149 Toulouse, France, Saint Saturnin Basilica, bits of 50% of all apostles.

Partly mythical saint, first bishop of Toulouse back in the day, known in French as Saint Sernin. He was sent out to evangelize Gaul in the third century but ended up executed by being dragged around by a bull.

The basilica was originally built in the 11th century to house the remains of said martyr, and a lot of the 11th century building is still standing. It was besieged by protestants in the 16th century, and damaged in the French Revolution.

Paintings include a rare one of the Virgin Mary taking communion. There are resurrection frescoes and Christ the King bas reliefs.

Today, it is the most important religious building in the city, a fine example of romanesque architecture and actually has relics of fifty per cent of Jesus’s  apostles. Since 1251 it holds a thorn which we are told comes from your original crown of thorns.

Also some cool collection boxes, and a common or garden pulpit.

I didn’t manage to get good photographs of the high altar and its canopy thingy, which shows the apotheosis of Saint Saturnin because quite a large part of the church was reserved for prayer. Which is fair enough I guess, because if noone had been praying back then we wouldn’t have got no basilica.

 




















































 

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