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The Old Town of Vilnius (Lithuanian: Vilniaus senamiestis), one of the largest surviving medieval old towns in Northern Europe, has an area of 3.59 square kilometres (887 acres). It encompasses 74 quarters, with 70 streets and lanes numbering 1487 buildings with a total floor area of 1,497,000 square meters. The oldest part of the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, it has developed over the course of many centuries, and has been shaped by the city's history and a constantly changing cultural influence. It is a place where some of Europe's greatest architectural styles - gothic, renaissance, baroque and neoclassical - stand side by side and complement each other.
Salisbury Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is an Anglican cathedral in Salisbury, England. The cathedral is regarded as one of the leading examples of early English Gothic architecture. Its main body was completed in 38 years, from 1220 to 1258. Salisbury Cathedral is also home to the Magna Carta
Southwark Cathedral in south London dates back to 1106AD but has been a holy site for many years longer. I took these photos with my Canon camera. The cathedral is surrounded by other buildings and is difficult to get any long shots
The Roman Fort at Portchester was built between 285AD & 290AD and was home to the Roman fleet in Britain. The D shaped Roman towers remain today and were incorporated into the Norman castle when it was built sometime between 1066AD & 1100AD. The Anglo Saxons used the fort after the Romans left until the Norman invasion in 1066. Portchester is the best preserved Roman fort north of the Alps. Portchester has been home to many kings and chieftains. See Wiki link below
Une balade le long des quais sur la rive gauche, un jour tout gris, brumeux, et une des plus belles cathedrales de France. Il y a des visiteurs que l'on peut voir, l'un desquels fait un geste vers la facade de la cathedrale. Ceux-ci nous donnent une bonne idee de la grandeur de cet edifice extraordinaire.
The beauty of Notre Dame in Paris shines through even on this wintry day with its overcast soft sky. I was walking along the banks of the Seine and there she was, all her fine ancient details still with us after all these years! Notre Dame was built on the site of other churches and temples. Here is what wikipedia says about Notre Dame: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notre_dame_de_paris which includes this timeline of its construction : 1160. Bishop Maurice de Sully (named Bishop of Paris), orders the original cathedral to be demolished.
1163. Cornerstone laid for Notre Dame de Paris - construction begins
1182. Apse and choir completed.
1196. Nave completed. Bishop de Sully dies.
1200. Work begins on Western Façade.
1225. Western Façade completed.
1250. Western Towers and North Rose Window completed
1250–1345. Remaining elements completed
And ..... for a very very different sort of architecture, check out my other post for the day here: www.flickr.com/photos/44548980@N00/245391511/
Looking east along the nave of Winchester Cathedral.
The Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, Saint Peter, Saint Paul and Saint Swithun, commonly known as Winchester Cathedral, is the cathedral of the city of Winchester, England, and is among the largest of its kind in Northern Europe. The cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of Winchester and is the mother church for the Church of England’s Diocese of Winchester.
The cathedral as it stands today was built from 1079 to 1532. It has a very long and very wide nave in the Perpendicular Gothic style, an Early English retrochoir, and Norman transepts and tower. With an overall length of 170 metres, it is the longest medieval cathedral in the world, and only surpassed by five more churches, four of them built in the 20th Century. It is also the sixth-largest cathedral by area in England.
The first Christian church in Winchester can be traced back to c. 648, when King Cenwalh of Wessex built a small, cross-shaped building just north of the present building. This ‘Old Minster’, became the cathedral for the new Diocese of Winchester in 662, but no trace of it other than its ground plan exists today. From 963 to 993, bishop Æthelwold and then Alphege greatly expanded the church, which was briefly the largest church in Europe. Also on the same site was the New Minster, in direct competition with the neighbouring Old Minster, begun by Alfred the Great but completed in 901 by his son Edward the Elder.
The present building, however, was begun after the Norman Conquest, perhaps inevitably. William the Conqueror installed his friend and relative Walkelin as the first Norman Bishop of Winchester in 1070, and nine years later, in 1079, Walkelin began the construction of a huge new Norman cathedral, on a site just to the south of the Old and New Minsters, the site of the present building. The new cathedral was consecrated with the completion of the east end in 1093, and the following day, demolition of the New and Old Minsters began and left virtually no remains.
Work quickly progressed to the transepts and central tower, and these were certainly complete by 1100. In 1107, the central tower fell but was reconstructed and much of the work on this core of the present building was completed by 1129 to a very high standard, much of it surviving today.
