- La Grande Vadrouille
A mural with Louis de Funès and Bourvil in Rue Rousseau Deslandes. What a fantastic film! - Clothes Chest
The 16th century box shows the baptism of Christ surrounded by sphinxes and people on scrolls. The corners show Indians crowned with fruits, in reference to the recent discovery of the Americas. - Basilique Notre-Dame de Beaune
Chapel of Saint Leger or the Chapel of the Cardinal Jean Rolin (15th century). The paintings by Pierre Spicre depict the raising of Lazarus and Saint Martha on the right. - Basilique Notre-Dame de Beaune
A lovely detail in the chapel of Saint Leger. - Vézelay Abbey
The famous tympanum, which is within the narthex, serves as a spiritual defense of the crusades. It was here that King Richard the Lionheart and King Phillip Augustus met for the Third Crusade. - Vézelay Abbey
The ones who have not yet received the Word of God are not quite human: some are dwarfes... - Vézelay Abbey
... and some have elephant ears. - Vézelay - St anthony's vision
Probably Saint Anthony's vision. With St Anthony on the left, there is a figure tortured by three feathered demons. - Vézelay Abbey
Basilica of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine was under repair, so we only saw a part of it. - Château de Chenonceau
16th century door leading into Salle des gardes, saying: "S'il vient à point, me souviendra". Basically - if I ever finish building this castle, I will be remembered. But I forgot who wrote it :-) - Château de Chenonceau
Lions on a 16th century Flemish tapestry. Their faces seem somewhat off. - Château de Chenonceau
The butchery. Of course the castle had its own butchery, right above the water and separated from the rest of the kitchen. - Château de Chenonceau
Every room had its own fireplace, making the castle rather cosy. This is a detail on the fireplace in Chambre de François Ier. - Château de Chenonceau
Diane de Poitiers as Diana the Huntress by Le Primatice from 1556. Diana was the mistress of King Henry II and, among other things, expanded the castle across the river and built some gardens. - Château de Chenonceau
What a wonderfully morbid room. Morticia would like it here :-) - Château de Chenonceau
The classical view of the castle. Built in 1514-1522 on the foundations of an old mill, the bridge was added in 1556-1559 and the gallery in 1570-1576. - Château de Chenonceau
Royal pharmacy - Château de Chambord
A very symmetric Renaissance castle. Sorry, hunting lodge. - Château de Chambord
Royal oratory of François Ier has a wonderful vaulted ceiling. There is the letter F (for François Ier) and the salamanders extinguishing "bad" fire. - Château de Chambord
The residences of François Ier include a large wardrobe and closet. They surely dressed ... royally. - Château de Chambord
A bronze bust of Maréchal Turenne, a 19th century copy of a 1695 Jérôme Derbais statue. What a man. - Château de Chambord
Wallpaper in the 18th century apartments. - Château de Chambord
The vaulted ceilings in the 2nd floor: F as the initials of François Ier and plenty of salamanders, some eating the good fire and others putting out the bad fire. Just don't know which are which. - Château de Chambord
Lapidary deposit. Some original carvings of F, with a crown and plenty of ropes. Now imagine a gigantic castle full of such beauty! Sorry, hunting lodge. - Château de Chambord
My kids were fascinated by the 'minecraft trees'. - Château de Chambord
View of the castle from the road. - Bayeux Cathedral
The Bayeux cathedral is the original home of the Bayeux Tapestry. Originally from 1077, rebuilt in the 12th century and finished in the 19th. - Bayeux Cathedral
Well, that is an interesting window. On a gothic cathedral. - Bayeux Cathedral
Plenty of 13th century decoration in the church. This is the chapel of St. Thomas Becket, lower part showing scenes with Saint Nicolas and a crucifixion. - Bayeux Cathedral
Thee Madonnas in the cathedral. - Bayeux Cathedral
Saint Peter holding the keys to heaven. A 15th century fresco in the crypt. - Bayeux Cathedral
Statue of Saint James the Minor in the cathedral. - Bayeux Cathedral
Statue of Saint Bartholomew in the cathedral. - Bayeux Cathedral
One of the many 12th century carvings in the cathedral. This one depicts a man with a monkey. - Bayeux Cathedral
Imagine being a 12th century mason and you have to/are allowed to include such faces into the cathedral walls. - Bayeux Cathedral
I am confused. Are these dogs with their tails biting their asses? Or - more plausible - are they chimeras? - Bayeux Cathedral
Another grotesque creature, which surely had a meaning. - Fougères
A lovely depiction of medieval village life. - Mont Dol
An almost 400 years old chestnut tree. - Guimiliau
What an interesting wooden ceiling it is! - Swallows!
