Calais

The first part of our back-to-back trips to France has come to an end. We are in England again for about three days before heading back to France for our Rick Steves' trip. On the way to the Channel Tunnel we drove through Calais and I was able to take a quick photo out the coach window of the Town Hall there (unfortunately the photo has a reflection from some of the interior lights).

 

The neo-Flemish-style Town Hall was built between 1911 and 1925. The brick clock tower and belfry stands 74m/246ft high.

 

 

 

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Honfleur

We spent the day in Honfleur where the Seine River meets the English Channel. The town was a favorite of 19th-century Impressionists who were captivated by Honfleur’s unusual light. Eugène Boudin lived and painted in Honfleur and Claude Monet was a frequent visitor.

 

One of the highlights is Saint Catherine's Church. This unusual church has a wood-shingled exterior and two naves.

 

 

The bell tower was built a good distance away, so that parishioners would not be burnt in case of a fire.

 

 

The first nave was built in 1466 and the second was added in 1497. They were built on the model of a market hall, using naval construction techniques, which gives the impression of an upside-down ship's hull.

 

 

 

 

The Renaissance balcony around the organ is decorated with musicians.

 

 

Other sights around town include a vintage carousel (with two levels!).

 

 

Some great old buildings and other tidbits.

 

 

 

 

 

Above a door.

 

 

And last but definitely not least, the harbor.

 

 

 

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Cabourg

Today was a free day in Cabourg, a seaside town. The most prominent sight is the Grand Hotel.

 

 

 

 

The beach was expansive in both directions.

 

 

 

There were also some very interesting buildings in town.

 

 

 

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Argentan

Not surprisingly, our trip to Argentan included a lace museum (Maison des Dentelles). This museum specialized in different kinds of lace.

 

Italian needle lace from Venice.

 

 

Point de France needle lace.

 

 

Reticella lace.

 

 

Paraguayan Ñanduti needle lace.

 

 

Belgian Point de rose needle lace

 

 

Alençon needle lace.

 

 

 

Argentan lace

 

 

English lace.

 

 

Belgian mixed bobbin and needle lace from Brussels.

 

 

Le Puy guipure straight bobbin lace.

 

 

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Bayeux

We started off our day in Bayeux by visiting the famous tapestry. It is embroidered in wool on linen and is 20 inches tall by 70 yards long. The tapestry tells the story of William the Conqueror’s rise from duke of Normandy to king of England, and shows his victory over England’s King Harold at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Unfortunately, photography was not allowed so I have borrowed this image of a tiny portion of the tapestry from Wikipedia.

 

 

We then visited Bayeux cathedral which was consecrated in 1077 and is as big as Paris’ Notre-Dame. (Someone in the group commented: "another day, another cathedral")

 

 

 

 

 

Besides the usual gorgeous stained glass ...

 

 

... and a rather odd pulpit ...

 

 

... there were all of these strange 'decorations' on the walls.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It had been raining while we were in the church and when we left, the gargoyles were doing their gargoyle thing.

 

 

In this next picture, if you follow the path of the rain gutter from the gargoyle up to the roof you can see some more interesting faces.

 

 

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