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Basilique Notre-Dame de Beaune
Chapel of Saint Leger or the Chapel of the Cardinal Jean Rolin (15th century). The paintings by Pierre Spicre depict the raising of Lazarus and Saint Martha on the right. -
Basilique Notre-Dame de Beaune
A lovely detail in the chapel of Saint Leger. -
Vézelay Abbey
The famous tympanum, which is within the narthex, serves as a spiritual defense of the crusades. It was here that King Richard the Lionheart and King Phillip Augustus met for the Third Crusade. -
Vézelay Abbey
The ones who have not yet received the Word of God are not quite human: some are dwarfes... -
Vézelay Abbey
... and some have elephant ears. -
Vézelay - St anthony's vision
Probably Saint Anthony's vision. With St Anthony on the left, there is a figure tortured by three feathered demons. -
Vézelay Abbey
Basilica of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine was under repair, so we only saw a part of it. -
Bayeux Cathedral
The Bayeux cathedral is the original home of the Bayeux Tapestry. Originally from 1077, rebuilt in the 12th century and finished in the 19th. -
Bayeux Cathedral
Well, that is an interesting window. On a gothic cathedral. -
Bayeux Cathedral
Plenty of 13th century decoration in the church. This is the chapel of St. Thomas Becket, lower part showing scenes with Saint Nicolas and a crucifixion. -
Bayeux Cathedral
Thee Madonnas in the cathedral. -
Bayeux Cathedral
Saint Peter holding the keys to heaven. A 15th century fresco in the crypt. -
Bayeux Cathedral
Statue of Saint James the Minor in the cathedral. -
Bayeux Cathedral
Statue of Saint Bartholomew in the cathedral. -
Bayeux Cathedral
One of the many 12th century carvings in the cathedral. This one depicts a man with a monkey. -
Bayeux Cathedral
Imagine being a 12th century mason and you have to/are allowed to include such faces into the cathedral walls. -
Bayeux Cathedral
I am confused. Are these dogs with their tails biting their asses? Or - more plausible - are they chimeras? -
Bayeux Cathedral
Another grotesque creature, which surely had a meaning. -
Guimiliau
What an interesting wooden ceiling it is! -
Basilique Notre-Dame de Beaune
The porch dates from the mid-13th century. A great place that protects you from the elements. -
Basilique Notre-Dame de Beaune
A 12th century romanesque basilica in Beaune. -
Christ of Pity
A 15th century sculpture of Christ of Pity sculpted from one oak trunk. The craftsmanship on the crown of thorns and ropes is wonderful! -
Beaune Polyptych detail
The red angel above Nicolas Rolin's head holds a golden helmet. -
Beaune Polyptych
Closed altarpiece shows Nicolas Rolin, Chancellor of Burgundy, and his wife Guigone de Salins, who founded the hospice in 1443. In the center are St. Sebastian and St. Anthony with the Annunciation on top. While the wife has a 'proper' white angel, the red angel of Nicolas looks quite devilish to me. -
Beaune Polyptych detail
Another lovely detail of the Beaune altarpiece. A piglet hiding behind the painted statue of Saint Anthony. -
Basilique Notre-Dame de Beaune
A magnificent stained glass window. But I have no idea how old it is. May be old, but my uneducated guess would say quite recent. -
Vézelay Abbey
This Benedictine abbey, which is a well-known pilgrimage church, was constructed between 1120 and 1150. Here stood initially a Roman villa, then two Carolingian convents, then then reformed Benedictine order of Cluny. Built to accommodate pilgrims, and extended to accommodate even more pilgrims... -
Vézelay Abbey
The portal on the exterior of the church. -
Vézelay Abbey
A lovely detail on the facade indicates the grandeur inside. -
Vézelay Abbey
The narthex was added to accommodate the influx of pilgrims, who came to see the relics of Mary Magdalene. -
Vézelay Abbey
St Paul the Hermit's burial. Saint Anthony burying Saint Paul, with two lions digging the grave. -
Vézelay Abbey
The crypt -
