Sologne An arid plain separated by the valleys of the Cher and the Indre
Gatinais A barren country northeast of Sologne
Saintonge Slightly mountainous and covered with vineyards--also in parts partaking of the characteristics of the _Landes_
Angoumois A hilly country covered with a growth of vines
Perigord An _ensemble_ of diverse regions, often hilly, but covered with a luxuriant forest growth
Bordelais (Comprising Blayais, Fronsadais, Libournais, Entre-deux-mers, Medoc, and Bazadais.) The vine-lands of the Garonne, La Gironde, and La Dordogne
Dauphine Another land of mountains and valleys. It is crossed by numbers of ranges and distinct peaks. The princ.i.p.al subdivisions are Viennois, Royonnais Vercors, Trieves, Devoluy, Oisons, Graisivaudan, Chartreuse, Queyras ValG.o.demar, Champsaur.
Provence A region of fertile plains dominated by volcanic rocks and mountains. It contains also the great pebbly plain in the extreme southwest known as the Crau
Camargue The region of the Rhone delta
Languedoc Properly the belt of plains situated between the foot of the Cevennes and the borders of the Mediterranean
Rousillon The region between the peaks of the Corbiere and the Albere mountain chain. The population was originally pure Catalan
Lauragais A stony plateau with red earth deposited in former times by the glaciers of the Pyrenees
Albigeois A rolling and fertile country
Toulousain A plain well watered by the Garonne and the Ariege
Comminges The lofty Pyrenean valleys of the Garonne basin
VIII
[Ill.u.s.tration: _Sketch map of the bishoprics and archbishoprics of the south of France at the present day_]
IX
_Dimensions and Chronology_
CATHEDRALE D"AGDE
Bishopric founded, Vth century Bishopric suppressed, 1790 Primitive church consecrated, VIIth century Main body of present cathedral, XIth to XIIth centuries
ST. CAPRIAS D"AGEN
[Ill.u.s.tration]
Former cathedral of St. Etienne, destroyed at the Revolution, 1790 Apse and transepts of St. Caprias, XIth century Width of nave, 55 feet
ST. JEAN BAPTISTE D"AIRE
Cathedral begun, XIIIth century
ST. SAVEUR D"AIX
[Ill.u.s.tration]
Eglise St. Jean de Malte, XIVth century Remains of a former St. Saveur"s, XIth century Choir, XIIIth century Choir elaborated, XIVth century South aisle of nave, XIVth century Tower, XIVth century Carved doors, 1503 Episcopal palace, 1512 North aisle of nave, XVIIth century Baptistere, VIth century
ST. JEAN D"ALAIS
A bishopric only from 1694 to 1790 Remains of a XIIth century church
STE. CECILE D"ALBI
[Ill.u.s.tration]
Begun, 1277 Finished, 1512 South porch, 1380-1400 Tower completed, 1475 Choir-screen, 1475-1512 Wall paintings, XVth to XVIth centuries Organ, XVIIIth century Choir stalls, 120 in number Height of tower, 256 feet Length, 300 (320?) feet Width of nave, 88 feet Height of nave, 98 feet
ST. PIERRE D"ALET
Primitive cathedral, IXth century (?) Rebuilt, XIth century Eglise St. Andre, XIVth to XVth centuries
ST. PIERRE D"ANGOULEME
[Ill.u.s.tration]
City ravaged by Coligny, XVIth century Cathedral rebuilt from foundations of primitive church, 1120 Western dome, XIIth century Central and other domes, latter part of XIIth century Episcopal palace restored, XIXth century General restoration of cathedral, after the depredations of Coligny, 1628 Height of tower, 197 feet
ST. PIERRE D"ANNECY
Christianity first founded here, IVth century Cathedral dates from XIVth century Tomb of St. Francois de Sales, 1622 Tomb of Jeanne de Chantal, 1641 Episcopal palace, 1784
ST. CASTOR D"APT
Gallo-Romain sarcophagus, Vth century Tomb of Ducs de Sabron, XIIth century Chapelle de Ste. Anne, XVIIth century