Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Knight Templars

A church was known here already in 1131, but todays church was obviously erected mid 13th century. The church may have been a convent church of the Knight Templars, that was later used by Augustine canons. The church has a strange bell-gable and by now is serves the parish. Here just like in Vila Boa de Quires are strong parallels to Paço de Sousa. Here are just - again - perfect bulls heads.

Vigolo Marchese, a village with a population of about 400 and today a part of Castell'Arquato, must have been of some importance in medieval times. Here is a large Romanesque church - and a baptistery, built in the early 11th century. Documents prove that in 1008 a Benedictine convent was founded here, funded by Oberto, Marchese d´Orta, who even had the relics of Saint Hippolyt transfered to the church. A baptistery next to a convent´s church is very unusual. Some scholars claim it may be older than the church. It may have been built on the foundation of a Roman temple and used as an oratory by the monks, before it was transformed into a baptistery. It obviously withstood the earthquake from 1117. A local tradition tells, that the building was erected by a Knight Templar returning from Jerusalem. Knight Templars indeed erected many circular churches throughout Europe on the model of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, but the order, endorsed by Rome around 1129 is younger than the baptistery. Unfortunately the baptistery is only open on sundays.

Vigolo Marchese, a village with a population of about 400 and today a part of Castell'Arquato, must have been of some importance in medieval times. Here is a large Romanesque church - and a baptistery, built in the early 11th century. Documents prove that in 1008 a Benedictine convent was founded here, funded by Oberto, Marchese d´Orta, who even had the relics of Saint Hippolyt transfered to the church. A baptistery next to a convent´s church is very unusual. Some scholars claim it may be older than the church. It may have been built on the foundation of a Roman temple and used as an oratory by the monks, before it was transformed into a baptistery. It obviously withstood the earthquake from 1117. A local tradition tells, that the building was erected by a Knight Templar returning from Jerusalem. Knight Templars indeed erected many circular churches throughout Europe on the model of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, but the order, endorsed by Rome around 1129 is younger than the baptistery.

Geoffroy III de Pons, Richard Lionheart´s vasall, fortified the town of Pons, placed on a limestone plateau over the valley, during the 12th century. In 1160 Geoffroy founded the "hôpital des pèlerins", outside the walls of the town, as an older one was too small to host the growing numbers of pilgrims following the "Via Turonensis" on their way to Santiago de Compostella. The Knight Templars led the Hopital in the beginning. After 1312 the Bishop of Saintes took over the responsiblity. After the Hundred Years' War and the Wars of Religion the pilgrimage had come to an end. So since the 16th century the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (Knights of Malta) used the buildings as a local hospital, that was closed during the French Revolution. Many places aside the old pilgrimage routes have medieval graffiti. The sandstone walls around the portal of the old hôpital des pèlerins are covered with carved graffiti. There is a hammer. It seems to be a slate hammer, roofers still use today.

Geoffroy III de Pons, Richard Lionheart´s vasall, fortified the town of Pons, placed on a limestone plateau over the valley, during the 12th century. In 1160 Geoffroy founded the "hôpital des pèlerins", outside the walls of the town, as an older one was too small to host the growing numbers of pilgrims following the "Via Turonensis" on their way to Santiago de Compostella. The Knight Templars led the Hopital in the beginning. After 1312 the Bishop of Saintes took over the responsiblity. After the Hundred Years' War and the Wars of Religion the pilgrimage had come to an end. So since the 16th century the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (Knights of Malta) used the buildings as a local hospital, that was closed during the French Revolution. Many places aside the old pilgrimage routes have medieval graffiti. The sandstone walls around the portal of the old hôpital des pèlerins are covered with carved graffiti. First time I found the Keys of Heaven. These crossed keys often stand for the Holy See. Here maybe somebody named Pierre, Petrus or Peter left them, as Saint Peter holds the keys as the gatekeeper.

Geoffroy III de Pons, Richard Lionheart´s vasall, fortified the town of Pons, placed on a limestone plateau over the valley, during the 12th century. In 1160 Geoffroy founded the "hôpital des pèlerins", outside the walls of the town, as an older one was too small to host the growing numbers of pilgrims following the "Via Turonensis" on their way to Santiago de Compostella. The Knight Templars led the Hopital in the beginning. After 1312 the Bishop of Saintes took over the responsiblity. After the Hundred Years' War and the Wars of Religion the pilgrimage had come to an end. So since the 16th century the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (Knights of Malta) used the buildings as a local hospital, that was closed during the French Revolution. Many places aside the old pilgrimage routes have medieval graffiti. The sandstone walls around the portal of the old hôpital des pèlerins are covered with carved graffiti.

