Modern Glass, Jacobins Church, Toulouse
One of the most impressive medieval churches in southern France, the church of the Jacobins was built in the 13th century and served as the great church of the Domincan convent. It is of a highly unusual design, built largely of brick with main vessel and apse divided into two seperate naves by a central row of tapering columns.
The church suffered during the Revolution when the Dominicans were forced to abandon it, the state abusing it for mixed use as barracks and stables. However it was restored to use as a place of worship in the late 19th century. The cavernous interior is largely empty, though is enlivened by richly coloured patterened glass by Max Ingrand (1950s/60s).
The church is also notable as the burial place of St Thomas Aquinas, to whom it was once dedicated (his shrine was destroyed during the French Revolution).
There are monastic buildings situated to the north of the church around a cloister with several other medieval roomss (including one with a fine sequence of original frescoes, though it was closed when I called), The cloister is also the best place to appreciate the church's slender octagonal tower, of a design peculiar to Toulouse.
Modern Glass, Jacobins Church, Toulouse
One of the most impressive medieval churches in southern France, the church of the Jacobins was built in the 13th century and served as the great church of the Domincan convent. It is of a highly unusual design, built largely of brick with main vessel and apse divided into two seperate naves by a central row of tapering columns.
The church suffered during the Revolution when the Dominicans were forced to abandon it, the state abusing it for mixed use as barracks and stables. However it was restored to use as a place of worship in the late 19th century. The cavernous interior is largely empty, though is enlivened by richly coloured patterened glass by Max Ingrand (1950s/60s).
The church is also notable as the burial place of St Thomas Aquinas, to whom it was once dedicated (his shrine was destroyed during the French Revolution).
There are monastic buildings situated to the north of the church around a cloister with several other medieval roomss (including one with a fine sequence of original frescoes, though it was closed when I called), The cloister is also the best place to appreciate the church's slender octagonal tower, of a design peculiar to Toulouse.