Countryside
A few photos from what will, without doubt, be my last visit to Haute Normandie.
The first set of photos here were taken in Conches-en-Ouche - situated in the plains between the sea and the capital, historically, the town was Celtique, occupied by the romans and eventually inherited by the Lord of Tosny in 1034 (under the name of Castellion)
Being the epoch of the the great pilgrimages, The Lords of Tosny took part in one of the most popular : Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle.
Roger 1st of Tosny, on his return from one such voyage, witnessed a celebration to honour the memory of one of the great martyrs, Saint Foy, at Conques-en-Rouergues.
So enthralled was he by the experience that he brought home relics of the saint to Castillion and hence renamed the town 'Conches'. The town remained an important staging post for subsequent pilgrimages.
To this day, the town still retains the oyster shell as it's symbol (coquille and conque in french)
The Lords of Tosny saw fit to protect the town with walls, a fort and a dungeon which is still visible today although it isn't safe enough to visit.
At the end of the 100 years war, newly liberated towns were encouraged to build bell towers (Beffroi) and some of the most beautiful ones can be seen in Belguim and in the northern regions of France (notably in Lille, Arras and Rouen).
The Beffroi in Conches is said to be the most southerly in Europe.
The closest city to Conches is Evreux and no visit to the region is complete without a quick visit to it's relatively modern, gothic style Cathederal
The first set of photos here were taken in Conches-en-Ouche - situated in the plains between the sea and the capital, historically, the town was Celtique, occupied by the romans and eventually inherited by the Lord of Tosny in 1034 (under the name of Castellion)
Being the epoch of the the great pilgrimages, The Lords of Tosny took part in one of the most popular : Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle.
Roger 1st of Tosny, on his return from one such voyage, witnessed a celebration to honour the memory of one of the great martyrs, Saint Foy, at Conques-en-Rouergues.
So enthralled was he by the experience that he brought home relics of the saint to Castillion and hence renamed the town 'Conches'. The town remained an important staging post for subsequent pilgrimages.
To this day, the town still retains the oyster shell as it's symbol (coquille and conque in french)
The Lords of Tosny saw fit to protect the town with walls, a fort and a dungeon which is still visible today although it isn't safe enough to visit.
At the end of the 100 years war, newly liberated towns were encouraged to build bell towers (Beffroi) and some of the most beautiful ones can be seen in Belguim and in the northern regions of France (notably in Lille, Arras and Rouen).
The Beffroi in Conches is said to be the most southerly in Europe.
The closest city to Conches is Evreux and no visit to the region is complete without a quick visit to it's relatively modern, gothic style Cathederal
Libellés : Photos
posted by Damiel | 7:45 PM
2 Comments:
OmyGod these pictures are fantastic. Why your last time in Haute Normandie? What did they do to you? Is it the rain?
Thank ya !
I'm very surprised at how ethereal the cathederal came out..
As for not going back, well, let's just say that i don't imagine having any reason to do so.
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