Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Colombiers

A fortified settlement in Colombiers is known since Carolingian times and a church, dedicated to The Virgin Mary existed already around 1000. The parish church Notre Dame may be some centuries younger, but still has a Romanesque structure. The church has obviously undergone more than one construction- and and renovation-phases. The facade is the oldest part dating back to the 12th century. The crossing and the choir are some decades younger. The nave inbetween is 15th century. Around the crossing are some remarkable capitals, depicting mermaids and mermen. There were two different "species" of mermaids/mermen on the two previous upoloads. Here is a third one, the tails ofe these creatures do not end in fins - but in animal heads.

A fortified settlement in Colombiers is known since Carolingian times and a church, dedicated to The Virgin Mary existed already around 1000. The parish church Notre Dame may be some centuries younger, but still has a Romanesque structure. The church has obviously undergone more than one construction- and and renovation-phases. The facade is the oldest part dating back to the 12th century. The crossing and the choir are some decades younger. The nave inbetween is 15th century. Around the crossing are some remarkable capitals, depicting mermaids and mermen. After the strange merman, playing with birds (previous upload), these two mermaids are from the common ("traditional") species.

A fortified settlement in Colombiers is known since Carolingian times and a church, dedicated to The Virgin Mary existed already around 1000. The parish church Notre Dame may be some centuries younger, but still has a Romanesque structure. The church has obviously undergone more than one construction- and and renovation-phases. The facade is the oldest part dating back to the 12th century. The crossing and the choir are some decades younger. The nave inbetween is 15th century. Around the crossing are some remarkable capitals, depicting mermaids and mermen, though this one, plays with birds instead of fish.

A fortified settlement in Colombiers is known since Carolingian times and a church, dedicated to The Virgin Mary existed already around 1000. The parish church Notre Dame may be some centuries younger, but still has a Romanesque structure. The church has obviously undergone more than one construction- and and renovation-phases. The facade is the oldest part of the church, dating back to the 12th. century. It has some remarkable details. There is a frieze of grotesque faces. Here are three of these faces. I have seen similar heads under the roof of Saint-Nazaire Carcassonne, that were created during the 19th century. I have the impression, that the carvings may replace weathered, older ones.

A fortified settlement in Colombiers is known since Carolingian times and a church, dedicated to The Virgin Mary existed already around 1000. The parish church Notre Dame may be some centuries younger, but still has a Romanesque structure. The church has obviously undergone more than one construction- and and renovation-phases. The facade is the oldest part of the church, dating back to the 12th. century. It has some remarkable details. This perfect mermaid is one of them. The carvings is in such an unweathered condition, that I have the impression, that it may replace a weathered, older one, as the capitals and corbels under the roof are not that intact.

A fortified settlement in Colombiers is known since Carolingian times and a church, dedicated to The Virgin Mary existed already around 1000. The parish church Notre Dame may be some centuries younger, but still has a Romanesque structure. The church has obviously undergone more than one construction- and and renovation-phases. Other than Saint-Martin in nearby Doussay (see previous uploads) it is in a perfect condition. The facade, seen here, is the oldest part of the church, dating back to the 12th. century. The facade has some remarkable details.

A fortified settlement in Colombiers is known since Carolingian times and a church, dedicated to The Virgin Mary existed already around 1000. The parish church Notre Dame, seen here, may be some centuries younger, but still has a Romanesque structure. The church has obviously undergone more than one construction- and and renovation-phases. Other than Saint-Martin in nearby Doussay (see previous uploads) it is in a perfect condition.

Colombiers is a small village (pop. 300) in the former marshes of the Seugne river. Life must be hard here in medieval times. Saint-Maclou, the village´s parish church, was erected in the 12th century. It was the church of a priory, dependent from the Benedictian Abbaye Saint-Sauveur in Charroux. The church got altered and modified during the Gothic period (15th.), when it lost its once Romanesque portal. Single nave churches, like Saint-Maclou, are typical for the villages of the Saintonge. They may not look spectacular on the first sight. But here in Colombiers are some extraordenary carvings. Most of the frieze-like capitals are similar to the carvings in Marinac. The style differs, but the "story" is the same. In an impenetrable djungle of entwining vines humans fight creatures, lurking through the foliage. The bearded head and the lion my be "green creatures". The most interesting is the fight to the right. The standing man (in the corner) wields an axe and kills the person on the ground. The standing man has his shank partly amputated and wears a prothesis. This prothesis sticks in the mouth of the opponent. After having seen the many (megaphallic) carvings in Champagnolles, I notice, that the prothesis looks very "phallic"..

