Paray-le-Monial Travel Guide

 hquittner Says:  The Church of the Sacred Heart (so named in 1873, previously called Notre Dame) is preceded by a Narthex which was started in the 11C with the right tower. It has a tiny plain facade between the two massive square towers which it supports. Most of the church behind it is... 

 hquittner Says:  One of the most pleasing aspects of a large Romanesque church is the arrangement of chapels, ambulatory, choir dome and crossing tower to produce a "cascade" of stone shapes. One should always walk completely around such structures before or after seeing the interior. 

 hquittner Says:  The early 12C church at Montceaux has a doorway illustrating the Ascension won a tympanum set in a precise recessed arched doorway. As in others, the lintel is part of the same block. Below this phenomenon is watched by 14 (!) Apostles. (See Peter with a giant ket at the... 

 hquittner Says:  The church of St.-Hilaire in Semur -en-Brionnais is a low and heavy 12C structure, but at its crossing is a beautiful two-storied octagonal bell tower. The transepts terminate in tall gabled walls. The view from the east is striking. The doorway has short figures but is... 

 hquittner Says:  The mid-12C church of St.-Julien sits in its little town (pop.300) of the same name. It has a marvelous sculpted tympanum and lintel created from a single block of sandstone indicating a sculptor of great self-assurance. The lintel is a Last Supper but most of the faces were... 

 hquittner Says:  The little church at Iguerande sits on a hill overlooking the upper part of the Loire River in southern Burgundy. It is a squat affair with a central tower, built in the early 12C. The west facade is plain without tympanum carving (lost?). There is a small nave with two...