Vézelay Abbey
Adam and Eve. A snake climbs the Tree of life and gives grapes(!) to Eve. -
Derrière une porte
I once had to write a story "Derrière une porte" being given an image similar to this one. I probably could write another one for this door as well. -
Vézelay
The hollyhock grows in every corner of the town. So beautiful. -
Vézelay Abbey
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Château de Chambord
The castle chapel. Started under François Ier, continued under Henry II and finished under Louis XIV. It is quite uncommonly oriented towards west. -
Bayeux Cathedral
The portal of Saint Thomas Becket, showing the assembly of Northampton (1164) and the Assembly of Ambosus (1170); crossing of the English Channel and his martyrdom; and the veneration of his tomb. -
Bayeux Cathedral
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Bayeux Cathedral
Plenty of old windows in the cathedral as well... These are from 1260, showing the local bishops Exupère and Loup. -
Bayeux Cathedral
The 11th century crypt is simply magnificent. The entrance to the crypt was closed soon afterwards and the crypt forgotten - until 1412. -
Bayeux Cathedral
One of the more unusual capitals in the crypt. -
Bayeux Cathedral
One of the many angels in the crypt. They play all sorts of instruments. -
Bayeux Cathedral
15th century fresco of angels in the crypt. -
Bayeux Cathedral
Here is where the famous Bayeux tapestry was exhibited until 1793. Possibly from 1077. -
Bayeux Cathedral
12th century carving. I see a lion and an eagle carrying a fish. But it may also be a lion and a griffin. -
Bayeux Cathedral
Some more lions/griffons/creatures higher up, but the most notable are the Bayeux lovers underneath them. -
Bayeux Cathedral
The ceiling in the Bayeux cathedral choir shows various local bishops and saints. The whole cathedral is indeed a stunning place. -
Mont Dol
Mont Dol has been inhabited since Neanderthal period. Currently there's Notre Dame de l’Espérance and the Notre Dame tower, inaugurated in 1857. -
Plage de Cherrueix
View of Mont Saint Michel from the beach in Cherrueix. -
Cherrueix
15th century church. -
Mont Saint-Michel
This is one of the most fascinating places on the planet. I have spoken. -
Mont Saint-Michel
Church of Saint-Pierre. Originally from the 8th century, often rebuilt, this tower being from the 15th century. -
Mont Saint-Michel
We decided to visit the abbey in the afternoon and there was absolutely no queue. We just entered the ticket office. But if there was a queue, these guards would keep us in line. Clever design! -
Mont Saint-Michel
Climbing the Grand Degré my kids said they felt like entering a computer game. Totally unreal and out of this world. -
Mont Saint-Michel
The first sanctuary was built in 709 and later expanded multiple times. The latest addition was the spire with Saint Michel in 1897. -
Mont Saint-Michel
The wooden ceiling of the early 1000s abbey church. -
Mont Saint-Michel
When a part of the church collapsed, they rebuilt it in contemporary fashion. The Romanesque choir, for example, collapsed in 1421 and was rebuilt in Gothic style in 1446 to 1523. -
Mont Saint-Michel
What a perfect architecture. -
Mont Saint-Michel
Adam and Eve's expulsion from Paradise, 1546. -
Mont Saint-Michel
Christ's Descent into Limbo, 1547. What cuties these little devils are. -
Mont Saint-Michel
Virgin and the child, 13th century. -
Mont Saint-Michel
I am fascinated by 13th century statues, my kids by 19th century swords. Made by Mellerio from Paris in 1877. -
Mont Saint-Michel
The abbey cloister was built in the beginning of the 13th century. -
Mont Saint-Michel
Refrectory, where the monks took their meals, has plenty of well-hidden windows :-) This wall is nothing but windows! -
Mont Saint-Michel
Salle des Hôtes, designed to host royalty and nobility. -
Mont Saint-Michel
Fireplaces in Salle des Hôtes, designed to host royalty and nobility. -
Mont Saint-Michel
