What Did the Pilgrims Learn: A Study of the 12th Century Pilgrimage Churches Along the Le Puy Route in France.

Emma Newman
Trinity College Dublin
Department of History of Art and Architecture
2014
BA

Subject: Architecture and Sculpture
Country: France
Period: 12th Century

10,000 words

This theses is concerned with the pilgrimage route of the Via Podiensis to Santiago de Compostela in Spain which began at the city of Le-Puyen- Velay in France. The Cathedral Notre Dame-le-Puy was the first cathedral along the route chosen by pilgrims who followed the route to Santiago de Compostela. Other pilgrimage sites such as the abbey churches of St Foy at Conques and St Pierre de Moissac are case studies in this thesis. Conques in particular, was among the most popular shrines in 12th century France and was a much favoured destinations of pilgrims. It had a number of religuaries and an important tympanum depicting the Last Judgement. In terms of religious symbolism and narrative, both Conques and Moissac demonstrate the role of art during this period as the ‘bible for the illiterate’.

Irish Georgian Society

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What Did the Pilgrims Learn: A Study of the 12th Century Pilgrimage Churches Along the Le Puy Route in France.