Fortified by caffeine and cookies, we continue our tour.
You know I looked through fences into courtyards.
I think that's papyrus in the pond. You can't grow that outdoors in Ann Arbor.....
It's not just government buildings and churches which were heavily embellished.
A peek through a very fancy doorway.
A lavishly decorated ceiling.
Etched glass. So many craftspeople employed for a long time, making this place special.....
Next, we visited the cathedral. The sign with this piece said "Dalle funéraire de trois personnages en pierre noir," which Google translates as "Tombstone of three characters in black stone." (dalle, by itself, translates as "slab"...) The sign goes on to list the personnages: Goffryon Géraut, Allis Amorie, and Jehan de Tournay. Twelfth century.
The Knights Templar were here. I believe this is "Pierre tombale de Frère Pierre de Liège (XIIIème siècle), Commandeur du Temple de La Rochelle." (pierre is "rock" or "stone" or Peter, in the case of a name, Frère is Brother, and, otherwise, I bet you can read it, aside, perhaps, from the "13th century" in parens)
As in St. Jean de Luz, it's not a surprise to find a ship in the church.
Imagining how long it must have take to do this painting and gold-leafing......
Another bright day -- color-glass light on the floor.
A unique and beautiful receptacle for holy water.
Someone help me here. In a cathedral, there is often a place with a spiral staircase that would elevate a person who climbs it, making that person more visible (and, presumably, audible). I don't know what this is called, but I have seen it multiple times.
This is one of those. I wish I had gotten a shot of the whole thing, but it was the carving that drew me, so the carving is what I caught.....
Isn't this amazing? Gorgeous, and delicate......
Only the bell tower of the previous church survives. I believe this was part of St. Barthelemy's.
Walking on.
Another courtyard, with something else that does not grow outdoors in Ann Arbor.
Gargoyle.
While we were glad for the nice weather, wouldn't it be cool to see water gushing from the gargoyles during a storm?
Chantal told us the story of M. D'Auffrey, a rich merchant who sent ships out to sea with the expectation of excellent cargo on the return voyage. His ships were gone for years. And years. Eventually it was assumed they would not return, and he was not rich any longer, but poor.
He and his family lived as paupers for some time.
His ships did, eventually, return, with the hoped-for cargo, and he was rich again.
He built this hospital in gratitude for his return to good fortune.
In order to facilitate chronological traverse of these posts, here is a link to the post that comes after this one.
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2 comments:
That is papyrus. :)
Thank you. :-)
I thought it was. The university has some, in the conservatory at the botanical garden, and I thought I recognized it.
Makes sense that the Notary school might have papyrus............
:-)
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