The Chapel of The Holy Cross (12th Century)
The Chapel of the Holy Cross (French: Chapelle de Sainte-Croix) was built to contain the most valuable relic in the Abbey, a piece of the True Cross. It is located a few hundred meters from the Abbey Church, outside the monastery walls, and is in the shape of a cross, with a vestibule on the north side, and four semicircular apses with semicircular domes around a square bay with a cloister vault. The vault is crowned by a perfect stone square, topped by triangular pediments and a small tower. The cornices and pediments are decorated with dentils. The building, with its dignity, simplicity, symmetry and perfect craftsmanship, is considered a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture.
Read more about this topic: Montmajour Abbey
Famous quotes containing the words chapel, holy and/or cross:
“One thing’s certain. With a name like Abrahams, he won’t be in the chapel choir, now will he?”
—Colin Welland (b. 1934)
“and the oxen near
The worn foundations of their resting-place,
The holy manger where their bed is corn
And holly torn for Christmas. If they die,
As Jesus, in the harness, who will mourn?
Lamb of the shepherds, Child, how still you lie.”
—Robert Lowell (1917–1977)
“Expecting me to grovel,
she carefully covers both feet
with the hem of her skirt.
She pretends to hide
a coming smile
and won’t look straight at me.
When I talk to her,
she chats with her friend
in cross tones.
Even this slim girl’s rising anger
delights me,
let alone her deep love.”
—Amaru (c. seventh century A.D.)