Saint Sernin Basilica | Toulouse, France

[Matthieu]

The Saint Sernin Basilica doesn't seem big. But it's old, built in the XIth century. And even if not impressive today, it's the the biggest pure romanesque church. All bigger churchs are made of different styles, even those that are romanesque on the outside, are using different ways of buildings, and so, are younger. It's on the pilgrimage of Santiago de Compostella.

Originaly, the building should had 3 bell towers, but only one was built. It is named after Saint Saturininus who was martyred in Toulouse, it evolved to Sant Sarnin in the Occitan language and finally to Saint Sernin in French.

Of all French church, it's the one that has the largest collection of relics. Yet, they are hard to see and can't be taken in picture.

It's 65m tall only. Yet, one must consider the age of the building. The inside seems large, because of the style (pure) and the size of the building (even if smaller than the most recent churchs).

The church itself as a very sad history, it was the siege of the inquisition in the middle ages. During the albigensian crusade, Simon de Montfort (there has been several Simon de Montfort) died a few street away almost at its gates during the siege of Toulouse to eradicate the Cathars. Many people were burned alive right in front of this church.


It might seem outdated to people now, but it's a very impressive building if we consider both the size and the building methods that were used.

All pictures by me.


http://premium.uploadit.org/LeChacal/Basilique_Saint_Sernin01.jpg

http://premium.uploadit.org/LeChacal/Basilique_Saint_Sernin02.JPG

http://premium.uploadit.org/LeChacal/Basilique_Saint_Sernin03.JPG

http://premium.uploadit.org/LeChacal/Basilique_Saint_Sernin04.JPG

http://premium.uploadit.org/LeChacal/Basilique_Saint_Sernin05.JPG

http://premium.uploadit.org/LeChacal/Basilique_Saint_Sernin06.jpg

http://premium.uploadit.org/LeChacal/Basilique_Saint_Sernin07.jpg

http://premium.uploadit.org/LeChacal/Basilique_Saint_Sernin08.JPG

http://premium.uploadit.org/LeChacal/Basilique_Saint_Sernin09.JPG

http://premium.uploadit.org/LeChacal/Basilique_Saint_Sernin10.JPG

http://premium.uploadit.org/LeChacal/Basilique_Saint_Sernin11.JPG

http://premium.uploadit.org/LeChacal/Basilique_Saint_Sernin12.JPG

[Matthieu]

8.5 to me, normaly I'm not a fan of Romanesque architecture because they are small and simple. But this one is very orginal and as a style of its own.

More pictures but not by me and taken on images.google.com

http://www.cict.fr/toulouse/images/StSerninCE.JPG

http://www.lsp.ups-tlse.fr/Chafai/Images/saint-sernin.jpg

http://toulousains.free.fr/Photos/Pages_Photos/Centre_Ville/Grandes_Photos/St%20Sernin%20Vue%20A%E9rienne.jpg

[Kampflamm]

It looks pretty interesting although I prefer gothic cathedrals. It still gets a 9.

[Fabb]

It's fantastic.
I enjoyed visiting it several times.

[Matthieu]

Looking at it, how can one imagine the awfull things that happened there. The most amazing thing is it survived nearly 1000 years and is almost intact.

[Phobos]

It's a pure romanesque church.
9,5/10

[dumatod]

Wonderful! :eek: :eek: :eek:
Majestic beauty!
I like your introduction of building

10/10!

http://premium.uploadit.org/LeChacal/Basilique_Saint_Sernin06.jpg

[Ellatur]

once again, the relicss! 10

[Matthieu]

http://users.uj.edu.pl/~uogierli/france/04.jpg

http://users.uj.edu.pl/~uogierli/france/05.jpg

http://users.uj.edu.pl/~uogierli/france/06.jpg

[waterloo]

amazing~10/10

[Fabio]

9/10

nice church

[Sinjin P.]

9.5/10 ;) :) ;) :)

[Animo]

8/10

[forvine]

8.5/10

[Reflex]

8.5/10.

[El_Greco]

9/10

[Mosaic]

8.5/10

[gutooo]

9.5/10

[delmaule]

9/10

[W!CKED]

9.5/10

[marpa]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Saint-Sernin-Basilica-Rear-01-2006.jpg/430px-Saint-Sernin-Basilica-Rear-01-2006.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/37/Toulouse_Saint_Sernin_Clocher_Wikipedia.jpg
wikipedia.org (http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilique_Saint-Sernin_de_Toulouse)

8,5/10

[Dreamlıneя]

10/10

[billyandmandy]

9/10

[Kelsen]

9/10

[Lor86MI]

7/10, it's not so fantastic

[Popiel]

8.5/10

[LMCA1990]

8/10 - Nice church. The tower's the best part.

[Sbz2ifc]

6.5/10

[_zner_]

9.5 :D

[Nikkodemo]

:eek:

9/10

[Fundador]

9/10:)

[henry hill]

8,5/10

[tonyssa]

10/10

[ZZ-II]

9/10

[Jan Del Castillo]

9. Very good. Regards.

[heroico]

9.5/10