- Vézelay Abbey
The crypt - Vézelay Abbey
Adam and Eve. A snake climbs the Tree of life and gives grapes(!) to Eve. - Derrière une porte
I once had to write a story "Derrière une porte" being given an image similar to this one. I probably could write another one for this door as well. - Vézelay
The hollyhock grows in every corner of the town. So beautiful. - Vézelay Abbey
- Château de Chambord
The castle chapel. Started under François Ier, continued under Henry II and finished under Louis XIV. It is quite uncommonly oriented towards west. - Bayeux Cathedral
The portal of Saint Thomas Becket, showing the assembly of Northampton (1164) and the Assembly of Ambosus (1170); crossing of the English Channel and his martyrdom; and the veneration of his tomb. - Bayeux Cathedral
- Bayeux Cathedral
Plenty of old windows in the cathedral as well... These are from 1260, showing the local bishops Exupère and Loup. - Bayeux Cathedral
The 11th century crypt is simply magnificent. The entrance to the crypt was closed soon afterwards and the crypt forgotten - until 1412. - Bayeux Cathedral
One of the more unusual capitals in the crypt. - Bayeux Cathedral
One of the many angels in the crypt. They play all sorts of instruments. - Bayeux Cathedral
15th century fresco of angels in the crypt. - Bayeux Cathedral
Here is where the famous Bayeux tapestry was exhibited until 1793. Possibly from 1077. - Bayeux Cathedral
12th century carving. I see a lion and an eagle carrying a fish. But it may also be a lion and a griffin. - Bayeux Cathedral
Some more lions/griffons/creatures higher up, but the most notable are the Bayeux lovers underneath them. - Bayeux Cathedral
The ceiling in the Bayeux cathedral choir shows various local bishops and saints. The whole cathedral is indeed a stunning place. - 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. - Plage de Cherrueix
View of Mont Saint Michel from the beach in Cherrueix. - Cherrueix
15th century church. - Mont Saint-Michel
This is one of the most fascinating places on the planet. I have spoken. - Mont Saint-Michel
Church of Saint-Pierre. Originally from the 8th century, often rebuilt, this tower being from the 15th century. - 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
Climbing the Grand Degré my kids said they felt like entering a computer game. Totally unreal and out of this world. - 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
The wooden ceiling of the early 1000s abbey church. - 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
What a perfect architecture. - 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
Virgin and the child, 13th century. - 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
Replica of Saint Michael’s crown, made by Mellerio from Paris in the 20th century. The original was stolen. - Mont Saint-Michel
The abbey cloister was built in the beginning of the 13th century. - 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
Salle des Hôtes, designed to host royalty and nobility. - Mont Saint-Michel
Fireplaces in Salle des Hôtes, designed to host royalty and nobility. - 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
The chapel of Saint Étienne (~1160) was a funeral chapel. - 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
Well, hello! Bonjour! - 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
What a magnificent place indeed! - The Chapel of Sainte-Anne
The lovely chapel of Sainte Anne (1687) replaced an older wooden one. - Pointe du Grouin
View of Mont Saint Michel from the Pointe. - Calvary at Guimiliau
This Calvary was completed in 1588. It depicts 37 scenes from the life and death of Jesus Christ. - Calvary at Guimiliau
The south face of the Calvary. Top row: St. Veronica holding her veil with Jesus' image; Jesus' baptism; Jesus carrying the Cross. Bottom row: Luke the Evangelist; St. Elizabeth and a servant greeting Virgin Mary; Jesus washing a disciple's feet; the Annunciation; Matthew the Evangelist. - Calvary at Guimiliau
The statue of Luke the Evangelist with his ox. - Calvary at Guimiliau
The west face of the Calvary. This part shows the entry into Jerusalem. - Calvary at Guimiliau
The east face of the Calvary. This part shows the Flight into Egypt with Mary holding baby Jesus. Joseph with a pilgrim stick leads. - Calvary at Guimiliau
Matthew the Evangelist with a small boy. - Guimiliau
The Saint Anne chapel/the Ossuary (1648) is part of the Guimiliau Parish close. Bodies were kept here isolated, especially when plague or cholera were in play. - Guimiliau
The entry to the South porch (1617): We can see Cain killing Abel (bottom left), and plenty of Noah: picking grapes (top left), being drunk (top right), Noah's Ark (bottom right). I don't know what the rest it. - Guimiliau
Adam and Eve and the temptation. - Guimiliau
The South porch: Eve being born (i.e. pulled by God) from Adam's rib. - Guimiliau
I don't know who these guys are. Fauns? Did they have fauns in early 17th-century Brittany? - Guimiliau
Someone on a donkey... - Guimiliau
Carved wooden ceiling in the church. - Guimiliau
Every little corner is richly decorated with funny creatures. Again, I have no idea who these two guys are. - Calvary at Guimiliau
The west face of the Calvary. Most notably: the doors on the left, so the priest could climb on the calvary and deliver a sermon. A niche with Paul Aurelian; Top row: Crown of thorns; Pietà; the Resurrection with drunk guards sleeping; Mouth of Hell with devil's lover. Bottom row: John the Evangelist; Entry into Jerusalem; The Last Supper; Luke the Evangelist. - Mont Saint-Michel de Brasparts
Once the site of an old Celtic temple, a chapel was built here in 1679, restored in 1820. And obviously in 2023. - Mont Saint-Michel de Brasparts
The hill is a dormant volcano, once called Menez Kronan. - Calvary at Pleyben
The Resurrection of Jesus. Three soldiers sleeping and one is blinded by what he sees. I find it so amusing by how they are dressed. So 16th century :-) - Pleyben
Recently cleaned Pleyben Parish close (1583). With one Gothic and one Renaissance tower. - Calvary at Pleyben
Calvary from 1555. Funnily, the cleaned Calvary no longer looks so old :-) Bottom row: the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Nativity, the Adoration of the Magi, the Flight to Egypt, Jesus meeting the lawyers. Top row: the Harrowing of Hell; Jesus leading Adam and Eve; a Jew holding a scroll with the charges against Jesus; a soldier dressing Christ in his royal robe. - La Roque-Gageac
Oh, another spectacular village. - Rocamadour
Another fascinating place: Rocamadour. - Rocamadour
One could go down the stairs. And up the stairs again. Or not. - Rocamadour
Spectacular place. Already inhabited in the Paleolithic. The town peaked in the 12th century. 12th century! - Valloire
Notre-Dame de l'Assomption in Valloire. A 17th century baroque church. - Valloire
I love the tree shadow on the church. Must be even lovelier in the winter.