The great pillared crypt was built in the 15th century to support the Gothic choir. These support columns are massive! -
Mont Saint-Michel
The chapel of Saint Étienne (~1160) was a funeral chapel. -
Mont Saint-Michel
Deambulatorium (a covered walkway) from the early 12th century. The monks used to go for walks in winter or take breaks when writing books in the Scriptorium (Knights' Hall). -
Mont Saint-Michel
We planned the visit to avoid the crowds. But we didn't think it would be so empty on a Sunday afternoon. -
Mont Saint-Michel
What a magnificent place indeed! -
The Chapel of Sainte-Anne
The lovely chapel of Sainte Anne (1687) replaced an older wooden one. -
Pointe du Grouin
View of Mont Saint Michel from the Pointe. -
Calvary at Guimiliau
This Calvary was completed in 1588. It depicts 37 scenes from the life and death of Jesus Christ. -
Calvary at Guimiliau
The south face of the Calvary. Top row: St. Veronica holding her veil with Jesus' image; Jesus' baptism; Jesus carrying the Cross. Bottom row: Luke the Evangelist; St. Elizabeth and a servant greeting Virgin Mary; Jesus washing a disciple's feet; the Annunciation; Matthew the Evangelist. -
Calvary at Guimiliau
The statue of Luke the Evangelist with his ox. -
Calvary at Guimiliau
The west face of the Calvary. This part shows the entry into Jerusalem. -
Calvary at Guimiliau
The east face of the Calvary. This part shows the Flight into Egypt with Mary holding baby Jesus. Joseph with a pilgrim stick leads. -
Calvary at Guimiliau
Matthew the Evangelist with a small boy. -
Guimiliau
The Saint Anne chapel/the Ossuary (1648) is part of the Guimiliau Parish close. Bodies were kept here isolated, especially when plague or cholera were in play. -
Guimiliau
The entry to the South porch (1617): We can see Cain killing Abel (bottom left), and plenty of Noah: picking grapes (top left), being drunk (top right), Noah's Ark (bottom right). I don't know what the rest it. -
Guimiliau
Adam and Eve and the temptation. -
Guimiliau
The South porch: Eve being born (i.e. pulled by God) from Adam's rib. -
Guimiliau
I don't know who these guys are. Fauns? Did they have fauns in early 17th-century Brittany? -
Guimiliau
Someone on a donkey... -
Guimiliau
Carved wooden ceiling in the church. -
Guimiliau
Every little corner is richly decorated with funny creatures. Again, I have no idea who these two guys are. -
Calvary at Guimiliau
The west face of the Calvary. Most notably: the doors on the left, so the priest could climb on the calvary and deliver a sermon. A niche with Paul Aurelian; Top row: Crown of thorns; Pietà; the Resurrection with drunk guards sleeping; Mouth of Hell with devil's lover. Bottom row: John the Evangelist; Entry into Jerusalem; The Last Supper; Luke the Evangelist. -
Mont Saint-Michel de Brasparts
Once the site of an old Celtic temple, a chapel was built here in 1679, restored in 1820. And obviously in 2023. -
Mont Saint-Michel de Brasparts
The hill is a dormant volcano, once called Menez Kronan. -
Calvary at Pleyben
The Resurrection of Jesus. Three soldiers sleeping and one is blinded by what he sees. I find it so amusing by how they are dressed. So 16th century :-) -
Pleyben
Recently cleaned Pleyben Parish close (1583). With one Gothic and one Renaissance tower. -
Calvary at Pleyben
Calvary from 1555. Funnily, the cleaned Calvary no longer looks so old :-) Bottom row: the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Nativity, the Adoration of the Magi, the Flight to Egypt, Jesus meeting the lawyers. Top row: the Harrowing of Hell; Jesus leading Adam and Eve; a Jew holding a scroll with the charges against Jesus; a soldier dressing Christ in his royal robe. -
La Roque-Gageac
Oh, another spectacular village. -
Rocamadour
Another fascinating place: Rocamadour. -
Rocamadour
One could go down the stairs. And up the stairs again. Or not. -
Rocamadour
Spectacular place. Already inhabited in the Paleolithic. The town peaked in the 12th century. 12th century!