Church of Saint-Christophe, Léoville, a photo from Poitou-Charentes, West

Photographer's Note

The picture is a stitch of three vertical images.

The parish church of Saint-Christophe, Léoville, in the diocese of the bishop of Saintes, is located in the centre of village, surrounded by a grassy esplanade that was the former cemetery. The main part of the building consisting of single nave was constructed in the second half of the twelfth century. It was 8 metres wide by 32 metres long, with a west front featuring blind arches and a flat chevet. In the thirteenth century, the western portal was rebuilt in the style of the day and the nave received its first rib vaults.

In the fifteenth century, a Gothic bell and enclosed porch was built in front of the nave. This is flanked by two chapels constructed in front of the Romanesque façade, lengthening the church some five meters. Around the gateway, an almost illegible inscription says in French: "The French recognize the existence of a supreme being and the immortality of the soul."

The above information about the church is extracted and freely translated from an article on the Churches in Charente-Maritime web site. French speakers who wish to read the full article can do so by clicking here.

Léoville is a commune in the Charente-Maritime department in the Poitou-Charentes region in south-western France. The village lies some 12 kilometres south-east of the sous-prefecture town of Jonzac at an altitude of 40 metres,

The village lies on the left bank of the Lariat, tributary of the Seugne. In 2006, the estimated population of the commune was 309. Its inhabitants are known as "Léovillois". In the 19th century, it was noted for the production of clogs and walnut oil.

Buin, papagolf21, Budapestman, diomed, csabagaba, chinchini, jlbrthnn, asajernigan, saxo042, subhendu_bagchi, ChrisJ, Graal, Muse, Didi, bhaskarc has marked this note useful

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Buin (42580) 2010-02-07 0:46

Good morning Stephen, neighbour! ;-))
Here you show us a truly massive building - like built for eternity - and a venerable one. The favourable light here creates a somehow three-dimensional effect. Perhaps it's not an elegant beauty - but it is a personality! This coat of arms at the monument is a nice detail here.
Greetings from cold and grey Westphalia!
Frank

lousat (139926) 2010-02-07 1:21

Hi Steph,a very interesting example of architechture taken whit the best point of view to understand perfectly so.Great light and top quality of sharpness and colors.Thanks for share,have a nice Sunday,LUCIANO

delpeoples (60342) 2010-02-07 1:23

Hi Stephen, you've been stitching away again I see. Great result. I like the close-up, the sharpness is excellent, with nice soft colours and good light management. Thanks for sharing enjoy your Sunday, Lisa

papagolf21 (152607) 2010-02-07 1:59

Bonjour, cher Stephen,
L'assemblage des trois photographies est parfait.
Nous bénéficions ainsi d'une magnifique vue d'une église romane dans toute sa splendeur. Belle architecture pourvue de larges contreforts et d'une disposition architecturale peu classique.
Un trésor fort bien présenté.
Amitiés.
Philippe
P.S. : Un grand merci pour lien très intéressant

npecanhuk (79329) 2010-02-07 2:47

Hello Stephen!
Beautiful church and attractive picture!
Sharpness, exposure, colors, pov and composition are all excellent!
TFS - congratulations!
Kind regards,
Neyvan

Budapestman (82620) 2010-02-07 2:54

Hi Stephen,
a superb architectural photo once more with beautiful composition, the colours and lights are very nice, the POV is attractive, the realization is excellent (from three images), Tfs! Have a nice Sunday!
George

Nicou (193814) 2010-02-07 3:18

Hello,

merveilleus papofolfade, quelc adrage et captag eusr cette églsie, avec la colonne, le mémorial et l'écusson coloré, une totale pureté dans le tons un ciel limpide, merveilleux.