Geoffroy III de Pons, Richard Lionheart´s vasall, fortified the town of Pons, placed on a limestone plateau over the valley, during the 12th century. In 1160 Geoffroy founded the "hôpital des pèlerins", outside the walls of the town, as an older one was too small to host the growing numbers of pilgrims following the "Via Turonensis" on their way to Santiago de Compostella. The Knight Templars led the Hopital in the beginning. After 1312 the Bishop of Saintes took over the responsiblity. After the Hundred Years' War and the Wars of Religion the pilgrimage had come to an end. So since the 16th century the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (Knights of Malta) used the buildings as a local hospital, that was closed during the French Revolution. Many places aside the old pilgrimage routes have medieval graffiti. The sandstone walls around the portal of the old hôpital des pèlerins are covered with carved graffiti. A horseshoe like this one is a common pilgrim´s graffiti (see previous uploads). Here there may be a name. Are there greek letters? GAI(SON) ?

Geoffroy III de Pons, Richard Lionheart´s vasall, fortified the town of Pons, placed on a limestone plateau over the valley, during the 12th century. In 1160 Geoffroy founded the "hôpital des pèlerins", outside the walls of the town, as an older one was too small to host the growing numbers of pilgrims following the "Via Turonensis" on their way to Santiago de Compostella. The Knight Templars led the Hopital in the beginning. After 1312 the Bishop of Saintes took over the responsiblity. After the Hundred Years' War and the Wars of Religion the pilgrimage had come to an end. So since the 16th century the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (Knights of Malta) used the buildings as a local hospital, that was closed during the French Revolution. Many places aside the old pilgrimage routes have medieval graffiti. The sandstone walls around the portal of the old hôpital des pèlerins are covered with carved graffiti. A horseshoe like this one, combined with a cross, is a common pilgrim´s graffiti (see previous upload). It is believed, that the pilgrims so ensured a special blessing for their horses, mules and donkeys.

Geoffroy III de Pons, Richard Lionheart´s vasall, fortified the town of Pons, placed on a limestone plateau over the valley, during the 12th century. In 1160 Geoffroy founded the "hôpital des pèlerins", outside the walls of the town, as an older one was too small to host the growing numbers of pilgrims following the "Via Turonensis" on their way to Santiago de Compostella. The Knight Templars led the Hopital in the beginning. After 1312 the Bishop of Saintes took over the responsiblity. After the Hundred Years' War and the Wars of Religion the pilgrimage had come to an end. So since the 16th century the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (Knights of Malta) used the buildings as a local hospital, that was closed during the French Revolution. Many places aside the old pilgrimage route have medieval graffiti. The sandstone walls around the portal of the old hôpital des pèlerins are covered with carved graffiti. The horseshoes, seen here, are very common pilgrim´s graffiti. It is believed, that the pilgrims so ensured a special blessing for their horses, mules and donkeys.

Geoffroy III de Pons, Richard Lionheart´s vasall, fortified the town of Pons, placed on a limestone plateau over the valley, during the 12th century. In 1160 Geoffroy founded the "hôpital des pèlerins", outside the walls of the town, as an older one was too small to host the growing numbers of pilgrims following the "Via Turonensis" on their way to Santiago de Compostella. The Knight Templars led the Hopital in the beginning. After 1312 the Bishop of Saintes took over the responsiblity. After the Hundred Years' War and the Wars of Religion the pilgrimage had come to an end. So since the 16th century the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (Knights of Malta) used the buildings as a local hospital, that was closed during the French Revolution. Looking into the large room, that once was the "hôpital des pèlerins" and later was used as a hospital ward. The wooden roof structure is from the 13h century. The walls are covered with graffiti. Now the building is a museum.

Geoffroy III de Pons, Richard Lionheart´s vasall, fortified the town of Pons, placed on a limestone plateau over the valley, during the 12th century. In 1160 Geoffroy founded the "hôpital des pèlerins", outside the walls of the town, as an older one was too small to host the growing numbers of pilgrims following the "Via Turonensis" on their way to Santiago de Compostella. The Knight Templars led the Hopital in the beginning. After 1312 the Bishop of Saintes took over the responsiblity. The Hundred Years' War and the Wars of Religion finally ended the pilgrimage. So since the 16th century the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (Knights of Malta) used the buildings as a local hospital, that was closed during the French Revolution.

Geoffroy III de Pons, Richard Lionheart´s vasall, fortified the town of Pons, placed on a limestone plateau over the valley, during the 12th century. In 1160 Geoffroy founded the "hôpital des pèlerins", outside the walls of the town, as an older one was too small to host the growing numbers of pilgrims following the "Via Turonensis" on their way to Santiago de Compostella. The Knight Templars led the Hopital in the beginning. After 1312 the Bishop of Saintes took over the responsiblity. After the Hundred Years' War and the Wars of Religion the pilgrimage had come to an end. So since the 16th century the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (Knights of Malta) used the buildings as a local hospital, that was closed during the French Revolution. A priory church, destroyed during the Wars of Religion, was once part of the complex. Only the portal still exists, and as it was sheltered under the arch, it is unweathered. From the sign on the door, the pilgrims learn, that the distance from here to Santiago de Compostella is 1183 kms.