France

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Day 20
Monday, August 27, 2018 at 1:56 PM
⛅ 19 °C
Altitude: 38 m
France Bassin Saint-Pierre 49.18691, -0.3520149°11’13” N 0°21’7” W
Abbaye aux Dames
August 27, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
In general parlance we would call this a convent. Built by William's wife, Matilda, as an Abbey for women as the second of the two Abbey's required by the pope. She is interred in the Abbey church.
First is the building, then the cloister, then the Abbey church. The next last pic is part of a series of banners of female saints located on both sides of the choir. The last rather dark picture is a fresco over the altar.
This building is now the Normandy regional government building and is not open for tours.Read more
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Day 23
Thursday, August 30, 2018 at 11:20 AM
⛅ 17 °C
Altitude: 13 m
France Honfleur 49.41943, 0.2329749°25’10” N 0°13’59” E
Honfleur
August 30, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Honfleur is a pretty well preserved medieval fishing village, now more of a tourist town. The first pic is the old harbor, surrounded by former homes of fishermen. The second and third are St. Catherine's church, a 16th century wooden church. I didn't know there were any. Then a view over the city from Mt. Joli, a look through a gate on prison street and a medieval street with the drainage in the center.Read more
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Day 23
Thursday, August 30, 2018 at 3:48 PM
⛅ 18 °C
Altitude: 9 m
France Pointe de la Cahotte 49.36115, 0.0853349°21’40” N 0°5’7” E
Deauville Trouville
August 30, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
These are two small beach towns on either side of a river. These are photos from around the two towns to give a sense of place
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Day 25
Saturday, September 1, 2018 at 3:46 PM
☀️ 22 °C
Altitude: 24 m
France Le Havre 49.4993, 0.1254649°29’57” N 0°7’32” E
Le Havre
September 1, 2018 in France ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
The main port of Paris at the mouth of the Seine. The first pic is of arches made of shipping crates that is located at the port. It's become a kind of symbol for the city. The second is an overview of the lower city from one of the old forts in the upper city looking towards the port in the background. You might be able to make out a cruise ship docked there. Then 2 statues at opposite ends of the beach. First, at the port end is a man with an elephant on his back. At the other end ("world's end"), a man has a child on his shoulders. Finally, the old port and a 16th century hotel, now a museum.Read more
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Day 27
Monday, September 3, 2018 at 6:00 PM
⛅ 23 °C
Altitude: 26 m
France Rouen 49.44067, 1.0950149°26’26” N 1°5’42” E
Cathedral of Notre Dame in Rouen
September 3, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
Beautiful cathedral. Here is the facade in daylight where the light show is projected. Then inside with the nave chancel, and rose window. Around the ambulatory, they have statues of the saints (this is a few of them). Then the sarcophagus of Richard the lion hearted.Read more
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Day 27
Monday, September 3, 2018
⛅ 22 °C
Altitude: 24 m
France Rouen 49.44182, 1.0985849°26’31” N 1°5’55” E
Rouen
September 3, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
A beautiful and historic city on the Seine. This first post from Rouen begin with the cathedral where they have a nightly light show on the facade. One program was on Vikings; the other on William the Conquerer. More on the cathedral in another post. A couple street scenes. They saw there are at least 2,000 half timbered houses in Rouen from the middle ages, about half of which have been restored. Then the large clock over the street that they say has one of the largest and oldest clock mechanisms in Europe. Next is one of Rouen's more famous residents and the original donjon from the old castle.Read more
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Day 28
Tuesday, September 4, 2018 at 12:00 PM
☁️ 20 °C
Altitude: 27 m
France Caudebec-en-Caux 49.52513, 0.7291649°31’30” N 0°43’45” E
Caudebec and St Wrandrille Abbey
September 4, 2018 in France ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
Caudebec-en-Caux. Is a small river town down the Seine from Rouen. A street scene followed by the parish church in Caudebec. Then a view over the valley of the Seine from a hill at the edge of town. The next three pics are of the Abbey. First from a distance approaching it, followed by some of the ruins and the current Abbey church.Read more