Colombiers is a small village (pop. 300) in the former marshes of the Seugne river. Life must be hard here in medieval times. Saint-Maclou, the village´s parish church, was erected in the 12th century. It was the church of a priory, dependent from the Benedictian Abbaye Saint-Sauveur in Charroux. The church got altered and modified during the Gothic period (15th.), when it lost its once Romanesque portal. Single nave churches, like Saint-Maclou, are typical for the villages of the Saintonge. They may not look spectacular on the first sight. But here in Colombiers are some extraordenary carvings. Most of the frieze-like capitals are similar to the carvings in Marinac. The style differs, but the "story" is the same. In an impenetrable djungle of entwining vines humans fight creatures, lurking through the foliage. A close up of the symmetricially designed capital, depicting beard pullers and eagles.

Colombiers is a small village (pop. 300) in the former marshes of the Seugne river. Life must be hard here in medieval times. Saint-Maclou, the village´s parish church, was erected in the 12th century. It was the church of a priory, dependent from the Benedictian Abbaye Saint-Sauveur in Charroux. The church got altered and modified during the Gothic period (15th.), when it lost its once Romanesque portal. Single nave churches, like Saint-Maclou, are typical for the villages of the Saintonge. They may not look spectacular on the first sight.But here in Colombiers are some extraordenary carvings. Most of the frieze-like capitals are similar to the carvings in Marinac. The style differs, but the "story" is the same. In an impenetrable djungle of entwining vines humans fight creatures, lurking through the foliage. A symmetricially designed capital (righ), depicting beard pullers. On the left side is a person with a nicely combed beard in the center and a very strange scene on the right, involving a person with an amputated shank.

Colombiers is a small village (pop. 300) in the former marshes of the Seugne river. Life must be hard here in medieval times. Saint-Maclou, the village´s parish church, was erected in the 12th century. It was the church of a priory, dependent from the Benedictian Abbaye Saint-Sauveur in Charroux. The church got altered and modified during the Gothic period (15th.), when it lost its once Romanesque portal. Single nave churches, like Saint-Maclou, are typical for the villages of the Saintonge. They may not look spectacular on the first sight. But here in Colombiers are some extraordenary carvings. I have visited this church on two occassions, but unfortunately even a second visit with some better light, did not result in good photos. Sorry! Most of the frieze-like capitals are similar to the carvings in Marinac. The style differs, but the "story" is the same. In an impenetrable djungle of entwining vines humans fight creatures, lurking through the foliage. Even a veritable bearded sphinx lives in that jungle.

Colombiers is a small village (pop. 300) in the former marshes of the Seugne river. Life must be hard here in medieval times. Saint-Maclou, the village´s parish church, was erected in the 12th century. It was the church of a priory, dependent from the Benedictian Abbaye Saint-Sauveur in Charroux. The church got altered and modified during the Gothic period (15th.), when it lost its once Romanesque portal. Single nave churches, like Saint-Maclou, are typical for the villages of the Saintonge. They may not look spectacular on the first sight. But here in Colombiers are some extraordenary carvings. I have visited this church on two occassions, but unfortunately even a second visit with some better light, did not result in good photos. Sorry! Most of the frieze-like capitals are similar to the carvings in Marinac. The style differs, but the "story" is the same. In an impenetrable djungle of entwining vines humans fight creatures, lurking through the foliage. Here the "Master of the Beasts" seen from another angle. The lions have very human faces and then would be manticores. Note the profile to the left. If the heads

