Abbaye aux Dames

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もっと詳しく
Honfleur

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.もっと詳しく
Deauville Trouville

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
Le Havre

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もっと詳しく
Cathedral of Notre Dame in Rouen

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もっと詳しく
Rouen

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もっと詳しく
Caudebec and St Wrandrille Abbey

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.もっと詳しく
St. Maclou and St. Ouen

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.もっと詳しく
Joan of Arc

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もっと詳しく
More from Rouen

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もっと詳しく
Beauvais St. Peter Cathedral

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もっと詳しく
Beauvais

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もっと詳しく
Sam Remi, Reims

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もっと詳しく
Champagne!

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もっと詳しく
Reims: Notre Dame Cathedral

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もっと詳しく
Chappelle Foujita

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もっと詳しく
Reims

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もっと詳しく
Amiens Cathedral

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もっと詳しく
Hortillonage

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