and so parts if it may date back to the 4th century. Tradition tells, hat the necropolis had been consecrated by Christ and seven bishop saints. As the horn olifant was shown here, it is no surprise, that some of the brave soldiers who died with Roland at Roncevaux had been buried there. Unfortunately I was late and the guard only gave me 5 minutes time down in the crypt, before he locked the gates.

Saint-Seurin was originally built outside the city walls close to an ancient necropolis. The Abbey of St. Seurin bears the name of the venerated fourth bishop of Bordeaux. A first building, confirmed towards mid 5th century, got destroyed during the 8th century Norman invasions. It was reconstructed above the crypt of St. Seurin from the 11th to 13th centuries. The crypt was part of a paleochristian necropolis and so parts if it may date back to the 4th century. Tradition tells, hat the necropolis had been consecrated by Christ and seven bishop saints. As the horn olifant was shown here, it is no surprise, that some of the brave soldiers who died with Roland at Roncevaux had been buried there. Unfortunately I was late and the guard only gave me 5 minutes time down in the crypt, before he locked the gates.

Saint-Seurin was originally built outside the city walls close to an ancient necropolis. The Abbey of St. Seurin bears the name of the venerated fourth bishop of Bordeaux. A first building, confirmed towards mid 5th century, got destroyed during the 8th century Norman invasions. It was reconstructed above the crypt of St. Seurin from the 11th to 13th centuries. The crypt was part of a paleochristian necropolis and so parts if it may date back to the 4th century. Tradition tells, hat the necropolis had been consecrated by Christ and seven bishop saints. As the horn olifant was shown here, it is no surprise, that some of the brave soldiers who died with Roland at Roncevaux had been buried there. Down here are some very elaborated sarcophagi from the 6th and 7th century, that obviously survived the Norman raids. This one has a chrismon (CHi Rho) in the center. Unfortunately I was late and the guard only gave me 5 minutes time down in the crypt, before he locked the gates.