The elaborate carvings on this solid walnut door date to 1551 and show the Virgin and the Angel of Annunciation. This is the Church of St. Pierre, built in the 1300s, one of dozens of churches in Avignon, where the Pope’s Palace, largest castle in Europe, housed thousands of clergy. Many of them felt it necessary to build and consecrate their own separate places of worship, and this is actually one of the smaller entries.
The interior of this church is more restrained than most of the flamboyant Gothic churches in Avignon, perhaps because the beautiful wood everywhere subdues the ambience. It’s a very soothing place, and I could have rested in a pew for hours, just absorbing the wonderful juxtaposition of cold stone, warm panels and tastefully gilded altar.
This post is for Norm’s Thursday Doors. And you can see lots more doors from other bloggers, here.
An exquisite sculpted door! I notice the sculpted standing woman’s (?) smile on the right. Surprising to me, since most faces in the Middle Ages are without expression! When I saw the title immediately the French children’s song Sur le pond d’Avignon, on y dance.. came to mind.
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I did not know that about Middle Ages faces, thank you. And I know exactly what you mean about the song. Kind of inevitable to hum or dance it in Avignon!
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I love the interior! That roof is spectacular.
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I’m so with you on the interior. My pics don’t do it justice at all.
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A spectacular door. I’ve been in many old churches in France and yes, the quiet is so relaxing.
janet
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Yes, I agree, a church can be a respite from the constant bombardment of new things, exactly.
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Beautiful doors, real craftsmanship, well captured
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So true about the craftsmanship, and thank you.
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Wow what a door! Without question an astounding amount of work went into that. And that church? We just don’t have anything in North America that can compare. Wonderful shots 🙂
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It was even more incredible close up. You’re right about nothing in North America. Thanks.
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Such a stunning church! I love visiting churches on my travels. Finnish churches are often very simple in comparison.
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Simple here in Canada, too (except for larger cities like Toronto and Montreal where embellished buildings were the thing). Thanks for stopping by.
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