Pipedreams, Southern France, Day 10

Wednesday, May 19 – the next-to-last day of the tour. We traveled by bus to several towns around Toulouse.

Cathedral Saint-Alain: simple, bold exterior

 

The first stop was Lavaur, where we visited the Cathedral Saint-Alain, an impressive, southern gothic structure (13th – 16^th centuries) set in a broad green lawn with formal gardens. The interior was probably the most elaborately decorated of those I have seen: painted walls, elaborate ceiling decorations, pulpit highlighted with gold leaf, and marble panels.

Gilded organ loft, Saint-Alain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrrYnp7iH1E

 

 

 

 

The great organ was a Cavaille-Coll, restored in the late 20^th century. It has a good, powerful sound. The choir organ has not been renovated and doesn’t work.



Eglise Saint-Francois, shops abut the exterior

Also in the town of Lavaur was the Eglise Saint-Francois, again constructed between the 13^th and 16^th centuries. Dwellings and shops crowded its walls from all sides.

 

 

Eglise Saint-Francois with
elaborate internal painted arches
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xp907VqGmaU

 

 

Internally, it seemed (to me) too elaborate for a Franciscan church, St. Francis being the model (next to Jesus) of unpretentious simplicity.

The organ, built by Puget in the late 19^th century, was restored early this century. The organ had a nice, light tone that was marred, particularly in softer sections, by the sound of nearby construction.

Eglise Saint-Martin, beautifully painted interior

After lunch, we visited Castelnau d’Estretefonds and the Eglise Saint-Martin. The church dates from the 16^th century, but the beautifully preserved, painted interior was accomplished during the late 19^th century.  The organ is a Cavaille-Coll finished in the late 19^th century and recently restored. The organ had a nice sound, with unusual bell tones.

Eglise Saint Michael, simple exterior

Our final stop of the day was Verdun-sur-Garonne, where we visited the Eglise Saint-Michel.

 

 

Eglise Saint-Michael, beautifully painted interior
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkqnN_ECNBA

 

The painted interior is a stunning blue with religious images in the spandrels of ceiling arches. An almost life-sized statue of St. Michael was killing a dragon (I thought it was St. George who killed the dragon).The organ was a 18^th baroque century baroque jewel by J.-F. Lepine, restored in the 20^th century, is nearly in the same condition as when it was built.