We arrived in Carcassonne in Languedoc on Thursday and spent the next day learning our way around our new neighborhood at the foot of the enormous fortified city that gives the town its fame (more later). On Saturday the 24th we drove to the airport at Toulouse (about 50 miles way) to pick up our friend Jan Stone who was arriving from New Mexico as part of her 80th birthday celebrations. Extremely violent winds closed the airport all day, so her arrival was delayed by 12 hours, giving us a chance to spend a very windy day in Toulouse while Jan whiled away the hours in Amsterdam.The first place we visited was the 13th-century cathedral church of St-Etienne, a strange asymmetrical combination of what are essentially two separate Gothic churches. A plan to replace an older structure with a newer church ran into an impasse due to financial difficulties, with the result that the church consists of two connected but totally different sections that are not even aligned on a single axis.
Later that afternoon, we were deeply moved by the breathtaking beauty of the basilica of St Sernin, one of the largest and most beautiful romanesque churches in Europe. Begun in 1080, it is a masterpiece of simplicity and quiet grandeur.
Later that afternoon, we were deeply moved by the breathtaking beauty of the basilica of St Sernin, one of the largest and most beautiful romanesque churches in Europe. Begun in 1080, it is a masterpiece of simplicity and quiet grandeur.
2 comments:
How cool! Charlie and I were there a few years ago. It's a treat to see you photos!!
to see your photos!
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