...I spoke too soon about the weather. It was glorious for a bit yesterday, then a downpour - pretty much like today, actually. All good as we enjoy the hot sun then don't have to water the garden.
Here are some nice shots from the church, taken from what is now the sacristy. Go through the door to the right of the altar and you will see this sweet window, this headless saint (John the Baptist, they say) and the 12th century wall paintings.
Bob has gone, Yuri has gone, all is quiet. I'm feeling introspective.
May I offer an excellent photo visit to Notre Dame de Marceille near Limoux?
ReplyDeletehttp://belcikowski.org/publications/?p=4847
The author has a wealth of photo essays on Le Grand Sud both contemporary and historic. She sends out emails with links, the one for this beauty came yesterday.
Many thanks indeed for this. I was trying to tell Yuri about this very place which he didnt have time to visit on this trip so will send him this excellent link. Its an odd one, isnt it -
ReplyDeleteThere had been a Black Madonna there but it was stolen a couple times, last time it wasn't found. It's been replaced with that strange white version. There's a spring on the property that's supposed to have healing qualities.
ReplyDeleteHere's the history of the Madonna http://pelerinagesdefrance.fr/Notre-Dame-de-Marceille
For visitors interested in old interesting churches, the chapel of Notre Dame du Cros just outside of Caunes Minervois is worth a look. There is almost the same story of the Madonna (as ND de Marceille) but in this case, the statue was found by a wood cutter. The spring is said to be beneficial for problems with the eyes/vision.
http://passionistes.du.cros.pagesperso-orange.fr/
Unlike so many churches in France there are morning masses Tuesday thru Saturday, Sunday afternoon and Vespers on Monday. There is the priest who lives there and weekday services have few attendees. The priest is friendly but not pushy and much of the newer stonework inside is the famous pink or red and white marble used at Versailles (from Caunes). Supposedly most of the locations where a church or chapel was built to the virgin (often after a statue being found) were originally where the cult of Cybele was observed (but you may already know all this).
Hope your friend enjoys the link