Churches:
As a well-preserved region of France (it's full of medieval history), Bretagne has thousands of churches! During our travels, we visited at least 10 churches, all unique and awe-inspiring. Here are a few of my favorite ones.
L'Église Plougrescant (L'Église Pinchée):
this church's steeple was misconstructed, and bent with the ages! It was very comical to behold, and Odile and I couldn't resist a mocking pose in the picture...
L'Église de Brélévenez:
Situated on a hill that contained 1 million steps (just kidding, I have no idea how many steps we climbed, but it sure felt like one million), this church was a true sight to behold. Though I was out of breath for most of our time within the church, it was a beautiful building, and the view from the top wasn't too bad either!
While touring L'Église de Brélévenez Odile told me about how, in French culture, cemetaries are not seperate from churches (as they often are in the US). Instead, the deceased are buried in an expanding circle surrounding the church. Fun Fact!
L'Église de Batz:
Located on Batz island, this churches big claims to fame were it's intricate carvings hung on the inside. Unfortunately, it was too dark for me to take any photos of those.
La Chapelle de la Vierge Couchée (The Chapel of the Sleeping Virgin):
This was without a doubt my favorite church (though technically it is a chapel). Quaint, warm, and colorful, this church had everything from beautiful carvings and candles to Pemberly-esque pathes in the woods surrounding it. Absolutely splendid.
The intricate antique carvings depicting the sleeping virgin.
There were approximately 10 model boats hanging from the ceiling,
no doubt expressing Bretagne's strong history with the adjacent English Channel and Bay of Biscay.
At the end of one of the snaking pathes that surrounded the chapel,
I found the most beautiful view of the shore!
I found the most beautiful view of the shore!
Fun Parts of Churches:
One of the Churches in the city of Batz had a very unique ceiling. Vaulted and extremely stylized, it's crossbeams were striped green and white. When we asked someone about it's origins, we were told that many churches in Bretagne contain ceilings modeled after the undersides of boats! If you look, this ceiling is very nautical. the edges even have figure heads at the entrance!
There were so many different kinds of stained glass windows, all beautiful in their own way!
This window is supposedly abstract, but while we were there, there was a man with a high powered telescope contraption observing the window from a distance. When we asked him what he was doing, he said he was deciphering the figures hidden in the design. He even showed Odile a supposed person! I personally couldn't make it out, but the idea of hidden pictures was cool.
La Ponte de Morlaix:
Aguillon (an awesome city we stayed in for a day):
La Maison de Castel Meur:
This house just happens to be situated between two giant boulders! It was bound to be a blast.
Quite a pose, if I do say so myself.
Le Parc de Sculptures Christian Gad:
Perros-Guirec:
Jean-Yves, photobombing my artsy picture like a pro!
This ancient lodgement is called a "poudrière", it's where armies would stow their cannons!
Une phare, or a lighthouse located just next to the Perros-Guirec rock formations
Creature Comforts:
Le Moulin Verte:
No, not Le Moulin Rouge! This was a restaurant in Aiguillon where
we indulged in some traditional galletes and crèpes. Yum!
we indulged in some traditional galletes and crèpes. Yum!
This was just a random (go ahead, judge me for using the word random!) statue in Aiguillon. Notice how it's two figures kissing, but the relief creates the illusion of another figure between them? I laughed and said that it reminded me of Romeo and Juliet, and that I should go break them up. Odile quickly ran to "push them apart!" Aren't we such wonderful love-killers?
For both nights, we stayed in what are called "Chambres d'Autres" or "Chambres d'Hôtes" which are the French equivalent of B&B's. I must say, they were absolutely charming! The hosts were friendly and talkitive (and always interested in my journey from the US to France!) and the breakfasts, oh the breakfasts!
L'Île de Château de Taureau:
La Chaise des Prêtres:
This rock overlooks the water, and is called the "Priest's Chair" because of it's lovely peaceful view over the water. Luckily for us, the spot is open to the public, so we could try out the seating as well! I must say, it was a bit too tough on the tushy, but hey, I'm no goldilocks!
L'Île de Batz:
Our last day on the road we visited a place called L'Île de Batz (located off the shore of the city Batz) It was quite a site! It reminded me vaguely of Washington Island in Door County, though a bit more wild.
To get to the island, we had to take a boat. And to take the boat, we had to cross a bridge!
Within the first hour or so, we stumbled upon the L'Île de Batz lighthouse which,
though closed to the public, was quite a sight!
The beaches on l'Île de Batz were chiefly rock beaches, and every once in a while we would pass a farm plot littered with giant rocks from the beach. When I asked Jean-Yves why the rocks were in such strange areas, he explained that the storms on the island are so strong that they can pick up these behemoth rocks and fling them about, often into the farms many meters away!
With so many stones at our disposal, it was only a matter of time before Jean-Yves and I broke out our mad rock-balancing skills. Though he eventually won the contest of highest tower, I still hold that my sculptures were more precarious, and thus more impressive.
Being the horse lover that she is, Louise quickly bonded with the angelic horse who we encounted on our walk back to the boat. He loved the attention!
No comments:
Post a Comment