AMIENS & TROUVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE

WITH BRIAN BEING HERE FOR HIS SHORT BREAK FROM R.I.T. WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD TIME FOR A ROAD TRIP.   WE THOUGHT A VISIT TO NORMANDY, FRANCE WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA.   THE BEACHES OF D-DAY ARE ABOUT 4-5  HOURS AWAY SO WE STOPPED IN AMIENS FOR LUNCH AND A LOOK AT THE CATHEDRAL.  

AMIENS CATHEDRAL, ALSO KNOWN AS NOTRE DAME OF AMIENS IS THE LARGEST COMPLETED CATHEDRAL IN FRANCE.  IF IT HAD BEEN COMPLETED, BEAUVAIS WOULD HAVE SURPASSED AMIENS IN SIZE.  WE STOPPED HERE ON THE WAY TO SEE OMAHA BEACH IN NORMANDY, FRANCE. 

 THE SCULPTURES ON THE EXTERIOR ARE UNMATCHED.  THE CHURCH WAS BUILT IN 1152 BUT AS WHAT SEEMS TO BE A RIGHT OF PASSAGE OF THESE CATHEDRALS, IT WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE.  RECONSTRUCTION STARTED IN 1220 AND CONTINUED ON AND OFF UNTIL COMPLETION IN 1288.  A CENTURY LATER THE SOUTH TOWER WAS BUILT AND THEN IN 1401 THE NORTH TOWER.  

SURPRISINGLY, THE CHURCH WAS NEARLY UNTOUCHED DURING THE FRENCH REVOLUTION.   A LABYRINTH WHICH WAS ADDED IN 1288.  

YOU CAN GET A FEEL FOR THE SCALE OF THE CHURCH IN THIS PHOTO

A MINIATURE OF THE LABYRINTH 

DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR THE CATHEDRAL SUFFERED SOME DAMAGE DURING ATTACKS BY THE GERMAN TROOPS.  THE WORST POTENTIAL DAMAGE WAS AVERTED IN 1918 BY POPE BENEDICT XV WHEN HE MADE A REQUEST TO THE GERMANS TO STOP AIMING AT THE CATHEDRAL.   DURING WORLD WAR 2 SUCCESSIVE BOMBINGS BY BOTH THE GERMANS AND THE ALLIED TROOPS CAUSED MUCH DAMAGE TO THE CITY OF AMIENS BUT MIRACULOUSLY SPARED THE CATHEDRAL.  

THE CRYING ANGEL

JOHN THE BAPTIST

THE CATHEDRAL STANDS OUT ABOVE THE REST OF THE CITY

AFTER LUNCH IT WAS ONTO TROUVILLE-SUR-MER WHICH IS A NICE SIZE TOWN RIGHT ON THE ENGLISH CHANNEL.  IT MUST BE A REAL BUSY PLACE DURING THE SPRING AND SUMMER BUT AT THIS TIME OF YEAR IT WAS NICE AND QUIET.  PLENTY OF RESTAURANTS TO CHOOSE FROM AND NO WAIT.  WE STAYED AT A BEST WESTERN WHICH WAS ONE OF THE FEW HOTELS WITH A REAL PARKING LOT!   WELL WORTH IT!  

A GREAT FISH MARKET ALONG THE MAIN DRAG OF TROUVILLE.  EVERYTHING LOOKED SO AWESOME.

LOW TIDE FOR THE FISHING BOATS

CARNIVAL TIME IN TROUVILLE.