Talk Talk With Carl and Kacey – Northwest France
This is ‘Talk Talk With Carl and Kacey Northwest France.’ This was the continuation of our Paris trip. Actually the Paris was an extension of Northwest France, except we did it first. You get the idea. Do what is easiest and have a good time…
So click below to hear the podcast ‘Talk Talk With Carl and Kacey Northwest France’ and take a look at some of the pictures below to get a feel for this wonderful adventure
Here are several great pictures from our trip, eye candy while you listen to ‘Talk Talk With Carl and Kacey Northwest France.’
Chartres
Chartres Cathedral
Partly built starting in 1145, and then reconstructed over a 26-year period after the fire of 1194, Chartres Cathedral marks the high point of French Gothic art.
The Cathedral is a Unesco Site
https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/81/
CHÂTEAU DE CHAMBORD
A palace rises up from the heart of the Sologne marshlands. A dashing young king, François I, has ordered its construction. The château of Chambord is not designed as a permanent residence, and François only stays there for a few weeks. It is a remarkable architectural achievement that the king is proud to show to sovereigns and ambassadors as a symbol of his power engraved in stone. The plan of the castle and its decors stem from a central axis, the renowned double helix staircase, inspired by Leonardo da Vinci, an ascending spiral leading to a profusion of chimneys and sculpted capitals on the terraces. – CHÂTEAU DE CHAMBORD 41250 CHAMBORD FRANCE
THE CHÂTEAU
the history
In 1535, King Francis I incorporated it into the Crown Estate as part of a debt settlement. Later, King Henry II decided to offer it not to the Queen, but to his Favourite, Diane de Poitiers, “in full right of ownership, seisin and possession, completely, peacefully and perpetually, to dispose of as her own and true patrimony.” This artificial exit of Chenonceau from Crown Lands meant that it was saved, two centuries later, from the French Revolution.
https://www.chenonceau.com/en/
Amboise
Château of Clos Lucé – Leonardo da Vinci Park
The Château du Clos Lucé was Leonardo da Vinci‘s last home. In 1516, the Italian Renaissance genius accepted an invitation from King Francis I and settled in France. From Rome, he brought with him his notebooks and 3 of his major works (the Mona Lisa, St Anne and St John the Baptist), which are now kept in the Louvre.
He made his home in Amboise, where he worked for the king on a wide range of projects. Leonardo da Vinci was a prolific and inspired engineer, architect and director of opulent festivities for the French court. He died on 2 May 1519 in his room and was buried not far away in Saint Hubert chapel in the royal château of Amboise.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clos_Luc%C3%A9
Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey
The architecture of Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey is evidence of the mastery and expertise of several generations of builders.
The construction of the Abbey over a period of 1,300 years, on an inhospitable site, represents an undisputed technical and artistic feat.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mont-Saint-Michel_Abbey
Normandy Beaches
The Bayeux Tapestry
THE BAYEUX TAPESTRY, OR THE STORY OF THE CONQUEST OF ENGLAND IN 1066, TOLD IN EMBROIDERY
The Bayeux Tapestry tells the epic story, in wool thread embroidered on linen cloth, of William, Duke of Normandy who became King of England in 1066 after the Battle of Hastings.
The Bayeux Tapestry is presented in a darkened space in which only the artefact itself is lit. Audio-guide commentaries in 16 languages including versions for children in French and English, and scenes in 3D relief for the visually impaired, serve to make the work accessible to as wide an audience as possible. After looking at the Tapestry itself, the visit continues with a permanent exhibition, which presents the secrets of its creation, and a overview of the historical context and the Anglo-Norman kingdom in the 11th century.
https://www.bayeuxmuseum.com/en/the-bayeux-tapestry/discover-the-bayeux-tapestry/
Giverny – Rue Claude Monet
The Clos Normand
When Monet and his family settled in Giverny in 1883 the piece of land sloping gently down from the house to the road was planted with an orchard and enclosed by high stone walls. A central alley bordered with pines separated it into two parts. Monet had the pines cut down, keeping only the two yews closest to the house to please Alice. From this Clos Normand of about one hectare, Monet made a garden full of perspectives, symmetries and colours.
A very long house
Claude Monet lived in his home at Giverny for forty-three years,from 1883 to 1926. During this very long time, he layed out the house to his own tastes, adapting it to the needs of his family and professional life. At the beginning, the house called House of the Cider-Press (an apple-press located on the little square nearby gave its name to the quarter) was much smaller. Monet enlarged it on both sides. The house is now 40 meters long by 5 meters deep. The barn next to the house became his first studio, thanks to the addition of a wooden floor and of stairs leading to the main house. Monet, who mostly painted in the open air, needed a place to store and finish his canvases. Above the studio, Monet had his own apartment, a large bedroom and a bathroom. The left side of the house was his side, where he could work and sleep.
https://giverny.org/monet/home/
That’s it from Talk Talk With Carl and Kacey Northwest France
see you soon on our next adventure…
