There is some evidence in a dusty local archive, that way back in the 12th century, the Hillside was the site of a religious ‘paroisse’, the French version of our word ‘parish’. This could mean quite simply that a lone monk lived up here in contemplative seclusion or that he had fellow monks and a small monastery, or some other religious building.
Although we have no physical evidence of this ancient parish, the atmosphere here is certainly very special and fits perfectly with the idea of a place of spiritual contemplation. We are also in an area surrounded by churches dating from this period, the pilgrimage route of Santiago de Compostela, or Saint Jacques de Compostele as he’s known round these parts, having passed right through the region and quite possibly by our front door.
I had occasion to visit another extraordinary 12th century church during the week, this time in a local town and although the urban setting didn’t quite match the beautiful village setting of last week’s example, the architecture and the incredible door of the church of Saint Denis de Montmoreau soon had me clicking away with my camera for my Thursday Doors post. The ancient oak door is massive and the beautiful ironwork, all curlicues and rosettes, along with some remarkable stone decoration is quite breathtaking………….
Thanks as always to Norm for hosting this excellent challenge.
ALL PHOTOS © JANE MORLEY
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View from a French Hillside 
Wonderful set of photos! Great doors. I love those ornate arched façades. Nice interiors, and door details. I love the photo of the light in the keyhole.
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Many thanks Timothy, really appreciated! Not sure how old the door itself is, but I’m guessing centuries! It is incredibly weathered and very solid, must weigh a ton but the decoration is so delicate.
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You have captured some luscious details with your excellent eye for charm, Jane. x
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Thank you most kindly Sarah ! 🙂
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Oh my, these are spectacular. I have to find out the name for those stepped recessed doors because it seems like it I’m seeing them all over church architecture along the Camino/Chemin. How wonderful to have all that beautiful architecture close at hand!
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Thankyou Beth! You’re right we are extremely lucky to have so many wonderful examples of this era very close by, I’ve actually started doing a project, more to follow soon!
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Je vais attendre avec impatience:0))
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Pas trop longtemps j’espère! Just realised Beth that your last post was about the route de Compostelle, are you really going to do some of the walk? Will love to read about it if you do! If you should happen to start in France and find yourself in this neck of the woods please do walk up the hillside and say ‘Bonjour’ ! 🙂
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Love all your great detail shots.
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Thank you Cornelia! The workmanship is amazing so wanted to try and show as much as possible!
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I love the details you have shown here, Jane….most admirable
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Thank you Sue – much appreciated! 🙂
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You are most welcome! ☺️
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Just stunning as always. Thank you so much for sharing these Jane 🙂
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Thank you Norm! I must try and find something other than a church for next week but there isn’t much round here that would count as cutting edge contemporary! 🙂
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These shots are gorgeous, Jane! I love taking photographs of doors whenever I travel. You are so lucky to live in such a beautiful area, I am very envious! 🙂 xx
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So glad you like them Grace! It is a beautiful area and there are a large number of incredibly old buildings to discover, I shan’t be short of material for my blog that’s for sure!
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Hi Jane, this is incredible masterpiece of works. Seems they’re not changing through centuries.
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Hello idlehomemaker, it is amazing to see such beautiful craftsmanship isn’t it when you think this church was built almost 900 years ago, they knew how to build things to last in those days! 🙂
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You really have to wonder why it was someone (the architect) became so determined to highlight this door as he (or she) did. What was the point of all of the many layers of stone surrounding? The entrance must have some spectacular significance to deserve such detailed highlighting, right? There MUST be a story.
Regardless, Jane, this is another example of a magical, mystical place that would entice any restless soul and spur on countless minutes of creative, soul-purging thought.
I love it!
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Glad you’re intrigued by it Shelley as I am! I suspect people weren’t that different in those days and just liked to show off a whole lot; so you couldn’t make a Ferrari or an iPod but you could cut a mean semi-circle of decorative stone that people would talk about for at least a mile or two around, might even get you noticed by a couple of local maidens? 😀
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Super photos Jane, fantastic craftsmanship and what an ornate exterior display juxtaposed with such an unprepossessing interior. Their way of pulling the crowds in back then maybe! 🙂
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Thank you Ellie! I think you have to imagine the interior as it would have been then, very highly decorated but in paint which has faded and almost disappeared over the centuries’
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Great details in this stunning door.
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Thankyou Chris!
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