- Digue de la Duchesse-Anne
The constructions of these dykes started in the 11th and 12th century. The dykes still separate cultivated polders and salty marshlands. And of course offer a great opportunity to hike or cycle :-) - The Chapel of Sainte-Anne
The lovely chapel of Sainte Anne (1687) replaced an older wooden one. - Mont Saint-Michel
What a magnificent place indeed! - Mont Saint-Michel
Plenty of lovely souvenir shops and places to eat in the town, but some of them closed fairly early in the evening. - Mont Saint-Michel
We planned the visit to avoid the crowds. But we didn't think it would be so empty on a Sunday afternoon. - Mont Saint-Michel
Well, hello! Bonjour! - Mont Saint-Michel
The water's level is rising so quickly, proper vortices appear! - Mont Saint-Michel
Deambulatorium (a covered walkway) from the early 12th century. The monks used to go for walks in winter or take breaks when writing books in the Scriptorium (Knights' Hall). - Mont Saint-Michel
The chapel of Saint Étienne (~1160) was a funeral chapel. - Mont Saint-Michel
The great pillared crypt was built in the 15th century to support the Gothic choir. These support columns are massive! - Mont Saint-Michel
Fireplaces in Salle des Hôtes, designed to host royalty and nobility. - Mont Saint-Michel
Salle des Hôtes, designed to host royalty and nobility. - Mont Saint-Michel
Refrectory, where the monks took their meals, has plenty of well-hidden windows :-) This wall is nothing but windows! - Mont Saint-Michel
The abbey cloister was built in the beginning of the 13th century. - Mont Saint-Michel
Replica of Saint Michael’s crown, made by Mellerio from Paris in the 20th century. The original was stolen. - Mont Saint-Michel
I am fascinated by 13th century statues, my kids by 19th century swords. Made by Mellerio from Paris in 1877. - Mont Saint-Michel
Virgin and the child, 13th century. - Mont Saint-Michel
Adam and Eve's expulsion from Paradise, 1546. - Mont Saint-Michel
Christ's Descent into Limbo, 1547. What cuties these little devils are. - Mont Saint-Michel
What a perfect architecture. - Mont Saint-Michel
When a part of the church collapsed, they rebuilt it in contemporary fashion. The Romanesque choir, for example, collapsed in 1421 and was rebuilt in Gothic style in 1446 to 1523. - Mont Saint-Michel
The wooden ceiling of the early 1000s abbey church. - Mont Saint-Michel
View from the west terrace towards the rapidly incoming sea. - Mont Saint-Michel
The first sanctuary was built in 709 and later expanded multiple times. The latest addition was the spire with Saint Michel in 1897. - Mont Saint-Michel
This was my third time visiting Mont Saint-Michel and every time there was a different parking regime. With free shuttles one can finally enjoy the natural surroundings. - Mont Saint-Michel
Climbing the Grand Degré my kids said they felt like entering a computer game. Totally unreal and out of this world. - Mont Saint-Michel
We decided to visit the abbey in the afternoon and there was absolutely no queue. We just entered the ticket office. But if there was a queue, these guards would keep us in line. Clever design! - Mont Saint-Michel
Church of Saint-Pierre. Originally from the 8th century, often rebuilt, this tower being from the 15th century. - Mont Saint-Michel
The roofs remind me of an Asterix village :-) - Mont Saint-Michel
This is one of the most fascinating places on the planet. I have spoken. - Hortensia
The whole town (actually the whole Brittany) was in bloom! - Cherrueix
I really like this town. - Cherrueix
15th century church. - Cherrueix
Well... now you know! - Cherrueix
What a charming village this is! - Plage de Cherrueix
View of Mont Saint Michel from the beach in Cherrueix. - Menhir de Champ-Dolent
The second largest menhir in Brittany, over 9 metres high, erected c. 5000–4000 BC. - Mont Dol
Different bags for different flour: T45 for pâtisserie, T55 standard flour, T65 for baguettes, T110 and T150 are wholewheat flours. - Mont Dol
The 1843 windmill is still in perfect working order. - Mont Dol
Mont Dol has been inhabited since Neanderthal period. Currently there's Notre Dame de l’Espérance and the Notre Dame tower, inaugurated in 1857. - Mont Dol
What a lovely house - with a curved corner. - Cap d'Antibes
What a lovely path running around the Cap. - Cap d'Antibes
Well, think again. - Cap d'Antibes
So raw. So powerful. So beautiful. - Cap d'Antibes
How beautiful is this! - Cap d'Antibes
- Lisbon Campo Grande
Campo Grande and Entrecampos in Lisbon. View from the hotel. - Dom Carlos I
Cascais was the favourite place of the king Dom Carlos I. The statue is from 2008 and only the names of politicians are given on the plaque, the artist is not mentioned. - Cascais
