restoring an old church 5-9
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vine-covered arch in enclosed garden in Belle Croix (image from Street View)
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map showing distance travelled (map from Google Maps)
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On May 7, I took my virtual bike through the area of Dompierre-sur-Mer and saw so many interesting sights. The gardens were lush and green. Even the traffic circles were small oases of interesting plants …
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planted traffic circle in Dompierre-sur-Mer (image from Street View)
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In the town, I was very interested to see an old church, the Prieuré Saint-Pierre, in the process of restoration. Thanks to the magic of Street View, I could see a photo of ‘before’ …
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Prieuré Saint-Pierre before restoration in October of 2009 (image from Street View)
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and ‘during’ …
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Prieuré Saint-Pierre during restoration in September 2010 – the small building at the rear of the church has been demolished and the restoration of the back wall is underway (image from Street View)
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The Prieuré Saint-Pierre in Dompierre-sur-Mer was founded in the 11th century by the monks of the Abbey of Maillezais. I ‘visited’ this abbey in the post for April 24, https://nichepoetryandprose.wordpress.com/2013/04/24/a-side-trip-to-an-old-abbey/ .
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I could see the outside of some of the stained glass windows …
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and the Bell Tower. From my reading, I learned a spiral staircase provides access to this tower …
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As I passed the church, I looked back to see a worker restoring the entryway of the church …
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A description of this entry is found in a short account of the church’s architecture and its long history of collapse and restoration at http://en.patrimoine-de-france.com/charente-maritime/dompierre-sur-mer/prieure-saint-pierre-2.php
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The account reads, in part: ‘The western façade has a triangular pediment surmounted by a Latin cross. The entrance gate is a double leaf door surmounted by a tympanum in carpentry, highlighted by an arcade basket. A molded headband short above the door. Above is drilled an oculus …’
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You can see each of these features in the image above. A ‘pediment’ is an element of classical architecture, a triangular gable. A ‘tympanum’ is the decorated element over a door, above the lintel. An ‘oculus’ is a central opening in a wall, allowing light to enter the building.
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Best View: the outside of a stained glass window in the Prieuré Saint-Pierre. The scene in the window depicts the Ascension of Jesus …
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Copyright Jane Tims 20131
nichepoetryandprose 
Amazing that the Prieuré Saint-Pierre is about a thousand years old – it’s beautiful. And I LOVE your drawing of the stained glass window!
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Barbara Rodgers
June 6, 2013 at 11:21 am
Hi Barbara. Thanks! The drawing is from the outside of the window of course and so lacks some detail. I would like to see the window from the inside. It was fun to try and copy the colors of the window. Jane
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jane tims
June 6, 2013 at 1:02 pm
another beautiful little drawing here, Jane!! and I liked the one of the sunflower also…. hope you are having fun in both your everyday and your virtual realities…. and looking forward to more word about your novel soon! Blessings to you and happy June, Leigh
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SingingBones
June 3, 2013 at 3:53 pm
Hi Leigh. More on the novel soon. Thanks!!!! Jane
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jane tims
June 4, 2013 at 12:06 am
It’s amazing to think about how much of the world is at our fingertips on the internet. When I was growing up the only way to find out anything about anything was by reading a book, or looking in an encyclopedia. We have an embarrassment of riches now when it comes to knowledge!
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Watching Seasons
June 2, 2013 at 6:16 pm
Hi. We certainly do. An ’embarrassment of riches’ … a perfect description. I wonder what we’ll have in another ten years? Jane
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jane tims
June 2, 2013 at 7:12 pm
very nice to see some greenery again!
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Sigrun
June 1, 2013 at 1:27 pm
Hi. Some towns go out of their way to plant the hard stone edges. Greenery and a few flowers make a big difference. Jane
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jane tims
June 1, 2013 at 4:15 pm
Your drawings are the highlights of these posts, personal with enough colour to draw the eye in and stimulate the mind about what lies beyond the drawing. Lovely.
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Carol Steel
May 31, 2013 at 10:15 pm
Hi Carol. Thanks. I think the drawings are what I look most forward to doing in all of this virtual travel. I have prepared the drawings with a fixative and put them in an album so I can enjoy them any time. Jane
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jane tims
June 1, 2013 at 4:13 pm
I love your drawing, Jane.
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Jane Fritz
May 31, 2013 at 11:09 am
Hi. Thanks!!! Jane
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jane tims
May 31, 2013 at 6:27 pm