The Fontenay Abbey, located next to the city of Montbard  in Burgundy, is part of the Unesco World Heritage sites. Therefore you can expect something that is out of the ordinary, and you’ll not be disappointed.   The Cistercian Abbey is old, very old. It is the oldest Cistercian abbey in the world that has preserved […]

Transport Getting There Air: Caen has an international airport, but it’s not big. Most flights go to Lyon and transfer from there anywhere in Europe, but direct flights to London, Southend are scheduled. Ferry: There are direct ferries from the UK to harbours close-by: Ouistreham (Caen), Cherbourg, Le Havre, Dieppe and one ferry link between Ireland […]

Caen is also known as the “city of 100 church bells” and as the name says, there are a lot of churches, abbeys and monasteries in this former royal city. William the Conqueror, who lived and reigned here, had several built (and the enormous fortress/castle).   Before WWII there were some 40 churches in the city, […]

Caen is one of those cities you can have a problem understanding or coming to grips with. The 110,000 people city is a medium sized city dating back to the beginnings of the Iron Age, but the first real settlements where to be found in the 1st century AC. It was also William The Conqueror‘s […]

As stated in the Introduction article of Rouen, there are some 35 churches, abbeys, monasteries, and ruins scattered around Rouen and most of them are from the Middle Ages, so medieval. When you see the construction, you’ll be amazed they were constructed 4-500 years ago.   Here are some of the religious buildings to be […]

Rouen has a lot going for it, and a few things that are not so nice. But after a visit to Rouen, you will leave with two impressions in your mind: the sheer number of churches & cathedrals and Joan of Arc (in French “Jeanne d’Arc”). Because this is the city where Joan of Arc was […]

The Mont St. Michel is France’s second most visited monument, second only after the Eiffel Tower in Paris. With over 3 million visitors each year, it is no wonder United Nation’s UNESCO put it on their World Heritage Sites. And there are several good reasons for this. Mont St. Michel has not been changed over […]

Transport Getting There By car, the A84/E3 motorway (autoroute) comes about 10 kilometres away and it’s well sign posted. TIP: If you reserve a hotel (or restaurant) make sure you get the access code for the barriers into the area. If not you will be forced to park in the parking areas (paid) and walk […]

Fecamp is a small coastal city with an active fishing fleet. The fishing fleet is central to the city, since the fishing boats have been going to Newfoundland for over a century to fish for cod, and another large portion of the fleet fished for herring.   The city used to have several herring smoking factories, […]