- La Grande Vadrouille
A mural with Louis de Funès and Bourvil in Rue Rousseau Deslandes. What a fantastic film! - Clothes Chest
The 16th century box shows the baptism of Christ surrounded by sphinxes and people on scrolls. The corners show Indians crowned with fruits, in reference to the recent discovery of the Americas. - 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. - Château de Chenonceau
16th century door leading into Salle des gardes, saying: "S'il vient à point, me souviendra". Basically - if I ever finish building this castle, I will be remembered. But I forgot who wrote it :-) - Château de Chenonceau
Lions on a 16th century Flemish tapestry. Their faces seem somewhat off. - Château de Chenonceau
The butchery. Of course the castle had its own butchery, right above the water and separated from the rest of the kitchen. - Château de Chenonceau
Every room had its own fireplace, making the castle rather cosy. This is a detail on the fireplace in Chambre de François Ier. - Château de Chenonceau
Diane de Poitiers as Diana the Huntress by Le Primatice from 1556. Diana was the mistress of King Henry II and, among other things, expanded the castle across the river and built some gardens. - Château de Chenonceau
What a wonderfully morbid room. Morticia would like it here :-) - Château de Chenonceau
The classical view of the castle. Built in 1514-1522 on the foundations of an old mill, the bridge was added in 1556-1559 and the gallery in 1570-1576. - Château de Chenonceau
Royal pharmacy - Château de Chambord
A very symmetric Renaissance castle. Sorry, hunting lodge. - Château de Chambord
Royal oratory of François Ier has a wonderful vaulted ceiling. There is the letter F (for François Ier) and the salamanders extinguishing "bad" fire. - Château de Chambord
The residences of François Ier include a large wardrobe and closet. They surely dressed ... royally. - Château de Chambord
A bronze bust of Maréchal Turenne, a 19th century copy of a 1695 Jérôme Derbais statue. What a man. - Château de Chambord
Wallpaper in the 18th century apartments. - Château de Chambord
The vaulted ceilings in the 2nd floor: F as the initials of François Ier and plenty of salamanders, some eating the good fire and others putting out the bad fire. Just don't know which are which. - Château de Chambord
Lapidary deposit. Some original carvings of F, with a crown and plenty of ropes. Now imagine a gigantic castle full of such beauty! Sorry, hunting lodge. - Château de Chambord
My kids were fascinated by the 'minecraft trees'. - Château de Chambord
View of the castle from the road. - 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. - Fougères
A lovely depiction of medieval village life. - Mont Dol
An almost 400 years old chestnut tree. - Guimiliau
What an interesting wooden ceiling it is! - Swallows!
- Pomposa Abbey
The front facade of the church, showing two griffins eating the fruits from the tree of life. - Pomposa Abbey
Frescoes in the refractory by Pietro da Rimini (probably 1318). This parts depicts Last Supper. Note the circular table (pre-renaissance depiction) and the animal they are eating. What is it?!? - Pomposa Abbey
Another fresco from the refractory: The Redeemer between the Virgin Mary and the barefoot Baptist, Benedict (left) and Guido di Pomposa (right) by Pietro da Rimini (probably 1318). - Pomposa Abbey
The Crucifixion in the Chapter House, by a direct student of Giotto, probably between 1310 and 1318. - Pomposa Abbey
Another Last supper, this one in the church. And again, I wonder which animal they are eating. - Pomposa Abbey
Ah, the apocalypse. One of the seven-headed beasts. But the real beast here is you, Alesso Bersano. - Pomposa Abbey
The Last Judgement. The patriarchs of the Church welcome the souls of Limbo towards bliss. By Andrea de Bruni. - Pomposa Abbey
The unfortunate ending of Saint Eustace and his family in a brazen bull. Yes, this was a torture device: one was locked in the bronze bull and then fire was lit underneath the bull... - Pomposa Abbey
The Last Judgement. The Lucifer. Nuff said. - Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
The mosaics in the mausoleum are from the year 450. Let that sink in. The year 450. - Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
The decoration in the dome: starry ceiling and the symbols of the Evangelists. Underneath are the apostles. - Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
What an insanely beautiful piece of work! - Basilica of San Vitale
- Mausoleum of Theoderic
Mausoleum of Theoderic. The Ostrogothic king Theoderic moved the capital to Ravenna and died here in 526. - Mausoleum of Theoderic
The top of the mausoleum has 12 'ears' that were needed to lift the gigantic dome, decorated with the apostles' names. - Mausoleum of Theoderic
The top floor of the mausoleum has some outside decoration, probably Gothic. Not Gothic as Gothic but Gothic as of Goths. - Mausoleum of Theoderic
A cross was added later to the gigantic dome. - The Arian Baptistery
