Falaise - Normandy - France

Returning from the eventing cross country Pierre took us on a different route through the village of Falaise.  It was quite a direct way and certainly a lot quicker away from the traffic.

This also gave us a chance to see some different farming with more crops.

 Intensive agriculture with few fences.

This was the village where Janine had grown up and was married in the church.

Here she is pointing out features to Gemma.

With careful observation war damage can be seen in the stone work.  Two thirds of the town was destroyed during the conflict.

 As in many villages the flags flown during the commemoration of 70 years since the liberation of Normandy and France were still flying.

Some earlier history also in Falaise is the fort and castle of William the Conqueror

A statue of a soldier and the flags of the allied nations in the centre of the town.

Bayeux and Omaha beach

2014 is the 70th anniversary of the allied landings on the Normandy beaches leading to the end of WW2. The American cemetery is located above the beach code named Omaha during the landings. While the operation was successful it came with high casualties on all sides.  It was a solemn experience to visit just one of these sites.

The monument to American servicemen nearby depicting freedom.

A statue of Eisenhower near Bayeux within a road roundabout.

The town of Bayeux nearby was apparently not so badly damaged during the invasion as were some towns further from the coast such as Caen and Falaise.

 It was quaint with interesting buildings.

 Where locals or visitors could relax and communicate with the rest of the world.

 Or absorb the various vistas.

 Seems like these buildings were just butted onto each other.

Leaving only narrow alleyways between others. 

Floral decorations help disguise a historic bridge that hopefully also has some disguised strengthening.

Mont-Saint-Michel

Our landlord, Pierre Delma and his friend Janine David very kindly took us to the highlights of the historic places in Normandie.   Approximately 100 kms north west of Caen is the Mont-Saint-Michel. Probably best described as the monastery on a rock.  Best to check it out on Google.
The endurance competition was held nearby to the east.

 This view looking back onto the causeway is being built to restore the natural tidal currents that had been blocked for many years by the solid fill causeway on the right, on which Pierre & Jane are standing in the photograph above.  The new structure will allow water to flow underneath as in a bridge and modify the build up of sand that has occurred.

On the seaward side is a small island where pilgrims walked across the sand.  Tourists can do the same, seen here to the left, with approved guides at low tide.

Following are a few photographs to try and illustrate the complexity of the building.  Aside from the structure were the huge number of visitors who were required to follow a continuous route,
Here a foot bath?

Some of the vertical walls above the sea.

An enclosed courtyard.

The dining hall with diners posing.

A large chimney that had once housed the cooking stove or cauldrons.

The main spire as can be seen in the views from a distance.

A vegetable garden had been established within the complex.

How was this built so long ago on a rocky outcrop separated from the mainland, where heavy rock materials had to be sourced, and then elevated up onto the site.
Look above the two darker figures halfway along the causeway bridge - lower centre.  Then look above the figures above the rubble to where a vertical white line appears between what looks like shrubbery to a dark rectangular window.  The line is a steep tramway seen in the photograph below looking out the window space.

Materials, including large stone building blocks were winched high up into the building.  Probably in later years all sorted of heavy items used by the occupants.

 A view of the underside of the trolly showing the rollers with the ends that made contact with the runners protected for wear with iron bushes.

Finally the winching mechanism set up in the building behind the window and unloading platform.

World Equestrian Games - Normandy, France 2014

World Equestrian Games, Caen, Normandy, France - 2014

Our travel in 2014 was inspired to attend the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in France and build some other travel around it.  After a brief visit in Canada we then traveled around the UK (see Coloured Rails & Polar Bears blogs) departing from Portsmouth on a channel ferry to Caen in Normandy on 26 August.  We were fortunate to obtain the use of an apartment in the centre of Caen opposite the racecourse. This view is near the games village looking out over the open space ringed by the trees in which the racecourse is located and was the venue for disabled games and driving.

Half an hour walk from the village was the the stadium where dressage and jumping was held.   For anyone interested in building, beams holding the roof are laminated timber.

We attended the final of the dressage.  A spectacular competition with all competitors qualified for the final putting on excellent performances.  Scores were up on the score board almost instantly for all to see.

There was of course the games mascot, Norman of Normandy, who helps keep spectators in the stadium distracted at any quiet times.  Once even tripped over in a water feature and lost his "hoof".

There is always the larger than life characters at such an event. Here some Irish supporters show their allegiance.  May be a while since they were fillies!

New Zealand supporters ready to fly the flag for NZ riders.  Gemma, Andrew and Kath Ward-Smith.

There was a variety of entertainment and the usual trade and food stands at the games village.  The village was separate from the main competition venues but within walking distance from most except eventing (excluding jumping phase) and endurance
Here a "horse whisperer" demonstrates his skills with a Zebra x Horse.  Quiet a difficult (and rare) animal to train.  He appeared skilled at his task.

 The next competition we attended after the dressage final was endurance day of eventing.  Located some 70kms from Caen at Le Pin, the horse breeding centre of Normandy and France.  Our very kind apartment owner had offered to drive us, having obtained tickets for the day.  Normally less than a one hour trip we had allowed over two hours expecting heavy traffic.  The scenery on the way was picturesque.

 The progress was dismal to be polite about it.  Traffic was stationery for long periods - very long periods.

 Yes the landscape was nice so may as well take some photographs as there was plenty of time.

 Time to walk along the road and our driver was happy to pick us up when he caught up.

 There was a variety of old French architecture.

And more interesting buildings.

 A big house in the Le Pin area.

However it got too much for many who either abandoned their cars or left their drivers to it.  It was just as quick or quicker to walk.

 A more modern house along the way.

Traffic stopped as far as the eye could see.  About this time Andrew and Gemma (seen here) decided to walk the lat 10kms or so and arrived before the vehicles.  Although did hitch a ride on a passing truck (the same one) a couple of times.  Thee were many incidents with a similar theme.

What about the cross country.  Finally we got there a couple of hours or so late and did see the later NZ'ers compete.  Later see the photos of Falaise on the way back.

So it was back to jumping in the stadium.  Here a few of the interesting obstacles, as usual depicting the district in which the games are held.  Normandy is very much an agricultural, and...

...known for it artists.  This jump turned up at Spruce Meadows a week later.

Representing a large swing bridge, maybe over the L'Ome River.

Of course the Eiffel Tower representing the support of the whole of France to the games.

We end with a view of part of the driving endurance course located on the racecourse ground across the street from our apartment.  In real life a row of trees as seen in the background blocked some of our view although one interesting obstacle was visible.

Next post will take a tour of the highlights of Normandy.