More from our road trip south - that monastery and a church for Sunday

This is the 'monastery' that is one of the main draws for visitors to the mountain top village of Saorge. It was established in 1633 by a small French branch of the Franciscans known as 'Récollects', as small convent on the edge of the village. The tourist board list it as a monastery but his type of 'convent' was different in that the Franciscans did not isolate themselves but were very much a part of the local community. The current convent buildings and the  church,dedicated to Notre-Dame-des-Miracles, were finished sometime around 1662 with the help of donations from the villagers.

 

The convent has had a fairly turbulent history (which you can read about here) but today has returned to its tranquil past with the upper level serving as a retreat for writers,composers and more.

It is the lower level of the monastery that is currently open to the public. 

It would have been interesting to check out the accommodation currently offered compared to what the previous residents were used to.

Loved the view behind the altar - almost like a stage set!

The refectory, used as the monks dining room, is decorated with five 17th century frescoes which represent the three Franciscan virtues of poverty, chastity and obedience. Much of what they ate here would have come from their own gardens.

You can understand why when searching for peace (or so they thought) and tranquility, they chose this location.

 

A church for Sunday - Saint Martial in Montmorillon

On our recent visit to Montmorillon,while the sisters were popping in and out of the many interesting shops in the town I  visited this rather grand 19th century church. It replaced its 12th century forerunner as it was considered too small and in too poor a condition for expanding town .

 With the exception of the old choir and the bell tower dating from the Romanesque period it was rebuilt. 

The church has some fine examples of stained glass.

Where's Joan? - she  is here!

A church on Sunday - Eglise Saint-Martin et Sainte-Marguerite (Les Ormes)

 Today we feature the church of  Saint-Martin and Sainte-Marguerite in Les Ormes - a town that I will feature on my other blog on Tuesday. Whether your first view of this neo-Byzantine style church is from the bridge over the Vienne river or you have searched out its bell tower and arrived in the market square you will most likely find it incongruous to its surroundings.

It is far removed from the typical designs of churches of the area but resting in its position overlooking the square and bordered by the outbuildings of its chateau neighbour it somehow convinces you that it is there by right!

Elegant ?, perhaps, certainly the inside of the church reached by passing under the round bell-tower resting on an octagonal base, supported on a square tower, serving as narthex could be described thus. 

After passing under the elaborate porch you are greeted by what feels like a vast nave.This late 19th century church is of the typical 'Latin Cross' but perhaps because of its location does not respect the tradition of the orientation of the choir towards the east.  

It has some fine examples of stained glass windows...

    

and a befitting pulpit.

Where's Joan?

I was pleased to find her in her typical banner waving pose.

If you are visiting the nearby chateau it is well worth seeking the church and square out  - there are even picnic benches behind the church on the banks of the Vienne.

An Italian church for Sunday...Saint Anthony the Abbot in Dolceacqua

On our second day in Menton our very generous hostess took us over to Italy for lunch (as you do). We stopped over in the  pretty village of Dolceacqua - this is the village church...the Italians sure kow how to do churches. More on the actual village later.

 

Church on Sunday - the windows of Saint Nicolas in Saumur

More detail on the church here

images courtesy of our 'sisters'

Church on Sunday - Saint Hilaire Lys-Haut-Layon. Pays de la Loire

Church on Sunday - St Jean-Baptist Maulevrier

On our recent visit over to Maulevrier we also visited the church of St Jean-Baptiste in the town. There has been a church on the site since the 12th century,of which only the bell tower remains as most the original church was destroyed during the wars of religion. The church we see today is the 19th century reconstruction in a neogothic style which also included the raising of the of the bell tower to its new height.

It does not take long to find our Joan as she sits between the front portals at the entrance to the church...and in fine style!

As you enter the church its scale is surprising and its nave delightful

The apse has stained glass windows set in Gothic style canopies

Side chapel

example of 'station'

Both outside aisles of the nave are adorned by large statues of saints.

It was interesting to see St.Louis IX and St Genevieve represented so far from Paris. Coincidentally as we read the information under the statue of St.Louis we realised it was actually his feast day (25th August) on the day of our visit. 

We also had a plesent surprise of a second Joan!