Life on the Sienne

August 8, 2025

Thursday was a day of Abbeys. As we left the ship and were taken to two Abbeys. The first and most interesting was Jumieges Abbey the earliest part of it built in 654. It was one of the greatest and wealthiest Benedictine Abbeys, of which there were more than 100 in Normandy. Its history is turbulent including regular attacks by the Vikings, reconstruction and the consecration in the presence of William the Conquerer. Ultimately during the French Revolution it was sold to a construction company - they used dynamite to blow it up to fulfil orders of stone. Fortunately it was protected before it all disappeared

At the next Abbey we were greeted by a delightful Friar who showed us the working Abbey with its truely magnificent restored cloisters

Friday we were travelling around the lovely countryside of Normandy (it is better on a bike!) but we had some interesting stops. First at Bayeux to see those magnificent tapestries - more correctly embroideries- that depict the exploits of William the Conquer. No photos of them allowed

The stained glass windows were like jewels

Then to the beautiful little village of Beuvron and finally to see a traditional calvados distillary

This carousel was beside where the ship was tied up

Rate this entry's writing	Heart	7
Comment on this entry	Comment	0