Romanesque Provence
In June we drove down to the French Riviera to see one of our kids who works there, and on the way back, we visited some wonderful Romanesque churches.
This was not really a seriously planned and prepared trip, and therefore most of the churches were closed and could only be photographed from the outside.
Likewise, I had to forfeit the Thoronet abbey because they do not allow tripods unless one has obtained a special clearance in advance, which I hadn’t. It was nevertheless very enjoyable and, as always, “We shall have to come back!”
The Saint-Martin church in the village of Volonne was built around Year 1000 in small apparel of unrefined and mostly unsquared local pebbles joined together byt lots of mortar. Only the cornerstones and those around the thin and tall windows were slightly more refined.
Inside, the thick columns are made of the same materials and the unadorned capitals are very archaic. Even the relieving arches use good sones only on the outside, the inside is made of blocage filling.
It is a very old church, and a large enough one, but built with very limited means and no refinement whatsoever. It has withstood the test of time, though...
Romanesque Provence
In June we drove down to the French Riviera to see one of our kids who works there, and on the way back, we visited some wonderful Romanesque churches.
This was not really a seriously planned and prepared trip, and therefore most of the churches were closed and could only be photographed from the outside.
Likewise, I had to forfeit the Thoronet abbey because they do not allow tripods unless one has obtained a special clearance in advance, which I hadn’t. It was nevertheless very enjoyable and, as always, “We shall have to come back!”
The Saint-Martin church in the village of Volonne was built around Year 1000 in small apparel of unrefined and mostly unsquared local pebbles joined together byt lots of mortar. Only the cornerstones and those around the thin and tall windows were slightly more refined.
Inside, the thick columns are made of the same materials and the unadorned capitals are very archaic. Even the relieving arches use good sones only on the outside, the inside is made of blocage filling.
It is a very old church, and a large enough one, but built with very limited means and no refinement whatsoever. It has withstood the test of time, though...