Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Caen

I am in my hotel room in Caen (again watching numb3rs and eating obscure foods, this time Creme Fraiche). 

Today I did installment one of my William the Conqueror themed journey.

Caen was established by William the Conqueror as his Ducal seat and in the period from his rule to Phillipe Auguste's reconquest of Normandy it was an important residence of the Kings and Queens of England. 

I didn't really plan anything out, just wondered around until I found interesting things. I came across the Abbey Aux Hommes first. 

This Abbey was founded by William. This was because his wife, Mathilda of Flanders, was his distant cousin and Pope Leo IX forbade the union. This was more of a political move than a genuine attempt to prevent consanguinity (at this time, it was rampant across Europe). William, being William, ignored the Pope's order and married Mathilda anyway. When the political climate changed, the Pope changed his mind to, but required both William and Mathilda to build nice big abbeys to show how sorry they were.


Abbey aux Hommes


This unassuming piece of wall is in fact, a Gallo-Roman temple to the Roman Gods from the First Century AD. Epic. It is just behind the Abbey Aux Hommes, I found it as I walked to the main entrance from where the first picture was taken.


Inside the Abbey Church. Very cool knowing that William the Conqueror was here...


And is still here! This is his tomb. All that remains is a thigh bone. But still, that's a tomb. 
Was rather moving.


Here is the Chateau at Caen. Constructed by our boy Billy the Bastard.



That would be the flag of Normandy (and the tricolour, which is a bit of an anachronism, but ah wells.)


Another random and very pretty church just next to the Chateau. 

And tomorrow .... BAYEUX TAPESTRY! OMG.

1 comment:

Robyn said...

Wow!! The bayoux tapestry!!! Have a great time!