Not quite sure what to think of this place. Diverse or messy? Eclectic or mismatched? This certainly was a wonderful place. Now - not so much. - Cascais
What a lovely Bougainvilleated corner of a house in Cascais. - Cabo da Roca
The lighthouse began operating in 1772. - Carpobrotus edulis
The whole Cabo is covered with carpobrotus. This one is yellow. - Cabo da Roca
The westernmost point of mainland Europe. - Convento dos Capuchos
It's so humid even in the middle of the summer, no wonder everything is so lush green! - Convento dos Capuchos
The convent is built around/between boulders, so the interior is very intriguing. - Convento dos Capuchos
The kitchen and the Chapter House. - Convento dos Capuchos
Super-tiny doors left and right from the corridor lead to super-tiny rooms. - Convento dos Capuchos
The magical monastery is even more mysterious in fog. This is the central cloister with a fountain. - Convento dos Capuchos
The Door of Death is the entrance to the monastery. - Convento dos Capuchos
This wonderful convent was founded in 1560 and inhabited until 1834. - Hotel garden
Another misty morning in Sintra. In the middle of the summer. So refreshing. - Black sand
This is the blackest beach I've seen. And I've seen quite a few, which claim to be black... Not to mention that compass does not work on this beach. I mean... it works ... but the direction it points to is very locally determined. - Laghetto di Terranera
An artificial lake about 20m from the sea. It used to be a mine, hematite, magnesite and pyrite. The lake, however, is too sulphurous to swim. - View from Monte Arco (276 m)
View towards Porto Azzurro. - La Fontana Maggiore
Here we see: The Lion Guelph and the Griffin of Perugia; with a bit of December on the left and a bit of Grammar and Dialectic on the right. - La Fontana Maggiore
The fountain was built in 1275-1278. And it's still standing in the main square. Here we see: The she-wolf that fed Romulus, Remus and their mother Rea Silvia; Two of Aesop's fables (the fox and the crane and the wolf and the lamb); January (a gentleman and his wife at the hearth - Aquarius) - La Fontana Maggiore
Here we see: May (two Knights on Falconry - Gemini); June (the harvest and flailing - Cancer); July (the threshing and the division of wheat - Lion). - La Fontana Maggiore
The Original Sin and the expulsion from Eden. - View of Perugia
- Etruscan Arch
The loggia was added in the 16th century. - Etruscan Arch
One of the two remaining Etruscan gates: constructed in the 3rd century BC and restored by Augustus in 40. - Cathedral
The cathedral (1345-1490) was never really finished. - Palazzo dei Priori
Palazza dei Priori (1293-1443) - Cathedral
Perugia Cathedral and La Fontana Maggiore in the front. - Street sign
- Convent of San Domenico
Some old 14th and 15th century frescoes in the side chapels. - Convent of San Domenico
Baroque 17th century interior - Convent of San Domenico
A gothic window by Bartolomeo di Pietro and Mariotto di Nardo (1411). With 21 m one of the tallest gothic windows. - Palace of Holyroodhouse
The official Scottish residence of British monarchs since the 16th century, including Mary, Queen of Scots and James VI and I. - Edinburgh
This, dear architects, is an example of coherent and consistent urban planning. - Salisbury Crags
I was kind of hoping he would get down on his knee... But he didn't. - Edinburgh Castle and The Hub
- Arthur's Seat
As seen from Salisbury Crags. Late in the evening :-) - Edinburgh from Arthur's Seat
A perfect Sunday. - View towards the Pentland Hills
- Salisbury Crags from above
- Arthur's Seat
The first thing after landing and checking in - I climbed Arthur's Seat, one of my favourite places in the world. - Portoferraio
A pedestrian tunnel through the fortress's walls - Portoferraio
Linguella Museum of Archeology in the Medicean Fortress - A on Elba
Aaaah, the A. The largest sailing yacht. 143m long. And about a 100 m tall. It spent several days on Elba so we saw a lot of it, from all sides. - Elba
From Colle Reciso towards San Martino - Elba
From Colle Reciso towards San Martino - Lacona
A granary, I believe. - Church of the Madonna della Neve
The original building dates back to the Romanesque-Pisan period of the 12th century, the rest is mostly from the 16th century. - Palácio Valenças
Sintra's Coat of arms on Palácio Valenças - The court of the National Palace
Another black&white colour photo. Besides, it looks like a cool optical illussion ;-) - Palácio Nacional
The palace is a blend of Gothic, Manueline, Moorish, and Mudéjar styles... - The chimneys
The famous chimneys of Palácio Nacional de Sintra. - Palácio Nacional
The National Palace of Sintra, the medieval royal residence from 15th to 19th century. - Castelo dos Mouros
The castle at night. I love colour photos that appear black& white.