Sunday, January 25, 2015

Further explorations: L'Eglise de St. Martin de Limouze


L'Eglise de St. Martin de Limouze, a gem of a church about 5 miles from Rodez

My wanderings are accumulating, and I will certainly need to be including more photos if I ever want to "catch up."

To pick up somewhat of a story line, these are all photos from the unforgettable day of January 7, 2014, when I went out exploring in what seemed like the most peaceful of worlds, and came back to work to a chilling reminder that even France is not that peaceful.

When I visited the site, there was a man parked in the church parking lot, seemingly doing nothing. Perhaps he was glued to his radio. 


No public entrance at random hours

Blissfully unaware of what was going on in the world, my main concern was whether this church just might be open.

No such luck, as is the case with most small churches in Aveyron these days. 



This must be a tourist site, however...

The edifice seems to be on a tourist route and ready to greet visitors in several languages, but January must not be the right time.



I'm ashamed to say I don't know what this is...
(PS: I do now -- see comments!)

So I contented myself with a walk around the grounds, and taking a look at the church from all sides and all angles.



The light was lovely that day...

The church is referenced on the official regional historical register website, and some photos of the interior are shown there.

This is a place I will go back to.

7 comments:

Susan said...

The mystery object looks like a sarcophagus to me. It would originally have had a separate stone lid.

Betty Carlson said...

Susan, I figured I could count on you! Actually, that came to my mind, but I rather wondered what a sarcophagus would be doing just sitting randomly, a bit like a water trough, in the church garden (albeit close to the cemetery.) Doesn't this one look extremely old?

Susan said...

Yes, it's probably a thousand years old, maybe two. Sarcophagi get dumped in churchyards surprisingly often. Maybe it was originally in the crypt of an earlier church, maybe it's not even Christian. Over the centuries there are all sorts of reasons for treating such objects disrespectfully.

bookworm said...

Fascinating - enjoyed looking at an object possibly 1,000 years old. Alana

Betty Carlson said...

Alana, there are so many old objects to look at around here, I wouldn't know where to begin! I see them daily and don't think about them enough, which is part of what this blog is about. 1,000 years old is getting up there, though.

Sue Brady Ardington said...

I am behind on your blog, but look forward to catching up. This post is powerful...the peace and tranquility in contrast to terrorism, hatred and violence.

Perpetua said...

Yes, definitely a sarcophagus and it looks like it's been there a good long time. I too am very aware of the contrast between the tranquil beauty of your photos and the horror of what was unfolding in Paris that day and the next.