- Fort du Mont Alban
Built around 1560s. - La Rue Obscure in Villefranche
La Rue Obscure, the completely covered street dates from 1260s! - La citadelle Saint-Elme in Villefranche
La citadelle Saint-Elme is from the 16th century. - La citadelle Saint-Elme in Villefranche
Roof of the remparts at the citadel. - Église Notre-Dame-d'Espérance
The church of Our Lady of Hope in Cannes dates from the 16th century. - Valbonne
La mairie, the town hall in Valbonne. - Valbonne, Rue Grande
Rue Grande in Valbonne. A lovely stroll in rain before a delicious dinner. - Valbonne
Another lovely street in the "Manhattan" of Valbonne. - Old houses in Valbonne
Through the whole old town of Valbonne, portraits of previous inhabitants are displayed. A wonderful idea as these houses surely have a lot to tell. - Place Garibaldi in Nice
- Cimetière du Château in Nice
The graveyard on the castle hill in Nice. - Decoration on the Château de Nice
One of the mosaics on the way up the Castle hill in Nice. Inspired by ancient Greece. - Nice
View of the Bay of Angels (Baie des Anges) from the Castle Hill - Place des Arcades in Biot
Recently renovated places des Arcades in the centre of Biot. - Place de l'Église in Biot
Recently renovated Place de l'Église in Biot. Perfect imperfection. Dating from 15th-17th century. - Place de l'Église in Biot
- Place de l'Église in Biot
One of the maltese crosses in the Church square in Biot. - Place de l'Église in Biot
Did they start in 1685 and finish in 1686? It surely looks like it. - Place de l'Église in Biot
Fleur-de-lis in Place de l'Église. They didn't even try to make it symmetric, did they? - A letter box in Biot
Letter boxes in Place de l'Église in Biot. Is one hole for letters and the other for pigeons? - Église Sainte-Marie-Madeleine in Biot
Dating from the beginning of the 16th century, the author being unknown. - Église Sainte-Marie-Madeleine in Biot
Some frescoes in the church of Saint Mary Magdalene in Biot. - Église Sainte-Marie-Madeleine in Biot
A very interesting church as you have to walk down to enter it. But there is a limited amount of asymmetry I can handle - and a main entrance that is off is just too off for me :-) - Rue Vieille Boucherie in Biot
One of the many pretty little streets in Biot. - Impasse le Redon in Biot
Another lovely detail in Biot. - Rue des Tines in Biot
And another lovely corner in Biot. - La Légende des siècles
I wonder what is behind these doors... Maybe just a huge Hugo fan? Place des Arcades in Biot. - Antibes
One of the lovely streets in the old Antibes. - Anibes
Another lovely street in the old Antibes. - The Wall
The wall around the old town. - Rue du Haut Castelet in Antibes
And yet another magical street in the old Antibes. - Antibes
View from the Promenade Amiral de Grasse. - Map of Antibes
Map of Antibes on Rue Thuret - Église Sainte-Marie-Madeleine in Biot
An interesting detail of renovated frescoes in Biot - La Vierge du Rosaire
A stunning detail on the painting of The Virgin of the Rosary (1510). - La Chapelle Saint-Sauveur
Recently renovated chapel on the island. Originally from the 5th, 9th and 11th century. - Abbaye de Lérins
What a tranquil place. - The fortified monastery
Built in the 11th century and being rebuilt now. - Beaune
What a lovely sign above the O'100dwich sandwicherie in Beaune :-) - Beaune
Remparts de la Comédie, the ramparts around the town is actually a street with some charming houses. - Beffroi de Beaune
Belfry, dating from the 13th-14th century, renovated and repaired multiple times after that. - Basilique Notre-Dame de Beaune
The porch dates from the mid-13th century. A great place that protects you from the elements. - Basilique Notre-Dame de Beaune
A 12th century romanesque basilica in Beaune. - Hôtel-Dieu de Beaune
The reason why we came to Beaune: The hospices. Founded in 1443 as a hospital for the poor by Phillip the Good was in use until 1971. - Hôtel-Dieu de Beaune
Trente-trois. Trente-trois. Trente-trois... Thirty three. Thirty three. Thirty three... Oui, oui, oui, oui, oui... - Christ of Pity
A 15th century sculpture of Christ of Pity sculpted from one oak trunk. The craftsmanship on the crown of thorns and ropes is wonderful! - Hôtel-Dieu de Beaune
The ceiling in the Room of the Poor is an upside-down boat-skiff shape. - Hôtel-Dieu de Beaune
Such lovely beams under the ceiling. I think the inscription says Seule * as seule etoile, meaning the founder's wife. - Hospice kitchen
The kitchen in the Hospice. My (second) favourite part in this kitchen is the rotating spit with Mr. Bertrand apparently rotating it. It was made in 1698 by a local clockmaker Defresne. - Hospice kitchen
This is my favourite part in the kitchen. The two swan-like faucets for running hot water. - Hospice Pharmacy
A very interesting pharmacy. - Hôtel-Dieu de Beaune
View of the glazed-tiled hospice roof from the cour d'honneur, the main inner court. The roof type probably has central European origins, but is now a trademark of Burgundy. - Casket in Salle Saint-Louis
A 15th century casket shows a woman plaiting a crown and a man playing a harp. - Virgin and Child
15th century statue of the Virgin and Child, detail. The baby Jesus looks like he is holding his own head :-) - Tapestry
A magnificent almost 8 m long "thousand flowers" tapestry is from the 16th century. What an interesting motif... - Beaune Polyptych
The Polyptych altarpiece of the Last Judgement by Rogier van der Wayden, dating from ~1446. Opened central panel shows Christ on a rainbow and Archangel Michael below him with the scale to weigh souls, with heaven being on the left and hell on the right. - Beaune Polyptych detail
The red angel above Nicolas Rolin's head holds a golden helmet. - Beaune Polyptych
Closed altarpiece shows Nicolas Rolin, Chancellor of Burgundy, and his wife Guigone de Salins, who founded the hospice in 1443. In the center are St. Sebastian and St. Anthony with the Annunciation on top. While the wife has a 'proper' white angel, the red angel of Nicolas looks quite devilish to me. - Beaune Polyptych detail
Another lovely detail of the Beaune altarpiece. A piglet hiding behind the painted statue of Saint Anthony.