Normandy, France
From Ouistreham, port town for Caen, we set out for morning and afternoon visits of artistic, aesthetic and historical interest. Today we saw both Bayeux and Honfleur, Normandy’s only two towns completely untouched by War World II, and Caen, a city almost completely destroyed by the war.
We first viewed a masterpiece of embroidered history, the Bayeux Tapestry, a 70-meter long 11th Century colorfully-stitched cartoon depicting the conquest of England in 1066 by William of Normandy. This Rosetta Stone of sorts not only tells us the story of the Battle of Hastings and the preparations for it, but also presents a vivid portrait of life in the Middle Ages, as seen in the storyline and delightful marginalia. It is a moving piece of art and history.
After returning from Bayeux for lunch aboard the Endeavour, groups split for visits to either the Peace Memorial Museum in Caen or the beautiful French port village of Honfleur. Honfleur is a gem of a place and one of France’s most favorite little towns. It’s aesthetic essence centers around a picturesque old port lined by tall rowhouses, each one unique. Sailboats, painters, cafes and medieval buildings fill out the scene. The artistic heart of Honfleur lies in the influence of pre-impressionist Eugene Bodin on young painters like Claude Monet. We toured an impressive collection of 19th century French painters’ works inspired by this town. A large wedding party spilled out from Saint Catherine’s all-wooden church. The church’s unique wooden clock tower, a Monet subject, and quaint streets of shops selling artistic crafts, alcoholic cider and calvados aperitifs complemented our impressions.
Some people visited the award-winning Peace Memorial Museum in Caen, testament to the history of World War II, but with a perspective on peace. Guests watched original film footage of D-Day and toured a Nobel Peace Prize winner’s gallery. The Caen museum set the stage for our travels tomorrow to Omaha Beach and other famous war sites. Today we gained appreciation of the history, art and spirit of Normandy; tomorrow we will learn more of this region and its importance in the Second World War.
From Ouistreham, port town for Caen, we set out for morning and afternoon visits of artistic, aesthetic and historical interest. Today we saw both Bayeux and Honfleur, Normandy’s only two towns completely untouched by War World II, and Caen, a city almost completely destroyed by the war.
We first viewed a masterpiece of embroidered history, the Bayeux Tapestry, a 70-meter long 11th Century colorfully-stitched cartoon depicting the conquest of England in 1066 by William of Normandy. This Rosetta Stone of sorts not only tells us the story of the Battle of Hastings and the preparations for it, but also presents a vivid portrait of life in the Middle Ages, as seen in the storyline and delightful marginalia. It is a moving piece of art and history.
After returning from Bayeux for lunch aboard the Endeavour, groups split for visits to either the Peace Memorial Museum in Caen or the beautiful French port village of Honfleur. Honfleur is a gem of a place and one of France’s most favorite little towns. It’s aesthetic essence centers around a picturesque old port lined by tall rowhouses, each one unique. Sailboats, painters, cafes and medieval buildings fill out the scene. The artistic heart of Honfleur lies in the influence of pre-impressionist Eugene Bodin on young painters like Claude Monet. We toured an impressive collection of 19th century French painters’ works inspired by this town. A large wedding party spilled out from Saint Catherine’s all-wooden church. The church’s unique wooden clock tower, a Monet subject, and quaint streets of shops selling artistic crafts, alcoholic cider and calvados aperitifs complemented our impressions.
Some people visited the award-winning Peace Memorial Museum in Caen, testament to the history of World War II, but with a perspective on peace. Guests watched original film footage of D-Day and toured a Nobel Peace Prize winner’s gallery. The Caen museum set the stage for our travels tomorrow to Omaha Beach and other famous war sites. Today we gained appreciation of the history, art and spirit of Normandy; tomorrow we will learn more of this region and its importance in the Second World War.
