Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Notre-Dame et Saint-Junien

Hugh IV, Lord of Lusignan, founded this church opposite his castle in 1024. Legends tell, that the castle was built by Mélusine, a legendary water nymph, for her noble husband. I had met her already in Pathenay. The church was completed in the early 12th century, but underwent a number of alterations over the century. The In 1373, during the 100 Years´ War English troops seized Lusignan, during the siege and the reconquest, led by Bertrand Du Guesclin, the tower - and the vaults collapsed. Already four years later, the damages were repaired. The most interesting work of art (for me) in Lusignan is the nothern portal, seen here. It once opened to a small priory, dependent of the Benedictian Abbey Saint-Junien in Nouaillé-Maupertuis (30kms west), that existed already in Carolingian times. The 23 carved stones around the 12 c. portal depict a medieval bestiary. Here is the right part of the semicircle. A person with the walking stick (pilgrim?), a horse, a pig, a sitting or cowering person (naked?), an animal (hare?) and a dromedar. The Lords of Lusignan knew dromedars, as some of them made careers in the Crusades. Guy of Lusignan and his younger brother Amalric were kings of the crusader state of Jerusalem and of Cyprus.

Hugh IV, Lord of Lusignan, founded this church opposite his castle in 1024. Legends tell, that the castle was built by Mélusine, a legendary water nymph, for her noble husband. I had met her already in Pathenay. The church was completed in the early 12th century, but underwent a number of alterations over the century. The In 1373, during the 100 Years´ War English troops seized Lusignan, during the siege and the reconquest, led by Bertrand Du Guesclin, the tower - and the vaults collapsed. Already four years later, the damages were repaired. The most interesting work of art (for me) in Lusignan is the nothern portal, seen here. It once opened to a small priory, dependent of the Benedictian Abbey Saint-Junien in Nouaillé-Maupertuis (30kms west), that existed already in Carolingian times. The 23 carved stones around the 12 c. portal depict a medieval bestiary. A close-up of the elephant, just seen with its neighbours. Most medieval elephants are carved in pairs, posing head to head. This one is portrayed in profile. It is hard to recognize, but the elephant is "dressed" like all elephants I saw so far in the Poitou.

Hugh IV, Lord of Lusignan, founded this church opposite his castle in 1024. Legends tell, that the castle was built by Mélusine, a legendary water nymph, for her noble husband. I had met her already in Pathenay. The church was completed in the early 12th century, but underwent a number of alterations over the century. The In 1373, during the 100 Years´ War English troops seized Lusignan, during the siege and the reconquest, led by Bertrand Du Guesclin, the tower - and the vaults collapsed. Already four years later, the damages were repaired. The most interesting work of art (for me) in Lusignan is the nothern portal, seen here. It once opened to a small priory, dependent of the Benedictian Abbey Saint-Junien in Nouaillé-Maupertuis (30kms west), that existed already in Carolingian times. The 23 carved stones around the 12 c. portal depict a medieval bestiary. Here is the center part of the semicircle. A runner or dancer, a standing person, a human face with a long beard, a branch with leaves (?) ( not a seahorse!), a fish, a snakelike creature with two small forelegs, a fourlegged animal, a person with a walking stick (pilgrim?).

Hugh IV, Lord of Lusignan, founded this church opposite his castle in 1024. Legends tell, that the castle was built by Mélusine, a legendary water nymph, for her noble husband. I had met her already in Pathenay. The church was completed in the early 12th century, but underwent a number of alterations over the century. The In 1373, during the 100 Years´ War English troops seized Lusignan, during the siege and the reconquest, led by Bertrand Du Guesclin, the tower - and the vaults collapsed. Already four years later, the damages were repaired. A small stair, just outside the apse, leads down to the large crypt under the choir. The floor is slippery and it is dark, dampish. There is a smell - moldy.The crypt, that dates back to the first building phase (12c), definitely needs some TLC.

Hugh IV, Lord of Lusignan, founded this church opposite his castle in 1024. Legends tell, that the castle was built by Mélusine, a legendary water nymph, for her noble husband. I had met her already in Pathenay. The church was completed in the early 12th century, but underwent a number of alterations over the century. In 1373, during the 100 Years´ War English troops seized Lusignan, during the siege and the reconquest, led by Bertrand Du Guesclin, the tower - and the vaults collapsed. Already four years later, the damages were repaired.

Hugh IV, Lord of Lusignan, founded this church opposite his castle in 1024. Legends tell, that the castle was built by Mélusine, a legendary water nymph, for her noble husband. I had met her already in Pathenay. The church was completed in the early 12th century, but underwent a number of alterations over the century. The In 1373, during the 100 Years´ War English troops seized Lusignan, during the siege and the reconquest, led by Bertrand Du Guesclin, the tower - and the vaults collapsed. Already four years later, the damages were repaired. The most interesting work of art (for me) in Lusignan is the nothern portal, seen here. It once opened to a small priory, dependent of the Benedictian Abbey Saint-Junien in Nouaillé-Maupertuis (30kms west), that existed already in Carolingian times. The 23 carved stones around the 12 c. portal depict a medieval bestiary. Here is the left part of the semicircle. A pelican or swan (?), a bull (?), a winged dragon, a cat (?) an elephant, four quadrupeds.

1024. Legends tell, that the castle was built by Mélusine, a legendary water nymph, for her noble husband. I had met her already in Pathenay. The church was completed in the early 12th century, but underwent a number of alterations over the century. The In 1373, during the 100 Years´ War English troops seized Lusignan, during the siege and the reconquest, led by Bertrand Du Guesclin, the tower - and the vaults collapsed. Already four years later, the damages were repaired. The most interesting work of art in Lusignan is (for me) the nothern portal, seen here. It once opened to a small priory, dependent of the important Benedictian Abbey Saint-Junien in Nouaillé-Maupertuis (30kms west), that existed already in Carolingian times. The 23 carved stones around the 12 c. portal depict a medieval bestiary.

Hugh IV, Lord of Lusignan, founded this church opposite his castle in 1024. Legends tell, that the castle was built by Mélusine, a legendary water nymph, for her noble husband. I had met her already in Pathenay. The church was completed in the early 12th century, but underwent a number of alterations over the century. The In 1373, during the 100 Years´ War English troops seized Lusignan, during the siege and the reconquest, led by Bertrand Du Guesclin, the tower - and the vaults collapsed. Already four years later, the damages were repaired. A small stair, just outside the apse, leads down to the large crypt under the choir. The floor is slippery and it is dark, dampish. There is a smell - moldy.The crypt, that dates back to the first building phase (12c), definitely needs some TLC.

Hugh IV, Lord of Lusignan, founded this church opposite his castle in 1024. Legends tell, that the castle was built by Mélusine, a legendary water nymph, for her noble husband. I had met her already in Pathenay. The church was completed in the early 12th century, but underwent a number of alterations over the century. The In 1373, during the 100 Years´ War English troops seized Lusignan, during the siege and the reconquest, led by Bertrand Du Guesclin, the tower - and the vaults collapsed. Already four years later, the damages were repaired. Since then the nave has the vaulting seen here. The length of the church is 57 meters!