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2013-09-02 Saint-Gilles; Abbaye de Saint Gilles, Gard, Languedoc Roussillon DSC0354
The abbey church is in typical southern French Romanesque style. The façade, built form 1120 to 1160, has a decorated entrance portico with three portals (the central one larger) with Corinthian columns and medieval sculpture decorations. These include, in the lower sector, a bestiary and scenes from the Old Testament; in the middle one it has statues and characters from the New Testament; the frieze and the tympana above the latter have also scenes from the same book, including the; Adoration of the Magi;, the Crucifixion of Jesus and a; Maestà.
The frieze scenes are inspired to Roman ones. The upper part of the façade had originally also a classical-inspired decoration, which has now disappeared. The bell tower dates to the 18th century.
The crypt, or lower church, dates to the early 11th century. It measures 50 by 25 meters, and occupies the whole subterranean section of the nave. In its center is the tomb of St. Giles, a medieval place of veneration until in the 16th century, his relics were moved to the Basilica of Saint Sernin at Toulouse. The upper church, with a nave and two apses, mostly belongs to the 17th-century reconstruction, aside from the massive pillars in Corinthian style.
Behind the apse are the remains of the ancient choir, which once were part of the originally longer church (98 meters instead of the current 50). Inside the northern wall of the ancient choir is a spiral staircase (now free standing) known as. Screw of St. Gilles;, dating to the 12th century, made of cantilevered stone steps. WP
Like other buildings, churches, the facade of the abbey of Saint-Gilles can be considered a true "stone book" to the faithful, often illiterate at the time of its construction. Performed by the monks of the abbey between 1120 and 1160 (40 years of work in itself), the facade remains an acknowledged masterpiece of Romanesque Provence, despite its many damage.
It offers a rich and varied program:
Lower register: bestiary , many scenes of the Old Testament .
Middle register: statues and figures of New Testament .
Frieze scenes inspired New Testament (washing of the feet of Christ ).
Ears: each tells a major step in the life of Christ (Adoration of the Magi, Crucifixion, majesty).
Architectural decorative elements are in turn inspired by the ancient art : Corinthian , base grooved , ovals and centaurs ...
Note that the complexity of this facade lies in the multiplicity of his inspirations (Roman, ancient, eastern). His general order is also largely inspired in its general rate, triumphal arches Roman presence in the region. This is also the case for including St. Trophime among others. Finally, note that the entire upper part of the facade had to present a classic design with arches has unfortunately disappeared. The gable of the present nave, only now emerging from the lower front, measure 10 m less than the original as the aisles whose presence is no longer legible.The current tower, much smaller than the previous one, was built in xvii th century in a small tower at the southern facade. It is surmounted by a graceful bell wrought iron.
WP
2013-09-02 Saint-Gilles; Abbaye de Saint Gilles, Gard, Languedoc Roussillon DSC0354
The abbey church is in typical southern French Romanesque style. The façade, built form 1120 to 1160, has a decorated entrance portico with three portals (the central one larger) with Corinthian columns and medieval sculpture decorations. These include, in the lower sector, a bestiary and scenes from the Old Testament; in the middle one it has statues and characters from the New Testament; the frieze and the tympana above the latter have also scenes from the same book, including the; Adoration of the Magi;, the Crucifixion of Jesus and a; Maestà.
The frieze scenes are inspired to Roman ones. The upper part of the façade had originally also a classical-inspired decoration, which has now disappeared. The bell tower dates to the 18th century.
The crypt, or lower church, dates to the early 11th century. It measures 50 by 25 meters, and occupies the whole subterranean section of the nave. In its center is the tomb of St. Giles, a medieval place of veneration until in the 16th century, his relics were moved to the Basilica of Saint Sernin at Toulouse. The upper church, with a nave and two apses, mostly belongs to the 17th-century reconstruction, aside from the massive pillars in Corinthian style.
Behind the apse are the remains of the ancient choir, which once were part of the originally longer church (98 meters instead of the current 50). Inside the northern wall of the ancient choir is a spiral staircase (now free standing) known as. Screw of St. Gilles;, dating to the 12th century, made of cantilevered stone steps. WP
Like other buildings, churches, the facade of the abbey of Saint-Gilles can be considered a true "stone book" to the faithful, often illiterate at the time of its construction. Performed by the monks of the abbey between 1120 and 1160 (40 years of work in itself), the facade remains an acknowledged masterpiece of Romanesque Provence, despite its many damage.
It offers a rich and varied program:
Lower register: bestiary , many scenes of the Old Testament .
Middle register: statues and figures of New Testament .
Frieze scenes inspired New Testament (washing of the feet of Christ ).
Ears: each tells a major step in the life of Christ (Adoration of the Magi, Crucifixion, majesty).
Architectural decorative elements are in turn inspired by the ancient art : Corinthian , base grooved , ovals and centaurs ...
Note that the complexity of this facade lies in the multiplicity of his inspirations (Roman, ancient, eastern). His general order is also largely inspired in its general rate, triumphal arches Roman presence in the region. This is also the case for including St. Trophime among others. Finally, note that the entire upper part of the facade had to present a classic design with arches has unfortunately disappeared. The gable of the present nave, only now emerging from the lower front, measure 10 m less than the original as the aisles whose presence is no longer legible.The current tower, much smaller than the previous one, was built in xvii th century in a small tower at the southern facade. It is surmounted by a graceful bell wrought iron.
WP