Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Lencloître

Robert of Arbrissel (aka "Robert d'Arbrissel") was a restless itinerant preacher and is still well remembered as the founder of the famous Abbey of Fontevrault. In 1106 he founded a priory here, dependend from the Abbey of Fontevrault. Nuns and patres lived together in one community, just like in Fontevrault. The priory must have had a nice cloister, as Lencloître, the name of the village, derives from the word cloître". Like most monasteries around, the priory got looted and burnt down during the Wars of Religions, but monastic life continued upto the French Revolution, when the last nuns left - and the remaining buildings were sold as national property. The church of the priory survived the times and since 1805 serves as a parish church. The interior has some great carvings. The preparations for the ceremony were underway, watched by this strange hybrid creature on the capital.

Robert of Arbrissel (aka "Robert d'Arbrissel") was a restless itinerant preacher and is still well remembered as the founder of the famous Abbey of Fontevrault. In 1106 he founded a priory here, dependend from the Abbey of Fontevrault. Nuns and patres lived together in one community, just like in Fontevrault. The priory must have had a nice cloister, as Lencloître, the name of the village, derives from the word cloître". Like most monasteries around, the priory got looted and burnt down during the Wars of Religions, but monastic life continued upto the French Revolution, when the last nuns left - and the remaining buildings were sold as national property. The church of the priory survived the times and since 1805 serves as a parish church. The interior has some great carvings. One of them depicts an old harpist.

Robert of Arbrissel (aka "Robert d'Arbrissel") was a restless itinerant preacher and is still well remembered as the founder of the famous Abbey of Fontevrault. In 1106 he founded a priory here, dependend from the Abbey of Fontevrault. Nuns and patres lived together in one community, just like in Fontevrault. The priory must have had a nice cloister, as Lencloître, the name of the village, derives from the word "cloître". Like most monasteries around, the priory got looted and burnt down during the Wars of Religions, but monastic life continued upto the French Revolution, when the last nuns left - and the remaining buildings were sold as national property. The church of the priory survived the times and since 1805 serves as a parish church. The Mass had ended and I had climbed up the stairs to the gallery. So I could be face to face with the wildlife up there. But not only lions populate the capitals. Here is a bearded face. Bulging eyes staring at me.

Robert of Arbrissel (aka "Robert d'Arbrissel") was a restless itinerant preacher and is still well remembered as the founder of the famous Abbey of Fontevrault. In 1106 he founded a priory here, dependend from the Abbey of Fontevrault. Nuns and patres lived together in one community, just like in Fontevrault. The priory must have had a nice cloister, as Lencloître, the name of the village, derives from the word "cloître". Like most monasteries around, the priory got looted and burnt down during the Wars of Religions, but monastic life continued upto the French Revolution, when the last nuns left - and the remaining buildings were sold as national property. The church of the priory survived the times and since 1805 serves as a parish church. The Mass had ended and I had climbed up the stairs to the gallery. So I could be face to face with the wildlife up there. As the gallery was erected after medieval times, the lions were not seen from this angle in the 12th century. The soft, artistic style reminds a bit on to the workshop, who carved the capitals in Faye-la-Vineuse.

Robert of Arbrissel (aka "Robert d'Arbrissel") was a restless itinerant preacher and is still well remembered as the founder of the famous Abbey of Fontevrault. In 1106 he founded a priory here, dependend from the Abbey of Fontevrault. Nuns and patres lived together in one community, just like in Fontevrault. The priory must have had a nice cloister, as Lencloître, the name of the village, derives from the word "cloître". Like most monasteries around, the priory got looted and burnt down during the Wars of Religions, but monastic life continued upto the French Revolution, when the last nuns left - and the remaining buildings were sold as national property. The church of the priory survived the times and since 1805 serves as a parish church. The Mass had ended and I had climbed up the stairs to the gallery. So I could better see the wonderful capitals of the nave. To my surprise a large family gathered for a baptism.

Robert of Arbrissel (aka "Robert d'Arbrissel") was a restless itinerant preacher and is still well remembered as the founder of the famous Abbey of Fontevrault. In 1106 he founded a priory here, dependend from the Abbey of Fontevrault. Nuns and patres lived together in one community, just like in Fontevrault. The priory must have had a nice cloister, as Lencloître, the name of the village, derives from the word "cloître". Like most monasteries around, the priory got looted and burnt down during the Wars of Religions, but monastic life continued upto the French Revolution, when the last nuns left - and the remaining buildings were sold as national property. The church of the priory survived the times and since 1805 serves as a parish church. While western facade got reconstructed and fortified during the 15th century, and does not have the elegance of the "style pointevin", the northern portal is still in perfect condition.

Robert of Arbrissel (aka "Robert d'Arbrissel") was a restless itinerant preacher and is still well remembered as the founder of the famous Abbey of Fontevrault. In 1106 he founded a priory here, dependend from the Abbey of Fontevrault. Nuns and patres lived together in one community, just like in Fontevrault. The priory must have had a nice cloister, as Lencloître, the name of the village, derives from the word "cloître". Like most monasteries around, the priory got looted and burnt down during the Wars of Religions, but monastic life continued upto the French Revolution, when the last nuns left - and the remaining buildings were sold as national property. The church of the priory survived the times and since 1805 serves as a parish church. The western facade got reconstructed and fortified during the 15th century, so it does not have the elegance of other Romanesque churches in the region of Poitou-Charentes. The Mass had just ended on a sunday morning.

Robert of Arbrissel (aka "Robert d'Arbrissel") was a restless itinerant preacher and is still well remembered as the founder of the famous Abbey of Fontevrault. In 1106 he founded a priory here, dependend from the Abbey of Fontevrault. Nuns and patres lived together in one community, just like in Fontevrault. The priory must have had a nice cloister, as Lencloître, the name of the village, derives from the word "cloître". Like most monasteries around, the priory got looted and burnt down during the Wars of Religions, but monastic life continued upto the French Revolution, when the last nuns left - and the remaining buildings were sold as national property. The church of the priory (here seen from east) survived the times and since 1805 serves as a parish church.