The Golden Age of Cathedral Building

“One needs to be eight centuries old to know what this mass of encrusted architecture meant to its builders,”

Henry Adams in his book Mont-Saint-Michel and Chartres.
Nave

I think that is true. When standing in the abbey and looking up at the achingly beautiful nave with its graceful, thin lines that come together so perfectly, or the leaded glass and the exquisite windows lining the rooms, I don’t understand what I am looking at. I stand there and look without seeing and regret that. If only someone from the past could appear and help me. It was faith, hope, and conviction that built the most beautiful structure that they could conceive. The key word is conviction. I admire that. These ancient houses of God are monuments to their absolute recognition of something true. This is fundamental for people to have. Because those who lack conviction are the most vulnerable to manipulation. And then it’s chains, not freedom.

On the Rocks at Mont Saint Michel

An abbey is a church attached to a monastery. How they built anything on that granite hundreds of years ago without modern equipment is noteworthy. I wish I could’ve been there. Everything was brought by ships and then hauled up by ropes.

Celtic Shapes

The abbey was built during the 12th century, a golden time for churches and cathedrals. It was a golden time because there had been a big increase in the population and wealth of Europe. Unfortunately, two hundred years later, Europe would weather a dramatic decrease in population because of the Black Death. It was the most fatal pandemic ever recorded in human history and it changed everything.

Pillars in the Knights’ Room

Pillars

The building of Notre Dame also started in the 12th century. It usually took 50 and more years to complete the project. One of Ken Follet’s most popular books is “The Pillars of the Earth”. It is a fictional story about medieval architecture and the building of a cathedral in the 12th century. I highly recommend it.

The Abbey Cathedral of Mont Saint Michel

Choir on Mont Saint Michel


We could not enter the upper reaches of the abbey because the monks and nuns live and work there. That is in fact the very definition of an abbey: a building that houses a monastic community of monks or nuns.

Leaded Glass Window


It’s like a maze. It’s confusing, haunting, and full of heavy doors, iron pillars, halls, walls, and steps.


Leaded glass window.

I was also surprised at the preponderance of Celtic symbols on the leaded glass and carved stone.

There is new evidence to suggest that the Celts moved up and down the coast of Europe by ship. They spread their culture, art, and fashion all along the western seaboard. One of the things that they are noted for is colorful wool textiles and it is believed that the Celts were the first Europeans to wear pants.

Window in abbey.

Tombelaine

This is a 150-foot-long piece of granite. It is about 2 miles from Mont Saint Michel. You can walk there if you beat the tide. It is quicksand all the way but if you just keep moving you won’t get sucked in. And if you do get sucked in it will only be to your waist, unless you are extremely short.

Small island next to MSM

There were renovations going on. The work was being conducted by skilled craftsmen. They also renovated the causeway, so people could cross unimpeded by the tides.

Renovation on Mont Saint Michel

A Pretty Picture of the Rock

Path around MSM

More Pretty Pictures

Categories: Europe

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