A new Early English retrochoir was started in 1202, but the next expansions after that would not start until 1346, when Bishop Edington demolished the Norman west front and began building a new Perpendicular Gothic facade, featuring a huge west window, which still stands today. Edington also began renovation of the nave, but this was mostly carried out by his successors, most notably William of Wykeham and his master mason, William Wynford, who remodelled the massive Norman nave into a soaring Perpendicular Gothic masterpiece. This they achieved by encasing the Norman stone in new ashlar, recutting the piers with Gothic mouldings and pointed arches, and reorganising the three-tier nave into two tiers, by extending the arcade upwards into what was the triforium and extending the clerestory downwards to meet it. The wooden ceiling was replaced with a decorative stone vault. Following Wykeham's death in 1404, this remodelling work continued under successive bishops, being completed ca. 1420.
Between then and 1528, major rebuilding and expansion was carried out on the Norman choir and Early English retrochoir. This work included the building of further chantry chapels, the replacement of the Norman east end with a Perpendicular Gothic presbytery, and the extension of Luci's retrochoir into a Lady Chapel. Unlike the rebuilding of the nave some 100 years earlier, the Gothic presbytery was vaulted in wood and painted to look like stone, as at York Minster. With its progressive extensions, the east end is now about 34 metres beyond that of Walkelin's building.
With Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries, the Priory of Saint Swithun, was dissolved in 1539, and the cathedral’s shrines and altar were destroyed. The monastic buildings, including the cloister and chapter house, were later demolished, mostly during the 1560–1580 tenure of the reformist bishop Robert Horne.
The 17th century saw important changes to the interior, including the erection of a choir screen by Inigo Jones in 1638–39, the insertion of a wooden fan vault underneath the crossing tower (previously the tower was open to the church) and the destruction of much medieval glass and imagery by Parliamentarian soldiers in December 1642, including the near-complete destruction of the massive Great West Window by Cromwell and his forces. The window was put back together by the townspeople as a mosaic following the Restoration of the Monarchy, but it has never regained its original appearance, the damage was too great.
In the 18th century, many visitors commented on the neglect of the cathedral and the town; Daniel Defoe described the latter in about 1724 as “a place of no trade… no manufacture, no navigation”. Major restoration, however, followed in the early 19th Century under the direction of architect William Garbett and then John Nash
At the turn of the 20th century, Winchester Cathedral was in grave danger of collapse. Huge cracks had appeared in the walls, some of them large enough for a small child to crawl into, the walls were bulging and leaning, and stone fell from the walls. After several false solutions that may have made things worse, over six years from 1906-12, diver William Walker worked six or seven hour shifts every day diving through septic water full of corpses and laying a new cement under-layer for the cathedral and its foundations. Walker laid more than 25,000 bags of concrete, 115,000 concrete blocks, and 900,000 bricks. In 1911, flying buttresses were also added along the length of the south nave to complete the work.
In 2011, a new single-story extension in the corner of the north presbytery aisle was completed, the first new extension on the cathedral since the mid-16th Century, housing toilet facilities, storage and a new boiler. An extensive programme of interior restoration was completed between 2012-19.
This description incorporates text from the English Wikipedia.
St James’ Church in the Wiltshire market town of Devizes (pop. 19,500) started life as a hospital chapel built with wood donated by King Henry III adjacent to the 13th century leprosy hospital in Southbroom. The district was so known because it was south of the defensive hedge or broom which protected the town from bandits; this tended to the poorest part of a wealthy medieval town.
The chapel was dedicated to St. James and St. Denys, but disappeared from the records after 1338. It is probable that St James’ was re-built on the site of this old chapel, given its proximity to Spitalcroft, which was the land attached to the hospital.
In 1461 the first evidence of the new building appeared in the will of William Selfe, which mentions a ‘chapelry’ on the Green. St James’ remained within the parish of Bishops Cannings which is 5 km away, rather than Devizes, but had its own registers by 1572, and its own clergy by 1683.
Most of the chapel was pulled down in 1831 to allow the building of a larger church, the current one, for the growing population. The exception was the fine perpendicular tower is the only part of the 15th century chapelry which remains. The tower bears the scars of the bombardments from Jump Hill by General Walters’ parliamentary forces in the Civil War siege of Devizes in 1643. The cannon balls were found in the tower by a worker in 1780 but subsequently lost.
Public contributions raised nearly all the cost of £1053 (over £100,000 at current value). With its new church, St James’ became a separate parish with its own vicar.
A Choir Vestry (now the Church Office) was added in the 1930s. At about the same time further changes were made, including the reordering of the sanctuary and the removal of the wooden side galleries. These had been added in the 19th century to make room for the soldiers of the Wiltshire Regiment garrison.
In 2008 major internal changes were made to make the building suitable for modern use, with the removal of pews and a wooden west gallery. This allowed a full width mezzanine gallery, giving space below for a meeting room and other facilities. The removal of organ pipes by replacement with a digital instrument gave access to the Tower Room for the first time since an organ was first installed in Victorian times. This revealed four carved stone heads, believed to be 15th century originals, and a beautiful stained glass window.
