For the last couple of days, I am a “miauletou”*. You could not make it up. I gather that the name may refer to the meows of the “choucas”, the small crows that used to be kept in the belfry of the Collegiate Church of Saint-Léonard de Noblat in the Middle Ages. Ladies are referred to as “miauletouses”.
Having said that, it is not surprising that the church should be at the center of the attentions on the “miauletoux”: it is superb. I could spend hours photographing it under every angle and different times of the day.
This church, built in between the 11th and the 12th century is a pure masterpiece of Romanesque art, exceptionally well-preserved for a building that is 1,000 years-old. I am deeply moved by this combination of simplicity and grandeur; it is akin to Bach’s music.
But it is not only the church that deserves a visit. The whole village radiates a rather incredible harmony; I never tire of it.
On each street you will discover new houses, one more beautiful that the other. In the image of the church, there is nothing flashy about them; again, harmony and simplicity dominate; as in this door:
50 yards down the street:
A bit further down:
And I could go on for a long time…
I have spent the last week working non-stop on decorating my apartment. It is taking longer than I expected but it is worth it.
Pictures will follow…
*Ed. Note: “mialetou” is the name given to inhabitants of the St Leonard de Noblat, in the province of Limousin.
