Photos

July 27, 2009
Saint-Simon 150215 15130
Cantal Auvergne
44.962 2.492 680 m

Hungary and French history, Saint-Simon. (4 images).

The church Saint-Sigismond, and tower Saint-Géraud. 2 images.
Frescos in aspe of the church.

_The Saint-Sigismond church of the 12th century, restored and rebuilt at the 19th 20th centuries, with re-employment of Romanesque elements. Decorated with FRESCOS of the 21st century.

_The tower Saint-Géraud, old tower of watch and refuge to the Middle Ages, whose ground floor is used as side chapel with the Saint-Simon church, and of bell-tower sheltering a bronze bell of 1535 and two bronze bells of 1816.
This 22 m height square tower, of three stages, which belonged towers depending on the abbey on Aurillac, one of the keeps is best preserved Romanesque time in High-Auvergne.

_Sully, lime planted around 1600 on order of Maximilien de Béthune, duke of Sully, (1559-1641), minister of Henri IV, king of France, (1553-1610).

HISTORY

_GERBERT, born in 938, in the village of Belliac, on the current commune of Saint-Simon, was the first French pope, under the name of SYLVESTRE II from 999 to 1003, the pope of the "An Mille".
Traveller and scholar, considered as the man more cultivated of his time, it knew the geometry, mechanics, astronomy, the music. He travelled much and had an important influence in Europe, where he supported the accession to the throne of Hugues Capet, (born towards 940, dead on October 24th, king of the Francs from 987 to 996), became archbishop of Rheims then of Ravenne, and became pope into 999 thanks to the support of its pupil and friend the Germanic emperor Otton III.
It is him which while giving the “Holy one crowns” with the King of HUNGARY, ETIENNE, is at the origin of the creation of the Hungarian nation.
Etienne 1st of Hungary, first king de Hongrie of the dynasty arpadienne, is the founder of the kingdom of Hungary.

_The President of the Republic of HUNGARY came in 2001 to Saint-Simon, to pay homage to Sylvestre II.
The Hungarian painter GABOR SZINTE, professor in the Art schools of Budapest, realized in the Saint-Sigismond church, frescos to the inaugurated bright colors June 25th, 2005.
Frescos in twelve parts, (eights in the central nave, one on the apse, one on the left vault, two on the right vault, measuring 2.80 meters, are with 5.50 meters above ground, that of the apse occupying 1/4 of sphere).
The frescos describe the life of Gerbert: its childhood around Aurillac, its studies, the education which it gave to the Germanic emperors, its nominations of archbishops then of pope, finally the crowning of Etienne of Hungary.

_938, Birth of Gerbert, son of shepherds, in the village of Belliac, on the current commune of Saint-Simon.
_Monk of the Benedictine abbey Saint-Géraud of Aurillac.
_967 and 970, studies in Spain, in the county of Barcelona, at the cultural points between Europe and the Arab world. Philosopher and mathematician, it supports the introduction and the rise of the Arab numerals in Occident.
_approximately 971, Gerbert is teacher of Otton II in Magdeburg, son of Otton the Large one, emperor of Occident.
_982, Gerbert d' Aurillac becomes abbot of Bobbio, at the bottom of the Apennines.
_987, Gerbert is present at the crowning of Hugues Capet, the first sovereign of the dynasty capétienne.
_991, Gerbert becomes bishop of Rheims.
_998, Gerbert is elected bishop of Ravenne.
_999, Gerbert is named pope.
_1000, Gerbert gives to a Hungarian delegation, the “holy one crowns”, for the crowning of Etienne of Hungary in Esztergom.
_1003, It dies.

Saint-Simon is a french commune, located in the department of the Cantal of the Auvergne area, populated of 1018 Saint-Simonians in 1999, divided out of 27 km², that is to say 38 hab./km².

The jordane river crosses Saint-Simon, passing under a bridge of the 12th century.
The commune is made up of the hamlets of Belliac, Boussac, Lasvergnes, Rouffiac, SSaint-Jean-de-Dône, and Oyez.