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Romanesque Churches of France
A Traveller's Guide

Synopsis:

The Romanesque churches to be found in every corner of France are one of the wonders of Europe. They were built between about 1000 and 1200 and were contemporary with English Norman architecture. Their architectural style varies from region to region, as do their size, shape and layout. The period saw the first revival of the art of sculpture since Roman times, and many of the churches such as Moissac, Autun, Vezelay and Chauvigny contain outstanding sculpture. Some, like St-Savin-sur-Gartempe and Tavant, have superb frescoes, and a few like Ganagobie have fine mosaics. It was the age of pilgrimages and a number of the churches were built along the four great pilgrim routes through France to Santiago de Compostela in north-west Spain. Many have links to Romanesque churches in Italy, England and Germany, since Romanesque was a style that was admired throughout Europe. "Romanesque Churches of France", which covers a hundred or so churches in ten geographical sections from Normandy and Burgundy in the north to Provence, Roussillon and Languedoc in the south, is the first comprehensive book to be published on the subject. This book is an ideal companion for travellers, with its many maps and its regional arrangement, and will be a stimulus for the exploration of remote and beautiful areas that are less familiar, such as Auvergne and the Pyrenees. It will also be invaluable as a reference book for all those with a general interest in the history of French architecture and sculpture.

Reviews:

"'Peter Strafford's book should open people's eyes to one of the less-known treasures of France. He takes the reader to the ancient towns and villages where the best of these lovely churches are to be found, region by region; and he is a perceptive and knowledgeable guide who makes you want to visit each one of them.' Simon Jenkins, author of England's Thousand Best Churches (1999) 'A masterly and detailed account of Romanesque glories and their history: every section of it made me long to revisit that area of France with Peter Strafford's book in hand.' Sir Brian Young, Director-General, Independent Broadcasting Authority, 1970-82, and author of The Villein's Bible: Stories in Romanesque Carving (1990)"

Author Biography:

Simon Jenkins, author of England's Thousand Best Churches (1999) and England's Thousand Best Houses (2003), and ex-editor of The Times: 'Peter Strafford's book should open people's eyes to one of the less-known treasures of France. He takes the reader to the ancient towns and villages where the best of these lovely churches are to be found, region by region; and he is a perceptive and knowledgeable guide who makes you want to visit each one of them.' Sir Brian Young, Director-General, Independent Broadcasting Authority, 1970-82, and author of The Villein's Bible: Stories in Romanesque Carving (1990): 'A masterly and detailed account of Romanesque glories and their history: every section of it made me long to revisit that area of France with Peter Strafford's book in hand.' Peter Strafford is a distinguished journalist who worked on the Times for more than three decades, including in Paris and Brussels, and was, among other things, the Times correspondent in New York for five years and a leader-writer in London commenting on international affairs. His last position was editor of the Times's special reports on foreign countries, many of which he visited himself.

Table of Contents:

Acknowledgements, Glossary, General Introduction, Romanesque Style, Stone Vaulting, Ambulatory, Origins, From The Days of The Ancient Greeks, Exchanges With Neighbouring Countries, France in The Romanesque Period, The Monasteries, Pilgrimages, Burgundy, Introduction, Anzy-le-duc, Montceaux L'etoile, Neuilly-en-donjon, Autun, La-charite-sur-loire, Charlieu and St-julien-de-jonzy, Cluny and Berze-la-ville, Dijon, St Benigne, Fontenay, Nevers, St-etienne, Paray-le-monial, Perrecy-les-forges and Gourdon, Saulieu, Semur-en-brionnais and Iguerande, Tournus and Chapaize, Vezelay, Paris Region, Introduction, Chartres, Morienval, Rheims, St-remi, Vignory. Normandy, Introduction, Bayeux and Thaon, Caen, St-etienne, La Trinite and St-nicolas, Cerisy-la-foret, Jumieges, Lessay, Mont-st-michel, St-martin-de-boscherville, Loire Valley, Introduction, Cunault, Fontevraud, Montoire-sur-le-loir and St-jacques-des-guerets, St-benoit-sur-loire and Germigny-des-pres, Tavant, Massif Central, Introduction, Brioude, Clermont Ferrand, Notre-dame-du-port, Conques, Issoire, Orcival, Le-puy-en-velay, St-nectaire, St-saturnin, Western France, Introduction, Angouleme, Aulnay-de-saintonge, Chauvigny, Fenioux, Melle, Perigueux, Poitiers, Rioux and Retaud, Saintes, St-jouin-de-marnes and Airvault, St-savin-sur-gartempe, Talmont-sur-gironde. South-west France, Introduction, Beaulieu-sur-dordogne, Cahors, Carennac, Collonges-la-rouge, Moissac, Souillac, Toulouse, St Sernin, Provence, Introduction, Arles, Ganagobie, Montmajour, St-gilles-du-gard, Saintes-maries-de-mer, Cistercian Abbeys in Provence, Senanque, Silvacane and Le Thoronet, Roussillon and Languedoc, Introduction, The Master of Cabestany, Cabestany, St-hilaire-d'aude, St-papoul, Rieux-minervois, Le Boulou Corneilla-de-conflent and Villefranche-de-conflent, Elne, St-genis-des-fontaines, St-andre-de Sorede and Arles-sur-tech, St-guilhem-le-desert, St-martin-de-fenollar, St-martin-du-canigou, St-michel-de-cuxa, Serrabone, Central Pyrenees, Introduction, Lescar, Oloron-ste-marie, St-aventin, St-bertrand-de-comminges and St-just-de-valcabrere, St-lizier, Index.

Additional Information:

Illustrations: 166 b&w, 12 maps Related subjects: Religious buildings