CONQUES : to visit the golden treasure
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The golden treasure
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We can reach the treasure through the
cloister
and the old monks' refectory. It holds a prestigious collection of religious gold-plate.
In the Christendom of the Middle Ages, the cult of
relics
gave a decisive impetus to gold-plate and to its annexes, jewelling and enamel work. Thus
such churchs' treasures developed and brought fame to cathedrals or great medieval
abbey-churchs... Unfortunately, because of their fragility and the covetousness they
continually inspired, few reliquaries or sacred objects succeeded in travelling down the
ages without mishap. It is the unique privilege for Saint Foy of Conques to have succeeded
in holding its thousand-year-old treasure by the side of the
roman abbey-church,
as a reflection of its past greatness.
Everything in Conques comes from
relics
embedded into gold or silver and in the first place from Saint Foy ones. It is according to
them that the present
roman basilica
was built like a grandiose casket around the
statue-reliquary of Saint Foy
in majesty on her throne.
Saint Foy in golden majesty
Charlemagne's "A"
Pépin's shrine
Bégon's lantern
Reliquary of pope Pascal II
Arm of Saint Georges
processional cross
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Texts from Jean-Claude FAU
Guide Bleu - Midi Pyrénées
Translation from
Valérie FABRE
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