Caudebec-En-Caux

Concert by the Choir of the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen

Last night we were treated to a special concert held privately for us at the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen. Though it was in French, the heavenly voices of the Choir conveyed all that was needed. It proved to be tasking walk for me after a long day of walking; however, I would not have missed it for anything this side of Heaven. To play an audio file, click one of the following - AveA CapellaPause Walking Tour of Honfleur

(As I sit to write this, it is 4:43pm local time (10:43am your time) and a piper has started up on the pier. At first I thought he was playing some French songs. Then he struck up "Scotland the Brave". I believe I will abandon this and go up on deck the better to hear.)

Though we docked at Caudebec-En-Caux, the city was heavily bombed in WWII and much of the old parts of the city have been rebuilt. Just a 30-40 minute ride up the coast is the city of Honfleur. While you might think that the term fleur might refer to flowers, since we are in Normandy, the word actually derives from the old Viking word for port. The people of Normandy almost think of themselves as a separate country with a separate language.

Honfleur resides in the department (think county) of Calvados. And of course, it is from here that Calvados Brandy originates. Eglise Sainte Catherine is the largest church in France to be made entirely of wood. It was built by Honfleur's fishermen and dates back to 15 century.

Saint Wandrille - Silent Monks and Monastic Beer

The Abbey of St. Wandrille is a Benedictine monastery founded in 649 near Caudebec-en-Caux. The abbey was often a target for Viking raids. In 852 when it was burnt to the ground the monks fled with the relics of Saint Wandrille. In 966 Abbot Maynard and the monks returned to rebuilt the Abbey.

It was again destroyed by lightning in 1012. Undaunted, the monks once more set to work and another church was consecrated in 1033. In 1250, it was again burnt to the ground, but Abbot Pierre Mauviel at once began a new one. Hampered by lack of funds and it was not completed until 1331. In 1791 during the French Revolution, the Abbey fell on hard times and was sold at action. The Abbey has gone from a Monastery to private hands and back until 1931.

Today, under the leadership of the present abbot, Dom Nault, much of the private work is being undone and it is being restored as much as possible.