Download or read book Romanesque Churches of the Loire and Western France written by Michael D. Costen and published by . This book was released on 2006-07 with total page 194 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The dazzling flowering of church building in western France during the 11th & 12th cent. took place against a background of profound social change & incessant political upheaval & warfare. The regions covered here are the dioceses of Angers, Poitiers, Angouleme, Tours & Saintes. Against the political background of the rise of the feudal nobility & the spread of castles, this book looks at the reorganization of the dioceses & the foundation of the monasteries, & at the local patronage & parochial system which led to the building of churches. With over 100 plans & specially taken color & b&w photos, the authors examine the architectural styles, their sculpture, decoration & painting. A Gazetteer lists the major Romanesque monuments of the region.