Monday, July 30, 2012
Paris, France
"In Paris they simply stared when I spoke French; I never did succeed in making those idiots understand their own language." Mark Twain
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Saturday, July 28, 2012
Sancerre, France
Au revoir, Sancerre! À Paris!
We said goodbye to our excellent French teacher, Marianne. She was very patient with us!
We said goodbye to our excellent French teacher, Marianne. She was very patient with us!
Friday, July 27, 2012
Sancerre, France
Some scenes around the village of Sancerre. Our school:
St. Satur, the village below us:
16th century detail on the school roof:
I still have a hard time thinking this not a movie set!
St. Satur, the village below us:
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Sancerre, France
Visited the beautiful village of Vezelay where there is a 12th century Benedictine Abbey. This site on top of the hill was a major point of departure In the Middle Ages for those making a pilgrimmage to the Cathedral of Santiago Compostela in Spain. Here, Bernard of Clairvaux preached the Second Crusade in 1146.
The church is mostly Romanesque (pre-gothic) in design and beautiful in its simplicity.
The stone carving is magnificent:
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Sancerre, France
There is indeed an active Protestant Church in town - L'Église Réformée de France. There are about 30 or so people in the church, including the owners of our French language school and their kids. We attended church on Sunday and received a very warm welcome. It was very Presbyterian - though, of course, all in French. They are in-between pastors, so an elder gave the sermon. Here we are with the preacher on Sunday. Many of the people speak Dutch as well, as well as a smattering of English.
The owners of Coeur de France Ecole de Langues discovered I was a pastor and very graciously invited us to go to church with them:
Most French people, of course, are culturally Catholic, but few go to church. There are something like 300,000 Protestants in the whole country.
The owners of Coeur de France Ecole de Langues discovered I was a pastor and very graciously invited us to go to church with them:
Most French people, of course, are culturally Catholic, but few go to church. There are something like 300,000 Protestants in the whole country.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Sancerre, France
We couldn't leave the Loire Valley without visiting . . .
Chenanceau (a hang-out for powerful women, i.e. Catherine de Medici):
Chambord (definitely a guy's hang-out - hunting lodge for King François 1):
We also visited the Clos Luce in Amboise, where Leonardo da Vinci spent the last three years of his life:
He died in this very room:
Chenanceau (a hang-out for powerful women, i.e. Catherine de Medici):
Chambord (definitely a guy's hang-out - hunting lodge for King François 1):
We also visited the Clos Luce in Amboise, where Leonardo da Vinci spent the last three years of his life:
He died in this very room:
Friday, July 20, 2012
Sancerre, France
Forty minutes from Sancerre at Guédelon, a castle is being constructed using 13th century technology only. The project began in 1997 and it should be completed in the 2020's. Fifty-five people are currently at work. It has become a major tourist construction.
There wasn't a power drill in sight!
There wasn't a power drill in sight!
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Sancerre, France
Sancerre has a rich history. During the 16th century, the village was a Protestant stronghold. During the Wars of Religion, the Catholic king sent 7,000 soldiers to lay siege to the fortress on top of the hill. Cannon fire was relentless and the siege was one of the last times in European history that the trebuchet was used.
The Protestants held out for 8 months; some 500 people starved to death and 84 were killed in the offensive. In the end, the Protestants (Huguenots) surrendered. In 1621, much of the feudal castle and city walls were destroyed by the king to weaken future resistance. The only remaing tower (La Tour de Fiefs) stands above our apartment.
There is still a Protestant church in town, though I don't know how active it is.
Sancerre, France
Sancerre is famous for three things in particular: wine (Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir), Crottin de Chauvignol (goat cheese), and Jambon de Sancerre (smoked ham).
Monday, July 9, 2012
Sancerre, France
The city of Bourges is a 40 minute drive from Sancerre. Loved the architecture:
And the gothic La Cathédrale de Saint Étienne was very impressive. Here it towers over a neighborhood street:
The western facade is fabulous:
Above the main portal the Last Judgement is portrayed; the righteous are ushered into heaven while the unrighteousness are grabbed by demons and sent to hell:
Wedding pictures were being taken on the front steps:
While wandering around Bourges, a parade went by. They were celebrating an anniversary having to do with Napoleon:
And the gothic La Cathédrale de Saint Étienne was very impressive. Here it towers over a neighborhood street:
The western facade is fabulous:
Above the main portal the Last Judgement is portrayed; the righteous are ushered into heaven while the unrighteousness are grabbed by demons and sent to hell:
Wedding pictures were being taken on the front steps:
While wandering around Bourges, a parade went by. They were celebrating an anniversary having to do with Napoleon:
Monday, July 2, 2012
Sancerre, France
Nous sommes arrivés à Sancerre!
This country village will be our home for a month. It is on top of a hill overlooking the Loire Valley and is surrounded by vineyards. Our school is the large grayish building above. Another view of the valley from the medieval tower that dominates the village:
Our apartment (second floor) is just below this tower. Very narrow ancient streets made getting up here quite a challenge!
Our school:
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