Today we had a picnic in a grassy park near the ruins of a 9th century monastery, in the old walled hill-top city of Vezelay. Our table was laid on an old, lichen-encrusted rock. We had bread, a slice of country terrine, some jambon persille, and some cheeses, including the marvelously stinky Epoisses. We drank a Gevrey-Chambertin with our picnic. For dessert, some ripe nectarines.
Beyond the grassy parkland, the view of the fields beneath the town stretched away. This little town, once a stop along the route of medieval pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, is the home of the Basilica of La Madeleine de Vezelay - the Basilica of Mary Magdalene. The church was originally built in the 9th century; rebuilt in the 11th and 12th centuries, and then remodeled in the mid 19th century. It is a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture.
There is something wonderful about visiting such an old venerable site. And I'll tell you about it later. Right, now, let's enjoy
le picnique.
Today we had a picnic in a grassy park near the ruins of a 9th century monastery, in the old walled hill-top city of Vezelay. Our table was laid on an old, lichen-encrusted rock. We had bread, a slice of country terrine, some jambon persille, and some cheeses, including the marvelously stinky Epoisses. We drank a Gevrey-Chambertin with our picnic. For dessert, some ripe nectarines.
Beyond the grassy parkland, the view of the fields beneath the town stretched away. This little town, once a stop along the route of medieval pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, is the home of the Basilica of La Madeleine de Vezelay - the Basilica of Mary Magdalene. The church was originally built in the 9th century; rebuilt in the 11th and 12th centuries, and then remodeled in the mid 19th century. It is a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture.
There is something wonderful about visiting such an old venerable site. And I'll tell you about it later. Right, now, let's enjoy le picnique.
Looks like you also have some fine French bread there too. Looks like a real treat.
ReplyDeleteYou are making me hungry again! For the french meal and for the lovely medieval town!
ReplyDeleteLooks wonderful!
Glennis, do you still have to pinch yourself to believe you are there?
ReplyDeleteIt is like you are in a movie. Everything is just like I dream.
What a fantastically wonderful thing to do! Picnic : ). I love it.
ReplyDelete