PLACES

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PLACES WE'VE VISITED

THE LANGUEDOC

The Coast
	AGDE Originally a Greek settlement then a small medieval town and now simply a typical small French town. Usually dead but packed with tourists in the summer! The Cathedral (St. Etienne) The Cathedral (St. Etienne) – High altar The Cathedral (St. Etienne) – Entrance carving Medieval door and volcanic rock house in the old town Downtown square in the winter The Herault River Our first home!
	SETE Beautiful port nestled between the Etang de Thau basin and the Mediterranean Sea. If you are ever there, climb up Mont St. Clair to get an awesome view of the area and take a few minutes to visit the little church of Notre Dame de la Salette … Breathtaking ! Looking at Mont St. Clair (daytime) Looking at Mont St. Clair (at night) Panoramic view from the Thau to the Sea (from Mont St. Clair) Looking towards Agde (from Mont St. Clair) One of the many canals Another canal, leading to the harbor The main canal at night Statue of Neptune in a park on Mont St. Clair Another shot of the same park on Mont St. Clair Giant bronze octopus ! Statues on a hotel facade Rowers practising for the water jousts Sete at night, during the Saint Louis Festival (biggest water jousting competition on earth!) Water jousting official Hand-painted water jousting shields (they’re usually solid white with blue or red trims) Water jousting boats preparing to battle each other Water jousting boats battling The Church of Notre Dame de la Salette on Mont St. Clair Notre Dame de la Salette – Visionary statue Notre Dame de la Salette – Side chapel altar Notre Dame de la Salette – Main chapel Notre Dame de la Salette – Fresco of the Apostles around the main altar Notre Dame de la Salette – Nave fresco (the Magi) Notre Dame de la Salette – Nave fresco Notre Dame de la Salette – Nave fresco Notre Dame de la Salette – Nave fresco (Adam and Eve) Notre Dame de la Salette – Nave fresco – Detail for the Stations of the Cross Olive tree in Sete on a spring day

Urban Centers
	MONTPELLIER Prefecture (administrative center) of the Herault Department . Graeco-Roman settlement then prominent medieval town, home of the famous Michel Nostradamus for a few years. University center for the region. Place de la Comedie, Montpellier’s heart Place de la Comedie – Statue of the 3 Graces (with lost puppy !) A funky, shell-shaped street corner The Cathedral of St. Pierre (St. Peter) Another shot of the Cathedral of St. Pierre (St. Peter)
	PEZENAS Charming medieval town with narrow streets and lots of cultural events and festivals. Birth place of playwright MOLIERE. A very narrow street! Another narrow street Entrance to the medieval Jewish ghetto Ghetto Entrance sign Flags unfurled on Place Gambetta Postcard-perfect facade Medieval door Another fabulous door! Yet another fabulous door! Late Medieval /early Renaissance home Another late Medieval /early Renaissance home Local totem animals'parade Local totem animals'parade 2 Local totem animals'parade 3
	NARBONNE Ancient capital of Roman Languedoc founded in 140 BCE under the name of NARBO. This town preserves part of the Via Domitia built by Emperor Domitian (around 100 CE), which links Rome with Spain. Via Domitia Via Domitia again map of the Via Domitia City Hall (with Via Domitia in the bottom right corner) Gilles Aycelin castle (with city hall) Roman column Roman column in the middle of a street Chapel of the "Penitents Blancs" (currently used as the hospital chapel, not open to the public) Altar - Chapel of the "Penitents Blancs" (behold the tacky 18th century catholic decorating style!) Saint-Paul Basilica (13th C. - original church was built in the earliest days of christianity on top of the tomb of the first bishop of Narbonne, Saint-Paul) Saint-Paul Basilica (nave) Saint-Paul Basilica - wall painting of the Virgin Saint-Paul Basilica - paleochristian crypt (human remains) Saint-Paul Basilica - paleochristian crypt (tombs) Saint-Paul Basilica - paleochristian crypt (tomb - notice the good shepard sculptures at each end of the sarcophagus) Cathedral of Saint Just - choir (13th C.; cathedral never completed except for the choir which is now the main church) Cathedral of Saint Just - altar Cathedral of Saint Just (outside view of the apse) Cathedral of Saint Just (outside shot from the cloister) Cathedral of Saint Just - cloister Cathedral of Saint Just - cloister garden Cathedral of Saint Just - another shot of the cloister garden Cathedral of Saint Just - funny gargoyle (looks like a Disney cartoon!) Cathedral of Saint Just (unfinished nave) Cathedral of Saint Just (unfinished nave and window) Cathedral of Saint Just (unfinished side chapel) Gems of the Cathedral of Saint Just (dusty statue of a bishop) Gems of the Cathedral of Saint Just (10 feet tall wall tapestry representing a bishop) Gems of the Cathedral of Saint Just (13th c. fresco) Gems of the Cathedral of Saint Just (fresco of Christ and disciples) Gems of the Cathedral of Saint Just (statue of a monk carved on a tomb)

Villages & other sites
	FONSERANES Retirement center for priests and brothers, which houses the most unique creche! The animated creche of Fonseranes The animated creche of Fonseranes - the Beziers cathedral in the background
	VAUVERT At the edge of the Languedoc and the border of the Camargues, this little town was a great Medieval Kabbalah center. We don’t have much to show but we are planning on going back soon for a more in-depth tour. Entrance to the Medieval town

