The Popular Science Review, 1877, Vol. 16: A Quarterly Miscellany of Entertaining and Instructive Articles on Scientific Subjects (Classic Reprint) - Paperback

Excerpt from The Popular Science Review, 1877, Vol. 16: A Quarterly Miscellany of Entertaining and Instructive Articles on Scientific Subjects

Notre Dame du Port is a truly curious church, said to have been built about 580. It ranks among the historical monuments of France, and through the very early character of its Romanesque architecture and sculpture is of especial interest to the antiquarian. The elaborate decoration in mosaic of its towers is believed to be of the best Byzantine architecture, and the sculptures on the tympanum of the south doorway are curiously rude and unusual. The church is barrel-roofed, with an apsidal termination. The crypt, which is under the choir, is said to be the most ancient part of the building, and is te markable for its rude pillars and massive roof. Here, as at Le Puy en Velay, is a black Virgin, probably the Roman Catholic adaptation of some Eastern idol. The petrifying spring of St. Alyre was once celebrated for the miracles performed there. There are many other springs in Auvergne possessing incrusting qualities, but none of them incrust objects arm to therr spray in so short a period as that of St. Alyre. Dr. Dan beney and Mr. Scrape attribute the immense quantity of traver tine deposited by the water to the volcanic action below, and believe that the springs were fuller when the subterranean forces were in greater activity. Of the various objects placed on shelves and boards for incrustation by dripping are stuffed animals, their hair all coated with carbonate of lime, and stufi'ed birds; but the really beautiful specimens are cray fish and land shells, which preserve their shape entire in stone. There are also inshete, artichokes, and bird's-nests, with broocha made from casts and alto-relievos. Some of the latter are taken from coins found at Gergovia. The Pont natural is worthy of a visit, forming as it does a natural arch which is constantly increasing.

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