100 Years War

This is where the Black Prince and his longbowmen decisively bashed the French in 1356 though they don't seem to commemorate the event in any way and there doesn't seem to be any marker for the battleground.
A few buildings and the town outline remain from the times.
Unlike most urban centres, churches were relegated to the rim of the built-up areas and the spectacular 1868 Hotel de Ville is quite separate.
The Cathedrale St Pierre was commenced in the reign of Eleanor and Henri II in about 1150. A couple of stained glass windows remain to remind us that the people really were not as primitive as there sanitation suggests. The 1790 organ is a classic by Henri Cliquot - not as well known as his wife who focussed her attentions on wine when the organ maker blew his last.
Small detail to fire up Dan Brown: the church has a labyrinth enshrined on the wall. This used to be drawn on the ground in pagan times and the route to the centre walked ceremoniously by the people on special days for reasons unclear but much speculated upon, (although there is no reference to ancient rituals written beside it).Leggi altro