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Day 29
Wednesday, September 5, 2018 at 11:00 AM
⛅ 17 °C
Altitude: 36 m
France Rouen 49.4412, 1.0988149°26’28” N 1°5’56” E
St. Maclou and St. Ouen
September 5, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
One of the nicknames for Rouen is City of Spires. Here are two more churches. St. Maclou is not a cathedral. It is a parish church. They don't hardly build them like this any more. 4 pics of St. Maclou and 2 of St Owen. St. Owen's wasn't open so no interior pics. The last pic is St. Owen's from my bedroom window. BTW, St. Owen's isn't a cathedral either. It is the church for a former Abbey.Read more
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Day 29
Wednesday, September 5, 2018 at 2:00 PM
☁️ 18 °C
Altitude: 44 m
France Rouen 49.44317, 1.0884849°26’35” N 1°5’19” E
Joan of Arc
September 5, 2018 in France ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
Joan was tried and burned at the stake here in 1431. The first picture is the cross on the site where she was burned at the old market square. Then the church in her name along side the cross. The stained glass is from a church too damaged to repair. So they were moved and restored the windows here. A couple small statues of Joan and a large sculpture suggesting her trial. The last two are at the Archepiscopal palace where they show a very well done light show about her two trials.Read more
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Day 30
Thursday, September 6, 2018 at 11:24 AM
⛅ 18 °C
Altitude: 27 m
France Eglise Saint-Cande-le-Jeune 49.44118, 1.0918549°26’28” N 1°5’31” E
More from Rouen
September 6, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
I'm quite taken with Rouen with all the history and architecture. These pics catch some more of that. First is the view over the city from the Archepiscopal palace, followed by the old exchequer or treasury from the middle ages. Then some more examples of the variety of architectural styles around the city for those who might be interested. (Yeah. I'm looking at you, Rod Dawson!)Read more
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Day 30
Thursday, September 6, 2018 at 3:27 PM
☁️ 19 °C
Altitude: 70 m
France Beauvais 49.42842, 2.0798649°25’42” N 2°4’47” E
Beauvais St. Peter Cathedral
September 6, 2018 in France ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
St Peter, the unfinished. This was built to be the tallest gothic cathedral, and it is clearly the tallest I've seen, though the pictures don't do it justice. And it was never completed. Perhaps the most famous thing inside is the astronomical clock. It about 25 meters tall and provides pretty much any astronomical info you can imagine, even eclipses. You can't really see all the moving parts around the facade that enact the Biblical final judgment (Revelation) every hour, on the hour. Then a part of the previous cathedral building that would have been torn down if the "new" cathedral had been finished. Last is the Bishop's Palace. If you look toward the left of the first pic, you will see two towers. These are at the gate to the palace.Read more
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Day 30
Thursday, September 6, 2018 at 4:00 PM
☁️ 19 °C
Altitude: 77 m
France Beauvais 49.42775, 2.078549°25’40” N 2°4’43” E
Beauvais
September 6, 2018 in France ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
Beauvais Is a smaller city, generally to the north of Paris. The main claim to fame seems to be the cathedral which is the subject of another post. The first pic here is of an old city gate and bridge. Then the oldest house in Beauvais (16th century). Then the facade of a pottery workshop and St Joseph's chapel. The 5th is of what was the Office of the Poor, the only place like this I've heard of. It is currently a school. Last is of one of the remains of buildings (this was the chapel) of the Maladarie St. Lazare, a medieval leper hospital.Read more
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Day 33
Sunday, September 9, 2018 at 3:16 PM
⛅ 27 °C
Altitude: 69 m
France Reims 49.24295, 4.0316749°14’35” N 4°1’54” E
Sam Remi, Reims
September 9, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
Named for the bishop who baptized Clovis, this basilica is an abbatical church or the church of the Abbey of San Remi. This building is interesting as it is part Romanesque and part Gothic architecture. The last 2 pics are of part of the former monastery, now museum: one of an interior stair and one of the cloister.Read more
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Day 33
Sunday, September 9, 2018 at 3:17 PM
⛅ 27 °C
Altitude: 70 m
France Reims 49.24493, 4.0316749°14’42” N 4°1’54” E
Champagne!