The churchyard was enlarged in 1844 at the expense of the Crammer pond, though was soon closed to new burials. The retaining wall had to be rebuilt after its collapse into the pond in 2008, allowing some improvements which support wildlife as part of the Living Churchyards project.
The church is a Grade II* listed building, as described in “An Architectural Description”. There are a number of windows and memorials of interest and the church houses the regimental chapel of the Wiltshire Regiment. These are described in “The Windows and Memorials”. A list of the successive vicars and the changes that occurring during their time can be found in “The Incumbents.”
This description contains much text from the church’s website.
Saturday 14th of August 2021 and a trip to the closest Cathedral to me in Portsmouth. Portsmouth Cathedral was built in 1180AD and paid for my a local wealthy Norman merchant. It has a very interesting history. In 1449AD the Bishop of Chichester was murdered in Portsmouth by sailors so the cathedral was closed for a time and the people of Portsmouth excommunicated! The Cathedral is just a short walk from the closest beach at the Hot Walls.
This Fridays trip was a short one to Winchester Cathedral. The original cathedral was founded in 642AD an todays cathedral was built by the Normans in 1079. Winchester in Hampshire was once the capital city of Anglo Saxon England. Winchester cathedral is one of the largest cathedrals in Europe.
It is well worth reading the Wiki page if you are interested in English history.
Katelholm Castle is a well-preserved castle ruin whose walls could tell many an exciting tale. One Swedish noble family in particular, the House of Vasa, showed great interest in the castle. Both Gustav Vasa and Duke John spent time here. Moreover, for a few months Erik XIV was imprisoned here along with his wife Karin Månsdotter.
Tallinn's Old Town is a beautifully preserved medieval gem, where every corner tells a story. The cobblestone streets, winding through the heart of the city, are lined with historic buildings that have stood the test of time. As we explored the Old Town, we encountered narrow alleyways leading to hidden courtyards and towering spires rising above the rooftops, creating a skyline straight out of a fairy tale. The old stone towers, remnants of the city’s formidable defenses, stand as silent guardians over the narrow streets below. These images capture the charm and rich history that make Tallinn's Old Town arguably the most attractive city in the Baltic region - Tallinn, Estonia
Chichester Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Chichester. It is located in Chichester, in West Sussex, United Kingdom. It was founded as a cathedral in 1075. I visited again on the 28th of July 2021. Had a nice walk around inside the cathedral and around the outside too where the changing clouds made an interesting backdrops
This Fridays trip was a short one to Winchester Cathedral. The original cathedral was founded in 642AD an todays cathedral was built by the Normans in 1079. Winchester in Hampshire was once the capital city of Anglo Saxon England. Winchester cathedral is one of the largest cathedrals in Europe.
It is well worth reading the Wiki page if you are interested in English history.
The Church of St Giles in Leigh-on-Mendip, Somerset, is a Grade I listed building, with an unusual faceless clock. It is part of the Church of England Diocese of Bath and Wells.
A church in Leigh was first recorded in the 13th Century, as a chapel of ease connected to St Andrew’s, a larger church in the parish of Mells. In the late 14th Century, the current parish of Leigh-on-Mendip was established and the first church, as we would recognise the building today, was built between 1350 and 1390.
The 28.5-metre tower dates from around 1464, and contains six bells, five of which date from the 1750s. A scratch sundial can be seen on one of the buttress at the foot of the tower.
During a series of renovations in the 19th and 20th centuries the historical and artistic value of various features was fully recognised. These include a nearly complete set of medieval pews that is now considered to be of national importance, fragments of medieval stained glass and original woodwork.
The Quinquennial report of 2016 identified that urgent repairs were needed to the church, particularly the 300-year-old roof lead, which was leaking badly. A substantial restoration project for the magnificent nave roof was therefore completed in 2018-19.
I am indebted to the Friends of Leigh Church for this description.
The cobbled streets, quirky passageways and terracotta roofs of medieval Tallinn have earned a reputation as a pearl of Baltic Europe.
Bryggen is a historic harbour district in Bergen, one of North Europe’s oldest port cities on the west coast of Norway which was established as a centre for trade by the 12th century.
In 1350 the Hanseatic League established a “Hanseatic Office” in Bergen. They gradually acquired ownership of Bryggen and controlled the trade in stockfish from Northern Norway through privileges granted by the Crown. The Hanseatic League established a total of four overseas Hanseatic Offices, Bryggen being the only one preserved today.
The east end of Exeter Cathedral dates from the early part of the 14th century. The Great East Window features medieval glass, and the figures of Abraham, Moses and Isaiah at the top date from 1304. The cathedral suffered bomb damage in WWII, but fortunately the glass and other treasures had been removed to a safe place.
