Category Archives: News

Let’s share our December gateway

This month, we invite you to discover the Chapelle
des Pénitents in Grimaud in the Var (53310).

This magnificent chapel, built at the end of the 15th century, has existed for over 500 years.
Dedicated to Notre-Dame du Coulet, the Chapelle des Pénitents marks one of the entrances to the village.
Its construction date (1482) is engraved in Roman numerals on the door lintel (M. CCCC. LXXXII, the 8 is a punctuation mark).
In order to enlarge the interior space of the chapel, the original porch will be blocked.
It becomes the headquarters of the congregation of the White Penitents, who provided assistance to the poor.
Inside, there is a 17th century altarpiece and its Pietà by Paul-Émile Barberi, painted in 1808, as well as the relics of Saint Theodore and various statues, including that of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows.
In the south-east corner, an engraved stone bears the inscription in Gothic characters: “Monseigneur de Fréjus donna 40 jours de pardon”.

Every year, the Chapelle des Pénitents hosts the musical evenings of Grimaud.
A great musical moment to share in the heart of this Grimaud monument.

Photos HJLepetit (click on the image to enlarge it)

Let’s share our november escapades !

In Parma we visited the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta

Parma Cathedral (Italian: Duomo di Parma ; Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta) is the cathedral of the diocese of Parma, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. It is an important Italian Romanesque cathedral whose dome, in particular, is decorated with a fresco by Correggio.
The ensemble is made up of three structures, the cathedral,
the campanile and the baptistery.
It is located in Piazza del Duomo, where, on the southern part of the square, the former bishop’s palace.
The cathedral is a fine example of the Lombard Romanesque style in Emilia-Romagna.
Parma Cathedral, whose official name is Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, consecrated in 1106, is the most important Catholic place of worship in Parma, the mother church of the diocese of the same name.

It stands in Piazza Duomo, next to the Baptistery and the Episcopal Palace.
Of the original building, there probably remains part of the presbytery, the transept, the choir, the apses and some fragments of sculpture. The broad facade was completed in 1178 :
it has three floors, a loggia and three portals, the doors of which were sculpted by Luchino Bianchino in 1494.
Between the central door and the one on the right is the tomb of the mathematician Biagio Pelacani, who died in 1416.
The Gothic belfry was added between 1284 and 1294.

The construction of Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta began in 1059 at the initiative of Bishop Cadalo, who would later be antipope under the name of Honorius II and was consecrated by Paschal II in 1106.
Picture HJLepetit (click on image to enlarge it)

Let’s share our October escapades !

We visited Notre-Dame de Croaz-Batz in Roscoff.

A former haven of corsairs then of smugglers, from where
the Johnnies* set out to sell their pink onions, Roscoff is a small
seaside town which has preserved its architectural heritage from the 16th and 17th centuries. 
Built on the sea, the sacred perimeter contains the church, two ossuary chapels, one Gothic, the other Henry II style, and the funerary
monument of Dorothea Silburne, who welcomed, in London,
Monseigneur de la Marche, last bishop de Léon, emigrated in 1790.

The Renaissance bell tower, almost unique in Brittany, dates from 1575-1576.

*The Johnnies are onion growers and merchants from Roscoff and Santec who, from the 19th century to the middle of the 20th century, left, from July to December, to the United Kingdom, on the other side of the Channel, to sell their onions.

The construction of Notre-Dame de Croaz-Batz was undertaken around 1520, on land taken from the sea, a stone’s throw from the “cross of the pier of the Ile de Batz”, at the initiative of the shipowners of the cited, despite the reluctance of the Bishop of Saint-Pol. HJLepetit photos (click on the image to enlarge it)

Let’s share our September escapades !

We visited the Saint-Jacques de Locquirec church

Locquirec is a small seaside town where we like to spend time with family or recharge our batteries for a weekend.
Near the port, in the heart of the village, the Saint-Jacques church owes its name to Saint-Kirec, a Breton monk, disciple of Saint-Tugdual*, bishop of Tréguier who came here to establish his monastery in the 6th century.
The vaults painted by Cléran in 1712 were restored in 2011/2012. 
Multiple angels are seen moving through the clouds, many playing trumpets and worshiping angels.
Note on the main altar, in a protective frame, a 15th century altarpiece of the Passion which retraces the Stations of the Cross.

We would like to warmly thank Mr Bernard Moullecqui who accompanied us on our visit to the premises.

*In the 6th century, the Welsh monk Tugdual anchored in Val Trécor. He founded a monastery which gave birth to Tréguier, a town that was both land-based, maritime and religious. Consecrated bishop, Tugdual became one of the seven holy founders of Brittany.

The Saint-Jacques church was classified by the historic monuments services among the remarkable works of Finistère on March 27, 1914. Photos HJLepetit (click on the image to enlarge it)

Let’s share our August escapades !

We visited in the Cyclades, the churches and monasteries of Sifnos

The numerous churches and monasteries of Sifnos are closely
linked to the history, architectural tradition and social
and religious life of the island.
From a historical point of view, the Sifniots took advantage
of the privileges granted to them by the Turkish sultans in terms  of religious freedom.
Thus in 1646 the Archbishopric of Sifnos was founded which,
in addition to Sifnos, included the islands of Amorgos, Anafi,
Astypalaia, Iraklia, los, Mykonos, Serifos, Sikinos and Folegandros.
Subsequently, the Sifniots got into the habit of bequeathing their
property to churches and monasteries and taking charge of various
obligations, such as the celebration of ceremonies (mainly festivals).

Many of the churches and monasteries of Sifnos are classified as historical monuments and are of great religious and architectural interest. Ecclesiastical committees and “fraternities” are responsible for their maintenance, with admirable perseverance and often voluntary work, although some of these buildings are often located in places inaccessible to motorized vehicles.
The number of churches and monasteries that exist in Sifnos testifies to the religious tradition of the inhabitants. Compared to the total area of ​​the island, this number of 237 is the highest in all the Cyclades.

At the end of a steep path, at the bend of a winding road or in the middle of a grove of olive trees, the contemplation of these religious buildings is each time an explosion of light.
HJLepetit photos (click on the image to enlarge it)