Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Avy

Avy is a small a village just about 5kms south of Pons. The parish church Notre-Dame d'Avy was built in the 12th century in the Romanesque style, typical for the Saintonge. Severely damaged during the Hundred Years' War the church was rebuilt later in Gothic style. The western facade of Notre-Dame survived the times, only the left side got lost. This is the church I have visited most often of all small churches in the Saintonge - and was always impressed and could focus on "new" details. This time I found this very weathered musician, playing a rebec.

Avy is a small a village just about 5kms south of Pons. The parish church Notre-Dame d'Avy was built in the 12th century in the Romanesque style, typical for the Saintonge. Severely damaged during the Hundred Years' War the church was rebuilt later in Gothic style. This is the church I have visited most often of all small churches in the Saintonge - and was always impressed. I remember the day, sitting in front of the facade and counting the Elders of the Apocalypse (outer archivolt). Here are 36 Elders (the "Book of Revelation" only knows 24). Later I learned, that this number may have been a status symbol. In Saintes (Abbaye aux Dames) I found even 54 Elders. In Aulnay are 31 Elders.. But this time I did not just sit in front of the facade, counting Elders and Angels, this time I walked around and used the binoculars to see "younger" the part (and the tower) that got built just after the Hundred Years' War. I found these three sculptures up on the roof, near the tower´s base. An ass, carrying a sack, a damaged (sitting?) person and a pig. I remember having seen similar sculptures in Rosheim and Guebwiller (Alsace) more than 800 ks northwest.

Avy is a small a village just about 5kms south of Pons. The parish church Notre-Dame d'Avy was built in the 12th century in the Romanesque style, typical for the Saintonge. Severely damaged during the Hundred Years' War the church was rebuilt later in Gothic style. The western facade of Notre-Dame survived the times, only the left side got lost. This is the church I have visited most often of all small churches in the Saintonge - and was always impressed. I remember the day, when I counted the Elders of the Apocalypse (outer archivolt). Here are 36 Elders (the "Book of Revelation" only knows 24). Later I learned, that this number may have been a status symbol. In Saintes (Abbaye aux Dames) I found even 54 Elders. In Aulnay are 31 Elders.. All these Elders hold musical instruments. Here in Avy one of the Elders holds a bird! PETA has not noticed that so far.. I could not leave the Saintonge without having seen Avy again..

San Pedro de Echano (aka "Ermita de San Pedro de Echano") is not easy to find, as the church is a few kilometers east of Oloriz in the middle of fields and bushland. In medieval times, when the church got erected, there might have been a village or settlement nearby, but nowadays there are no houses near to the church. The place is abandoned. Under the roof of San Pedro de Echano are more than 30 carved corbels. Some of the sculptures are really unusual, but the most impressing is the southern portal of San Pedro de Echano. There are seven archivolts! It is strange, that a small, single nave church got such a large and impressive portal. I connect this to - the pilgrims walking the camino. San Pedro de Echano is about 8kms south of the Via Tolosana/Camino Aragonés that I had just walked. Olcoz and Eunate are only about a two hours walk away. The most interesting archivolt depicts 25 people sitting on a table and having a party (?). The composition reminds strongly on the "Elders of the Apocalypse", but the characters are obviously performing a kind of game. Legs and feet of the partiers visible, as the artist carved on both sides of the archivolt. I doubt that the very right has four hands, he may wear fancy knickerbockers. Ray (adfinem) has found parallels between carvings in Biron (Saintonge, France) and Olcoz/Eunate. There is an archivolt in Avy, only 4 kms west of Biron, that is carved in a similar technique (see below).

San Pedro de Echano (aka "Ermita de San Pedro de Echano") is not easy to find, as the church is a few kilometers east of Oloriz in the middle of fields and bushland. In medieval times, when the church got erected, there might have been a village or settlement nearby, but nowadays there are no houses near to the church. The place is abandoned. Under the roof of San Pedro de Echano are more than 30 carved corbels. Some of the sculptures are really unusual, but the most impressing is the southern portal of San Pedro de Echano. There are seven archivolts! It is strange, that a small, single nave church got such a large and impressive portal. I connect this to - the pilgrims walking the camino. San Pedro de Echano is about 8kms south of the Via Tolosana/Camino Aragonés that I had just walked. Olcoz and Eunate are only about a two hours walk away. The most interesting archivolt depicts 25 people sitting on a table and having a party (?). The composition reminds strongly on the "Elders of the Apocalypse", but the characters are obviously performing a kind of game. As the pov is changed from the previous upload, now legs and feet are visible. The partiers are carved on both side of the archivolt. Ray (adfinem) has found parallels between carvings in Biron (Saintonge, France) and Olcoz/Eunate. There is an archivolt in Avy, only 4 kms west of Biron, that is carved in a similar technique (see below).

Avy is a small a village just about 5kms south of Pons. The parish church Notre-Dame d'Avy was built in the 12th century in the Romanesque style, typical for the Saintonge. Severely damaged during the Hundred Years' War the church was rebuilt later in Gothic style. The semicircular archivolts of the portal are carved in a "flamboyant" Romanesque style. A council of elderly men has met on the outer archivolt. Looking from underneath shows, how relaxed they all are seated.

Avy is a small a village just about 5kms south of Pons. The parish church Notre-Dame d'Avy was built in the 12th century in the Romanesque style, typical for the Saintonge. Severely damaged during the Hundred Years' War the church was rebuilt later in Gothic style. The semicircular archivolts of the portal are carved in a "flamboyant" Romanesque style. A council of 36 elderly men with strange hairdos has met on the outer archivolt. Seated like the "Elders of the Apocalypse". Some pull their beards, some hold animals (left a bird, right a fish), some play instruments. Below in the centre are two smaller "Masters of the Beasts".

Avy is a small a village just about 5kms south of Pons. The parish church Notre-Dame d'Avy was built in the 12th century in the Romanesque style, typical for the Saintonge. Severely damaged during the Hundred Years' War the church was rebuilt later in Gothic style. The semicircular archivolts of the portal are carved in a "flamboyant" style. As the sandstone used all over the Saintonge is very soft, the capitals of the side pillars are very weathered.

Early summer morning in Avy, a village just about 5kms south of Pons. The parish church Notre-Dame d'Avy was built in the 12th century in the Romanesque style, typical for the Saintonge. Severely damaged during the Hundred Years' War the church was rebuilt later in Gothic style.