The Cathedral of St Peter was originally built by the Normans with its foundation in 1133, but it took many more years to complete. Following the appointment of Walter Bronescombe as bishop in 1258, the building was already recognized as outmoded, and it was rebuilt in the Decorated Gothic style, following the example of nearby Salisbury. However, much of the original Norman building was kept, including the two massive square towers and part of the walls. Unlike many other English cathedrals, there is no centre tower. It was constructed entirely of local stone, including from the quarries at Beer in Devon, plus Purbeck Marble. The new cathedral was complete by about 1400, apart from the addition of the chapter house and chantry chapels.
For other photos of Exeter Cathedral please see my Album.
St Mary's in the Devon town of Axminster, often simply known as "The Minster", has Norman origins, although much of the building dates from the 13th-15th centuries. The earliest surviving section of the church is a reset doorway from the Norman period, while the tower, rebuilt in the 13th century, was restored in 1896. The church suffered an arson attack in 2014, and underwent restoration and repair work before reopening in 2015.
This description incorporates text from the English Wikipedia.
Wonderful Arundel Castle in West Sussex England. This Norman castle dates back to 1067 and is the seat of the Duke of Norfolk.
Travelled up to Salisbury today to revisit the wonderful cathedral. It has the tallest spire in the United Kingdom. I climbed to the top of the spire last time I visited back in 2014. The tower is not open at the moment due to Covid-19 rules on social distancing. Salisbury cathedral is one of our newer Norman cathedrals as it was not built until 1220AD. Sadly the weather today as you can see was cloudy and overcast.
Chichester Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Chichester. It is located in Chichester, in West Sussex, United Kingdom. It was founded as a cathedral in 1075. I visited again on the 28th of July 2021. Had a nice walk around inside the cathedral and and around the outside too where the changing clouds made an interest back drop
Tallinn is the oldest capital city in Northern Europe.
Tallinn's Old Town is in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is ranked as a global city and has been listed among the top 10 digital cities in the world.
Source: Wikipedia
Gamla stan dates back to the 13th century, and consists of medieval alleyways, cobbled streets, and archaic architecture. North German architecture has had a strong influence in the Old Town's construction.
The present alleys only give a vague glimpse of the appearance of the medieval city where the gables of the building were facing the streets and contained window bays for offering goods of sale; where filth, the bumpy paving and hand-drawn vehicles made walking circumstantial; and where odours and scents from dung, food, fishes, leather, furnaces, and seasonal spices mingled. During nights (and certainly during the long winters) the city was completely dark, save for exceptional fire watchers and nocturnal ramblers who used torches to find their bearing.
Wikipedia
Timeless charm reflected in every brick and ripple – Brugge captures the essence of medieval beauty, blending history with charm. Visiting it always feels like a hug from an old friend.
Wonderful Arundel Castle in West Sussex England. This Norman castle dates back to 1067 and is the seat of the Duke of Norfolk.
The Cathedral Church of St Thomas of Canterbury known as Portsmouth Anglican Cathedral was built in 1180 and paid for my a local wealthy Norman merchant. It has a very interesting history. In 1449 the Bishop of Chichester was murdered in Portsmouth by sailors so the cathedral was closed for 58 years and the people of Portsmouth excommunicated! It reopened in 1508 when the excommunication was lifted. Queen Elizabeth 1st worshipped there. The remains of the sailors taken from the Tudor warship Mary Rose when she was lifted from the seabed just off Portsmouth are all in a tomb inside the cathedral.
The Cathedral is just a short walk from the closest beach at the Hot Walls. This photo was taken with my Samsung phone camera
In this abandoned castle, I positioned myself to capture the perfect alignment of arches creating a vanishing point. The natural light filtering through the windows creates a theatrical atmosphere, highlighting the architectural details while the debris on the floor tells stories of passing time. My goal was to show both the grandeur of the original gothic architecture and its current state of beautiful decay.
Eze is a medieval village perched like an eagles nest on a narrow rocky peak overlooking the Mediterranean sea. The ancient fortified village is still crowned with the ruins of its 12th-century fortified castle (torn down in 1706), sitting on a narrow rocky peak. The castle grounds host the well-known Jardin Exotique, and from the top (429 m) you'll have an good view of the coast .
The village forms a circular pattern around the base of the castle. The old buildings and narrow streets are very well restored, with high stone walls and narrow roadways of red-brick centered stone. The narrow roads wend their way upward to the well sign-posted Jardin Exotique Panorama. When you finally arrive at the top, you'll find the way to the Jardin, and the panoramic view, blocked by a 12 F admission cost, a detail that wasn't mentioned earlier and lower.
Any sense of this ancient village's medieval past is, however, offset by the multitude of souvenir shops and streets full of tourists. On a Friday in March, the narrow streets already had a fair number of tourists, admittedly including ourselves. Eze is a pretty village, but it's not at all off the beaten path.