nichepoetryandprose

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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