bravo et amitié
Nicou

TOMLEVMB (2401) 2010-02-07 3:33

Hi Stephen,
Nice and perhaps typical church architecture. Good composition over the entire image. Coverage is nothing disturbed, I think, therefore no elements of contemporary civilization. Very good picture.
Tomas

diomed (13926) 2010-02-07 3:35

Hi Stephen,
very interesting architecture with lovely grey tones captured with the best POV: a lovely perspective with a great play of lights and shadows shows well the full and the empty. NIce sky, high quality of sharpeness. TFS
NIce Sunday
Antonio

csabagaba (7018) 2010-02-07 3:41

Hey Stephen!
Interesting to compare the German and fancia Romanesque churches. This is a fortified church, a very massive, plain walls, low-low height suitable for protection. The supporting walls, in architectural feature is almost only fragments. Simple, impressive building. The monument in the foreground, much to the picture. The photos are technically all right.
Regards
Csaba

chinchini (31529) 2010-02-07 3:44

Hello Stephen,
Encore une fois, une très belle Papagolfade avec cette massive église paroissiale de Léoville. L'éclairage est au top, te permettant une image nette et lumineuse. Cadrage parfait avec l'inclusion du Monument-aux-morts.
Excellent dimanche mon Ami
Pierre

jlbrthnn (76043) 2010-02-07 5:49

Bonjour Stephen,
je reconnais la lumière et les pierres calcaires des Charentes. Tu as fait d'une pierre deux coups avec l'église et le monument aux morts. L'aspect roman massif et bas, me plaît bien. Excellente image nette et naturelle. Bravo.
Bon dimanche
Cordialement
Joël

Silvio1953 (222811) 2010-02-07 6:15

Ciao Stephen, great POV on splendid church, beautiful composition, wonderful light and colors, very well done, have a good Sunday, ciao Silvio

asajernigan (21427) 2010-02-07 6:29

Stephen,
This is a well composed shot of this nice church. The angle of the shot works well giving the photo a sense of depth and direction. The lighting and colors are great as is the photo's sharpness.
TFS,
Asa

saxo042 (38078) 2010-02-07 7:34

Hi Stephen,
A fine POV of this beautiful church and a special thank for the interesting note. I like the very soft and very "laid-back" colours and only a small red spot as an accent.
Kind regards
Gunnar

alin-m (3716) 2010-02-07 8:24

Hi Stephen.
Very good capture of this interesting church.
Good details and colors in yours photo.Congratulations.
Best greetings.Alin.

Fis2 (171849) 2010-02-07 8:47

Witaj Stephen!
A very curious church.
Good frame and perspective.
I like the light and shadow.
Well done.
Have a nice week.
Krzysztof

amaryllis (37047) 2010-02-07 10:01

Bonjour Stephen
Comme toujours tes cadrages des églises est vraiment celui qui correspond à la bonne prise de vue, avec angle , calvaire, personne en plus, ni voiture et une belle architecture romane( et l'intérieur?)
belle présentation dominicale
juliette

romalek (3126) 2010-02-07 10:43

Hi
Very nice architecture, good staff and very nice colors and light
regards
Roman

subhendu_bagchi (26091) 2010-02-07 19:38

Hi Stephen,
nice church and you have composed the shot beautifully with nice light and colours. The long shadows are nicely fitted to your compo. Very well captured shot. Tfs.
Have a nice week.
Subhendu

mauro61 (53429) 2010-02-07 22:47

ciao Stephen,
imponente questa architettura che hai ripreso con un ottimo POV e una perfett gestione della luce
saluti
maurizio

rodgerg (55767) 2010-02-08 1:49

Hello Stephen,

Une autre bellé glise très bien présentée. Une image très sobre qui correspond bien à la belle sobriété de l'édifice. POV légèrement oblique bien choisi pour donner de la profondeur à l'iamhe. Cadrage idéal et évidemment un magnifique ciel bleu.
Bonne semaine,
Roger

ChrisJ (172378) 2010-02-08 3:13

Hi Stephen

My namesake! Excellent sharpness, graphism & punchy light contrasts, with a good angled pov, & superb colour & composition. Tfs!

Graal (103040) 2010-02-08 23:05

Hi Stephen,
an interesting architecture of church and informations in note. Good shot. Well done photo.
Gr., Aleksander

Muse (35030) 2010-02-09 1:54

Hi Stephen
Très jolie église bien mise en valeur par ce cadrage.
Belle lumière et un agréable ciel.
Excellente journée
Denise

Didi (61589) 2010-02-14 8:05

Hello Stephen
Nice point of view on the church.
You were lucky for these nice lights.
I have done a WS just for some adjustments.
Best regards

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