Bec Abbey and Rouen

What a beautiful day to be driving along a narrow country road in our comfortable coach. Often we have to make room on the road for large farm vehicles. Well done Isam (our driver) who seems to cope with such things like a breeze.There is a lot of gasping and ooing and aahing about the local landscape - farmhouses and villages and rural scenery. Many of the buildings have been constructed in wood and daub with thatched roof - this is particular to Normandy.  Often a row of irises can be seen growing along the top ridge of the house (could be the next garden group project at St Silas!).

We arrive just in time for our organised tour with Fr Mark who is one of the Benedictine community at the Monastery in Bec. He is proud to tell us something of its history and renowned occupants including our hero, St Anselm. Fr Mark has a delightful sense of humour and we enjoy his commentary translated beautifully by our guide Pernille.

After the tour we gather in the garden and offer our prayers and the Canticle of St Anselm together in the brilliant sunshine.

We are off to Rouen, not too far away for lunch in the Cathedral square, prior to our guided tour of the Cathedral inside and out. This is the place where Claude Monet sat for months on end to paint the light as it fell on the intricate and fantastic facade of this great Cathedral. The  actual building where he set up his easel at the time (then a lingerie shop) still stands. 

Inside among the many interesting features is the monument to Richard the Lionheart which apparently actually houses the late King's heart! We are fortunate that a massive scaffold has just been removed from the facade of the Cathedral. At the side of the Cathedral Helen and others are particularly intrigued to see the peal of bells in the process of being removed from the Bell Tower - we presume for renovation.

We take a short walk through the fabulous old city centre with its cobblestone road, numerous buskers and wonderful mediaeval buildings, including an ancient clock - the first in the city.  We arrive at the place Joan of Arc was burned at the stake, where now a Church and memorial commemorates her life.  This modern church is quite spectacular and proves that good design can be both modern and beautiful.

We check in at our Rouen hotel and prepare for dinner.