Another apostle with a very unusual beard - or rather mustache and sideburns. This could be Ostrogothic fashion (it certainly isn't Roman). - The Arian Baptistery
They look very much alike, but the hair and beards are different. So in principle, one could tell them apart. - The Arian Baptistery
One of the younger apostles. - The Arian Baptistery
Could be Saint Andrew. - The Orthodox Baptistery
The next circle has four Gospels on altars and four empty thrones with crosses and garments. - The Orthodox Baptistery
The next layer beneath the mosaics and between the windows are stucco reliefs of the 16 prophets of the Old testament. They used to be coloured! - The Orthodox Baptistery
All of the prophets carry either books or scrolls. I love how their feet are hanging over the frame. - The Orthodox Baptistery
Above the prophets' heads there are other biblical scenes. Here Christ on the throne is giving the cross to Saint Peter. The scallops in between symbolise the resurrection. - Museo Arcivescovile
A falling Erote, from the 1st century. - Museo Arcivescovile
Two Erotes around a basket full of fruits. - Museo Arcivescovile
This is ... something old. And pretty. - Museo Arcivescovile
Immortal peacocks on a sarcophagus. - Saint Andrew's Chapel
The ceiling in the narthex. Plenty of different birds, most notably the famous ducks, and the white lilies. - Saint Andrew's Chapel
Narthex of the chapel depicting Christ dressed as Roman emperor, standing on a lion and a snake (Psalm 91). His book says EGO SVM VIA VERITAS ET VITA - I am the way, the truth, the life. The top part is original mosaic, the bottom part is just painted! - Saint Andrew's Chapel
Apse of the chapel is also painted. Not a mosaic. - Saint Andrew's Chapel
I told you it was fake. Just painted on the wall. Oh well. - Saint Andrew's Chapel
One of the angels on the ceiling. - Saint Andrew's Chapel
Saint Jacob - Saint Andrew's Chapel
Saint Mark's lion holding the thickest Gospel - despite Mark's Gospel being the shortest of all four. - Museo Arcivescovile
Paschal calendar from the 6th century used to determine the date of the Easter for about a hundred years in advance. - Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra
Dance of the Seasons (original), Winter. I don't quite know what the crown is about. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
Christ on the throne with four angels. Unfortunately not all is original, Christ's right side and the two right angels are 19th century reconstructions. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
A procession of 26 martyrs, including Saint Apollinaris, led by Saint Martin of Tours. Following are Pope Clements, Pope Sixtus, Saint Laurentius (in gold), Saint Hippolitus, Pope Cornelius (who is pointing towards), Saint Cyprian ... - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
... Saints Iohannes, his brother Paulus, Vitalis (the basilica Vitalis), Gervasius, Protasius, Ursicinus, Namor, Felix ... - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
Madonna and Child surrounded by four angels. Plenty of roses and lilies everywhere and the typical gold Byzantine background. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
Walking towards the Madonna is a procession of 22 virgins, led by the Three Magi. These are Saints Caecilia, Eulalia, Agnes (with a lamb), Agatha. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
The merchant vessels of Classe, which used to be a port that time. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
6th century censorship. When the church became Orthodox, they 'erased' the Arians/Goths from the images, leaving only their praying hands. One can still see their halos above the curtains. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
... Saints Vincentius, Pancratius, Chrysogonus, Protus ... And these are not all of them. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
I love their fashion sense. They all wear Phrygian caps and - quite unusually -fancy trousers. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
Saint Calocerus (Calogero!), died in 130, a martyr from the times of Hadrian. Apparently remembered on February 11th. - Classe
Basilica of Sant' Apollinare in Classe was consecrated on 9 May 549 by the bishop Maximian. - Classe
I took this picture because of the lion. Then I noticed the bull... Holy cow, what did they do to its face? - Classe
The Hand of God. In the old times, depicting God was unacceptable, so only his hand was shown. - Classe
What a lovely detail. - Classe
The later sarcophagi were decorated with simpler patterns, like these immortal peacocks drinking from the fountain of life. - Classe
The church windows are made of alabaster. - Basilica di San Francesco d'Assisi
Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi is easily one of my top five churches in the world. Especially the Lower Church. So so so beautiful. - Basilica di San Francesco d'Assisi
The entrance - nowadays the exit - of the church. - Piazza inferiore di San Francesco
- Orvietto cliffs
- Cathedral