The Original Roman Lego Sets Circa 100AD
Today allow me to take you around The Basilica of Saint Just in Valcabrere.
A place of infinite speculation and home to a very cool recycling center.
Originally the site of A Roman Necropolis nearly 2000 years ago, that was built upon and repurposed by the Church in the late 12th or early 13th century.
To be completely honest I think the Scholars are just having fun guessing.
Its A Unesco world heritage site located in the southwest of France.
At the front gates you are greeted by some impressive carved pillars and A plaque (Recycled Grave stone) written in Latin.
The Plaque itself Reads as follows.
Caius Julius Atticus - freed from Eros, Alive
Julia Salviola freed from Eros - deceased
Caius Julius Victor son of Atticus deceased at 18 years old
By all accounts It dates from around the 1st Century and was most likely Commissioned by the surviving man Caius Julius Atticus for his lost Son and Wife.
The 2 adults were both former slaves judging by the text. As the Latin terms used are the words used in referring to freed slaves. I.E. The Freed from Eros bit.
Libertus Atticus
Obita Ivlia Erotis Liberta
Salviola
That bit there Libertus Atticus, or Freedman Atticus in context. Same thing applies to his missus.
Romans loved Abbreviations.
Sorry got side tracked there
Once you get inside, (Entry is 3 euros per adult, kids under 10 are free. So have your change ready) You are greeted with this magnificent example of dark ages Fabricobble.
Around the front courtyard is the cemetary.
The newer graves are on your left... ( As you can see above, nice and shiny marble)
And the older ones are on your right.
I guess we will take a tour of the outside of the building first , you know to get that 3 bucks worth.
The outside is mostly pretty plain. Buttresses and architecture typical of the 12th century, small windows and with all the walls being fairly square. Not much to break up the stark lines here.
In the back, There are original 1st - 4th Century Sarcophagus style Caskets just scattered about. Apparently most of the sarcophaguses that would have been here are reused in the walls of the Basilica.
At this stage its a great time to tell your kids if you brought them with you, that there are no skeletons inside. Otherwise you will be spending some of your visit pulling the little buggers away from them...
Don't ask.
Once you get around the back of the building it suddenly gets a wee bit fancier. The big bell tower is apparently an add on from the 15th century, and what an add on it is.
Ok lets head back to the front.
The entrance is elaborately carved to depict Saint Stephen and Saint Just on one side and Saint Shepherd and Saint Helena on the other, all standing next to the door. Just chillin for the last 800 years or so.
The detailing of everything everywhere you look is actually incredible.
But on closer inspection not all is holy and innocent.
Is it just me...
Or are those dudes up there lugging some severed heads to God?
At least their buddies next door are taking some fruit and veg, I know which one I would prefer.
There's A carved plaque next to the statues... Which I just can't even begin to read... Onwards.
At least the dudes up on top here appear to be peaceful, leaving the killing to their friends next door.
On the inside the whole building seems to suddenly take a shift in the atmosphere. Its cool and solemn, and after your eyes start to adjust the Impact is pretty Impressive.
Large Vaulted ceilings and everywhere the eye looks something grabs your attention.
Carved Stone pillars and ancient remnants on every available surface.
This giant Organ was commissioned in 1980,by the committee Festival du Comminges.
Not as old as it looks eh?
Still pretty damn impressive tho.
The building seems to have been designed so that from every place you can stand, it frames a different focal point. Each Area is lined by large pillars and arches.
This place has a bit of everything-
From Art and Antique paintings
To Small areas for contemplation.
They crammed a great deal of interest into one fairly small building.
Sadly the bell tower is closed. I'd love to get up there to have a look.
The last Hunchback obviously didn't keep the stairs maintained.
Oooooo Shiny...
Another thing to keep in mind when you are here with the family, is Kids try to touch everything...
Including priceless artefacts.
Ok Ok I'm Rambling, Hold on.
Now I'm going to keep my mouth shut for a minute and hit you with a wall of photos.
Ready?
Always impresses me how carved stone can look so fragile.
Back to the guided tour.
I really want to go up those stairs.... Damn you Quasimodo why didn't you get maintenance in. If I didn't have the boy with me I don't think I would have been able to resist trying to have a peak.
After all what's the worst that could happen?
One of the last remaining pieces of painted plasterwork, is in this archway. Which gives an idea how ornate the walls would have been a few hundred years back.
Literally everywhere you look are signs of salvaged Roman buildings and detailing. Mostly from the nearby Roman Settlement of Lugdunum Convenarum and the original Necropolis.
These all would have been hidden by plaster and painted with depictions of saints and geometric designs originally.
This old painted bit of plaster has even kept faint outlines of the original image.
But In my own opinion I prefer seeing the bones of this old building. All the recycled Roman stone and building materials give it a really unique feel. No matter where you look you see faint carvings, details and pieces of history.
The works of art scattered about make you feel like you are in an Art gallery, without subtracting from the overall Recycled appearance of the building.
But every time I hear a loud noise...
I make sure the lad aint far from me.
Because I am pretty sure this aint the kinda place where - You bend it you mend it would fly...
Thanks for joining me on this brief stop at the Basillica of Saint Just, One of the stops along the Chemins de Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle a Pilgrimage route.
It has a huge amount to offer in such a small area.
The site is rife with history and finds with signs of Continuous Inhabitation for well over 2000 years.
Roman artefacts and early Christian Iconography in a Happy Mix.
And lets be fair how many other places can you see over 2 Millenia worth of unique and mismatched Stone Carvings in a single wall.
Simply put, This is one beautiful clusterfuck of a building.
All Photos taken by me on My Chinesium Phone A Xiamoi Mi 11 lite
23 days done- so close yet so far away...
I decided I'm going to have a bit of fun on this 30 posts in 30 days. I'm going to do a post 31, and a giveaway on the 31st post, cause some months have 31 days or so I've been told.
In spite of my rough and ready appearance I'm an Antique dealer I know I already said it.
So it'll probably be old shit in your mailbox.
Stay tuned and engage down below . For every post from day 1 if you comment on it you will get one entry and a chance to win.
Then at the end of the 30 posts, on day 31 There will be a random raffle you will get a chance to win....
Really cool old shit.