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Category: Travel

Abbey Royale Fontevraud

I went on a residential course a few weeks ago and one of my fellow inmates recommended Fontevraud as a place to visit. Once again the vicar is on holiday visiting ABC (another bloody church). Ruth likes to listen to the audio guide whilst I just take in the ambience. When you work in churches it can be a bit too much of a busman’s holiday to think about buttresses and gargoyles in your spare time.


I love how some ancient art incorporates the hierarchy of the institution into the scene.  That said, I hate it when the local landed gentry paid to have their face painted onto the infant Christ.  My favourite icon is in the Louvre as Christ puts his arm around St Menas.  I digress.

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Going to Church for the First Time | Carcassonne

A Monk in the Monastery

In uncertain French Ruth boldly states “We are here for the mass”. 
“Are you sure?  Lots of people say that they are here for the mass but get up after ten minutes and wander around” replies the keeper of the door.

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Hospital in the Nave | Beaune

We’ve just been around the L’Hotel-Dieu in Beaune for a look around. I’ve been a couple of times in the past. I was struck by the large church in which the nave was used as a hospital for hundreds of years. All being treated within eyesight of the alter.

It’s interesting to see that this religious community were still treating people until 50 years ago. A reminder of what the church has done and what it can do when it sets its mind to it.

This is a photo of the posher smaller bit for people deemed worthy. It was much easier to photograph.

C’est la vie!

Niki de Saint Phalle and Religion

We have just spent a few hours in the Guggenheim museum.  One of the current exhibitions is the work of Niki de Saint Phalle. She apparently grew up in a convent school. I am assuming that influenced a couple of her pieces.