September 9, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
I visited 3 champagne facilities. These pictures are from the caves of Pommery and Taittinger. The third was de Moiselle. I liked their champagne best.
First is the 116 steps down into the caves at Pommery. What's hard to see is that the rock here is chalk, and what has become the champagne caves started as chalk quarries dating to the Roman era. (Reims was the capital of the Roman province.). The 3rd pic is of bottles dating back to the 19th century. One could be yours for less than $5,000, a steal compared to great Bordeaux wines that have sold for as much as $50,000. Then a couple pictures of the caves and a carved barrel that had been displayed in the US and carved in American iconography coupled with french woman serving champagne.Read more
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Day 34
Monday, September 10, 2018 at 2:22 PM
⛅ 24 °C
Altitude: 87 m
France Reims 49.2535, 4.0334449°15’13” N 4°2’0” E
Reims: Notre Dame Cathedral
September 10, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
Reims cathedral is the site where the kings of France were crowned. This tradition goes back to Clovis who was the first king baptized. That was by bishop (now saint) Remi in Reims in about the 5th century. Two pics need more explanation. The floor is stone, engraved with the images, then covered with molten lead that was then polished flush, hence the grey design. The stained glass is a couple of the the original 13th century windows that survived the two world wars.Read more
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Day 34
Monday, September 10, 2018 at 3:23 PM
⛅ 25 °C
Altitude: 88 m
France Reims 49.26411, 4.0383749°15’51” N 4°2’18” E
Chappelle Foujita
September 10, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
A small chapel designed and built by Japanese artist Foujita while living in France and after his conversion to Christianity, circa 1960s. The artwork was done by the artist. Of interest is that the paintings are frescos. They are hand painted on wet plaster by the artist using traditional techniques. I hadn't expected to be so taken by the place.Read more
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Day 35
Tuesday, September 11, 2018 at 3:39 PM
⛅ 28 °C
Altitude: 83 m
France Reims 49.26036, 4.0415649°15’37” N 4°2’30” E
Reims
September 11, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
Reims Is an interesting city. About 80% destroyed in WW I. So most of the architecture is art deco. The first picture is of the Victoria fountains at the center of town. Since Reims is the heart of champagne country, a long shot of the Pommery champagne making facility (see another post). Then several architecture details. The last pic is of an ancient gate into a monastery that has been otherwise destroyed. It sits between a couple 20th century buildings, and you can look beyond to see the cathedral.Read more
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Day 37
Thursday, September 13, 2018 at 1:00 PM
☁️ 16 °C
Altitude: 49 m
France Amiens Cathedral 49.89511, 2.3021349°53’42” N 2°18’8” E
Amiens Cathedral
September 13, 2018 in France ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
Said to be the tallest gothic nave. First outside; then the nave. In the center, near the transept, is a labyrinth. The most distinctive thing here is the detailed carving. This is only a small sample. Then the famous weeping angel, though no one really knows the story as to why the angel is weeping. Finally, the supposed resting place of John the Baptist.Read more
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Day 37
Thursday, September 13, 2018 at 3:00 PM
☁️ 18 °C
Altitude: 30 m
France Rivery 49.89538, 2.3166149°53’43” N 2°18’60” E
Hortillonage
September 13, 2018 in France ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
The part of the Somme is, or was, a wetland. It has been channeled and farmed for thousands of years. These pics are from a boat trip through the area
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Trip end
September 14, 2018