Colombiers is a small village (pop. 300) in the former marshes of the Seugne river. Life must be hard here in medieval times. Saint-Maclou, the village´s parish church, was erected in the 12th century. It was the church of a priory, dependent from the Benedictian Abbaye Saint-Sauveur in Charroux. The church got altered and modified during the Gothic period (15th.), when it lost its once Romanesque portal. Single nave churches, like Saint-Maclou, are typical for the villages of the Saintonge. They may not look spectacular on the first sight. But here in Colombiers are some extraordenary carvings. I have visited this church on two occassions, but unfortunately even a second visit with some better light, did not result in good photos. Sorry! Most of the frieze-like capitals are similar to the carvings in Marinac. The style differs, but the "story" is the same. In an impenetrable djungle of entwining vines humans fight creatures, lurking through the foliage. Here may be two "Master of the Beasts". Birds left, lions right..

Colombiers is a small village (pop. 300) in the former marshes of the Seugne river. Life must be hard here in medieval times. Saint-Maclou, the village´s parish church, was erected in the 12th century. It was the church of a priory, dependent from the Benedictian Abbaye Saint-Sauveur in Charroux. The church got altered and modified during the Gothic period (15th.), when it lost its once Romanesque portal. Single nave churches, like Saint-Maclou, are typical for the villages of the Saintonge. They may not look spectacular on the first sight. But here in Colombiers are some extraordenary carvings. I have visited this church on two occassions, but unfortunately even a second visit with some better light, did not result in good photos. Sorry! Most of the frieze-like capitals are similar to the carvings in Marinac. The style differs, but the "story" is the same. In an impenetrable djungle of entwining vines humans fight creatures, lurking through the foliage. Dangerously growing green is everywhere. Green men as well.

Colombiers is a small village (pop. 300) in the former marshes of the Seugne river. Life must be hard here in medieval times. Saint-Maclou, the village´s parish church, was erected in the 12th century. It was the church of a priory, dependent from the Benedictian Abbaye Saint-Sauveur in Charroux. The church got altered and modified during the Gothic period (15th.), when it lost its once Romanesque portal. Single nave churches, like Saint-Maclou, are typical for the villages of the Saintonge. They may not look spectacular on the first sight. But here in Colombiers are some extraordenary carvings. I have visited this church on two occassions, but unfortunately even a second visit with some better light, did not result in good photos. Sorry! Some of them photos are realy poor, like this one. What is a pity, as some say, that this capital is the most important here. It depicts the "Weighing of souls".

Colombiers is a small village (pop. 300) in the former marshes of the Seugne river. Life must be hard here in medieval times. Saint-Maclou, the village´s parish church, was erected in the 12th century. It was the church of a priory, dependent from the Benedictian Abbaye Saint-Sauveur in Charroux. The church got altered and modified during the Gothic period (15th.), when it lost its once Romanesque portal. Single nave churches, like Saint-Maclou, are typical for the villages of the Saintonge. They may not look spectacular on the first sight. But here in Colombiers are some extraordenary carvings. Different masters or workshops have been here during the 12th century. The style of this capital, near the main entrance seems a little rough. A poor soul is torn into pieces by two evil creatures, For a while, I had the impression, that he could be a "Master of Beasts", but I can see, that the claws of the beasts already ripped the skin of his arms.

Colombiers is a small village (pop. 300) in the former marshes of the Seugne river. Life must be hard here in medieval times. Saint-Maclou, the village´s parish church, was erected in the 12th century. It was the church of a priory, dependent from the Benedictian Abbaye Saint-Sauveur in Charroux. The church got altered and modified during the Gothic period (15th.), when it lost its once Romanesque portal. Single nave churches, like Saint-Maclou, are typical for the villages of the Saintonge. This nave does not look spectacular, but the carvings all around are extravagant.

Colombiers is a small village (pop. 300) in the former marshes of the Seugne river. Life must be hard here in medieval times. Saint-Maclou, the village´s parish church, was erected in the 12th century. It was the church of a priory, dependent from the Benedictian Abbaye Saint-Sauveur in Charroux. The church got altered and modified during the Gothic period (15th.), when it lost its once Romanesque portal. The Romanesque apse is still unchanged. Somebody has carved a kind of "Nine Men's Morris" the stony bench.