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endlessraritiesWell, I can't seem to sort out my photos for the Church of Saint Vincent, so I'll turn instead to the Cathedral of Saint Michael, which as you can see is currently undergoing some major restoration works:-
The visible remains of the cathedral church date to the late thirteenth century, post-dating the Albigensian Crusade. But the 'new' church wasn't entirely free from trial and tribulation. For, like Scotland, this part of France also suffered from the predations of the English, and an Englishman named Edward. Not Edward I, The Hammer of the Scots, but Edward, The Black Prince, who carved his own impressive swathe of destruction across the region.
Edward burned La Bastide de Saint Louis pretty much to the ground in 1355: indeed, the levels of destruction were so high that historical records state that only the walls of the churches were left standing.
The visible remains of the cathedral church date to the late thirteenth century, post-dating the Albigensian Crusade. But the 'new' church wasn't entirely free from trial and tribulation. For, like Scotland, this part of France also suffered from the predations of the English, and an Englishman named Edward. Not Edward I, The Hammer of the Scots, but Edward, The Black Prince, who carved his own impressive swathe of destruction across the region.
Edward burned La Bastide de Saint Louis pretty much to the ground in 1355: indeed, the levels of destruction were so high that historical records state that only the walls of the churches were left standing.
The buttresses are still ornamented with some very handsome carved beasts, which alternate with cross finials. The building is quite solid in appearance, with round rose windows in each bay, Round windows seem to be quite common inclusions in the churches of the area, but those in the Cathedral of Saint Michael are unusually big compared to other examples.
Those of you who are paying attention will of course have said, "Ah! So this is the place that became the heart of the diocese after the Basilica of Saint Nazaire in the walled city lost its cathedral status following the overthrow of the Trencavel family and the complete regeneration of the walled bourg." If you haven't been paying attention, that's fine, because now you know!
And tomorrow I'll try and post some photos of the interior...
Those of you who are paying attention will of course have said, "Ah! So this is the place that became the heart of the diocese after the Basilica of Saint Nazaire in the walled city lost its cathedral status following the overthrow of the Trencavel family and the complete regeneration of the walled bourg." If you haven't been paying attention, that's fine, because now you know!
And tomorrow I'll try and post some photos of the interior...