Cathar Country
	MINERVE Village built on a hill, flanked by two small river valleys. High center of medieval Catharism, destroyed during the Albigensian Crusade. Beautiful natural bridges and caves. Panoramic View Medieval street and archway Rue des Martyrs Cathar memorial remembering the massacre of 1210 Cathar memorial - close-up of dove What remains of the castle after the Albigiensan Crusade View of castle ruin from river bed View of the river bed and entrance bridge from the castle ruin Medieval door
	CARCASSONNE Medieval city split between the town in the plain and the walled city on the hill (restored in the 19th century by Violet-Le-Duc). Many beautiful churches to see and a great place to walk around. Must have the local delicacy for lunch : Goose or Duck Cassoulet. Panoramic view of the walled city Entrance into the walled city Moat around the walled city City walls and Towers Inside the Cathedral (Sts. Nazaire & Celsus) The Cathedral - gargoyles A street inside the walled city Another street inside the walled city
	RENNES-LE-CHATEAU Village made famous by the mystery of Abbé Saunière, explored in the book HOLY BLOOD, HOLY GRAIL. Not much there (not even a bakery, let alone a treasure!) except a wonderful view of the Corbieres and the exquisite Church of Mary Magdala. Wax figures of Abbé B. Saunière and his servant Madame Denarnaud Villa Bethania, where Saunière lived Another shot of Villa Bethania Villa Bethania, from the Magdala Tower Villa Bethania - Saunière's private altar The Magdala Tower, Saunière's library The Magdala Tower (entrance) The Magdala Tower The Church of Mary Magdala and Cemetery Saunière's grave Saunière's grave (headstone) Plaque next to Saunière's grave for Madame Denarnaud The Church of Mary Magdala - entrance The Church of Mary Magdala - tympanum The Church of Mary Magdala - main altar The Church of Mary Magdala - Satan (crushed by the baptismal font) The Church of Mary Magdala - statue of Mary Magdala The Church of Mary Magdala - statue of St. Roch The Church of Mary Magdala - statue of the Virgin Mary (in the garden) The Church of Mary Magdala - WWI memorial (in the garden) The Church of Mary Magdala - ruins of some old mysterious domain Ancient pagan sacrifical altar

The Larzac

ROQUEFORT
Located in the heart of the Larzac in the Haut Languedoc, this town has been known since Roman times to produce a very special cheese : Roquefort cheese, which is made in mold-infested caves. This is Ross’s favorite place!

PROVENCE

Urban Centers
	AIX EN PROVENCE One of the nicest and most pleasant towns in France, intellectually challenging and visually charming. Lots and lots of restaurants ! Titans holding up a balcony (classic Aix architectual effect) Plaza and fountain in the old town Walking towards the Place de l'Horloge Wooden doors bearing the shell of St James of Compostella More beautiful wooden doors (Mary, that's for you!) The Cathedral (top of tympanum and towers) The Cathedral (front - top) The Cathedral (front - bottom section with apostles) The Cathedral - Statue of the apostle Thomas The Church of St John of Malta The Church of St John of Malta - stainglass window over altar The Church of St John of Malta - detail of the tomb of the Counts of Provence
	AVIGNON Home of the popes for a while, so if you're into history, it's a must-see. Home also of the world reknowed art festival every july. From the outside of the walled (old) city - view of the St-Michel gate Place du Palais (Popes' palace) looking toward the church of Notre-Dame du Dome Place du Palais (Popes' palace)- from the opposite direction The famous St-Benezeth Bridge ... Sur le pont d'Avignon, on y danse .... Inside the Popes' Palace, shot of the cloister Statue of Emperor Charles IV ... for those in the know ... Church of Notre-Dame du Dome (from a palace tower) The Bridge and far away the St-John Fortress (from the same tower) The Plaza and the old finance building (from the same tower)
	MARSEILLE Ancient Graeco-Roman town, now the second largest city in France, a veritable cultural whirlwind. Countless sites to see but one must visit the basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde, which towers over the harbor. Panoramic view of Marseille (from Notre Dame de la Garde) The Harbor and Notre Dame de la Garde on the hill Place des Pistoles (in the old neighborhood called Le Panier) Church of Notre Dame des Accoules (again in Le Panier) Hotel Echevin de Cabre (Renaissance) A shop (with giant, hand-painted, Tarot de Marseille cards) Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde (main altar) Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde (ceiling over main altar) Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde (side altar dedicated to St. Mary Magdala) Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde (side altar dedicated to St. Lazarus)

The Luberon
	ANSOUIS Small village at the edge of the Petit Luberon, a royalist bastion where the mayor, the Vicomte de Sabran, refuses to this day to celebrate Bastille Day! The Vicomte de Sabran’ castle towering over the village
	LOURMARIN Postcard-perfect village at the heart of the Luberon made famous by Peter Mayle. Cute but overpriced, still it’s worth the detour. View of the castle and village The Lourmarin Castle Village street …. Postcard quality!
	MEYRARGUES Another cute village at the foot of the Petit Luberon, where our friends Marie-Pierre and Paul live. View of the village and castle with the Luberon is the background Ruins of the Roman aquaduct More ruins of the Roman aquaduct (the blue spot is Ross) Little chapel to Mary (in the woods by the castle)
	VAUGINES Yet another cute village, postcard-perfect but with a lot less tourists than Lourmarin… which is nice. View of the Abbey of Psalmody Another view of the Abbey of Psalmody View of the Luberon from the Abbey Village street
	SILVACANES Cisterian abbey Front view The abbey lost amid an olive grove

Villages and other sites
	ST-REMY DE PROVENCE About 20 minutes from Avignon and not yet into the Luberon, this cute village is worth seeing if you like English-speaking tourists and sheep ... we like the latter ... Real French shepherds! The start of the transhumance ... 3000 sheep! SHEEP MORE SHEEP (and some rambuctious goats) Aline's new best friend ... cute, eh? Oh ... and this would be Nostradamus' house.

alineandross@hotmail.com

CALDWELL-LAND NEWS PARIS THE SOUTH SPAIN FACES