13/06: Vacation in Languedoc-Roussillon
Category: Vacation Adventures
Posted by: troachadmin
My fellowship travels officially ended on Friday, April 16th. It was time to discover more of the wonders of France with my sweetheart Scott, who had patiently listened to my adventures without too much jealously from across the pond. Scott selected a corner of southern France that I had not yet visited - and we together explored more Roman ruins, medieval walled cities, the flat delta areas of the Camargue where the Gardon, Ardenne, and Rhône Rivers meet the Mediterranean, and the beginnings of the Pyrennes Mountains. As tourists, we experienced the story of water from Roman times, the results of the 200 year traditions of restoration in France, and historic places brought to life by the work of professional "animators".
Scott relaxing at the Centre Pompideau rooftop cafe, that provides fantastic birdeye views over the 3rd arrondissment, part of the Marais Secteur Sauvegardé, and central Paris.
View from the towers at Notre Dame de Paris, which were heavily restored in the 19th century by Viollet-le-duc. In the pavement, you can see the outline of earlier buildings, testimony to earlier times. The banks of the Seine, from the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Double windows and interior shutters at the Rodin Museum, Paris -- held wide open at a museum on a gorgeous April day.
The universal language of pictures is demonstrated in the "Do Not ... " signage at the Louvre.
The Roman arena in Nimes, was built under Emperor Augustus in the 1st century A.D. and is purported to be the best preserved amphitheater of the Roman era. (Image: SSP)
One weekend a year, the Nimes arena is brought to life through gladiator re-enactments, the Great Roman Games.
Recently restored rear facade of the Maison Carrée in Nimes, another Roman masterpiece, with the 1993 Contemporary Arts Museum to the left by Sir Norman Foster. The juxtaposition of new and old creates architectures true to each time and strengthens the vibrancy within the close quarters of the medieval historical center of Nimes.
Roman aquaduct over the River Gardon in southern France; the aquaduct carried water for 500 years. The stones of the Pont du Gard are covered in grafitti; many are marks of the Compagnons who helped conserve and restore the bridge from as early as 1611. Pont du Gard is a UNESCO world heritage site.
The Roman aquaduct of the Pont du Gard carried water to the city of Nimes over 50 kilometers from a source near Uzès. Today, kilometers of walking paths follow the ruins on either side of the Pont du Gard. This photograph shows the enormous size of the water channel, as well as glimpse of the cement lining.
The walled city of Aigues Mortes and adjacent canals were developed by King Louis IX (Saint Louis) in 1240 as a launch-point for crusades in the Mediterranean to take back the Holy Land from the Muslims. Saint Louis embarked on the seventh (1248) and eighth (1270) crusades from here.
The town walls of Aigues Mortes were entered in the Register of Historical Monuments in 1903. The salt hills are visible in the distance, right side.
Flamingos with salt hills behind them in the Camargue. Salt is gathered in an evaporation method. In the briny waters, a red plankton flourishes. The flamingos turn pink from eating this plankton.
The hilltop castle of Peyrepertuse blends into the hillsite, as seen from the road below.
The lower castle of Peyrepertuse, seen here, dates to pre-French times; the upper castle was built by King Louis IX (Saint Louis). Peyrepertuse was one of a chain of five castles that protected France against Spain.
The castle of Peyrepertuse had four cisterns. One is located behind Scott, who is standing in the doorway of the chapel.
Medieval town laid out in a circle around the church. There are maybe 1,000 of these in southern/southwestern France. (Image: SSP)
The Canal du Midi, built between 1667 and 1694, travels 360 kilometers from Toulouse to the Mediterranean. Today it is largely used by tourist boats. We watched a young boy catch his first eel on the banks near Trèbes, 7 kilometers east of Carcassonne. The Canal du Midi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Reconstructed windmill in the Black Mountains, northeast of Carcassonne. Wind powered the millstones.
Modern "éoliens" or wind-turbines along the road between Carcassonne and Nimes. The French government has created large incentives for landowners to install wind-turbines, creating much debate in historical and natural landscapes, such as around the Mont Saint Michel on the English Channel.
Camargue bulls, horses and cowboys. (Image: SSP)
Young Camargue horses are born with varying degrees of grey and brown, but turn pure white by three years of age.
Scott relaxing at the Centre Pompideau rooftop cafe, that provides fantastic birdeye views over the 3rd arrondissment, part of the Marais Secteur Sauvegardé, and central Paris.
View from the towers at Notre Dame de Paris, which were heavily restored in the 19th century by Viollet-le-duc. In the pavement, you can see the outline of earlier buildings, testimony to earlier times. The banks of the Seine, from the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Double windows and interior shutters at the Rodin Museum, Paris -- held wide open at a museum on a gorgeous April day.
The universal language of pictures is demonstrated in the "Do Not ... " signage at the Louvre.
The Roman arena in Nimes, was built under Emperor Augustus in the 1st century A.D. and is purported to be the best preserved amphitheater of the Roman era. (Image: SSP)
One weekend a year, the Nimes arena is brought to life through gladiator re-enactments, the Great Roman Games.
Recently restored rear facade of the Maison Carrée in Nimes, another Roman masterpiece, with the 1993 Contemporary Arts Museum to the left by Sir Norman Foster. The juxtaposition of new and old creates architectures true to each time and strengthens the vibrancy within the close quarters of the medieval historical center of Nimes.
Roman aquaduct over the River Gardon in southern France; the aquaduct carried water for 500 years. The stones of the Pont du Gard are covered in grafitti; many are marks of the Compagnons who helped conserve and restore the bridge from as early as 1611. Pont du Gard is a UNESCO world heritage site.
The Roman aquaduct of the Pont du Gard carried water to the city of Nimes over 50 kilometers from a source near Uzès. Today, kilometers of walking paths follow the ruins on either side of the Pont du Gard. This photograph shows the enormous size of the water channel, as well as glimpse of the cement lining.
The walled city of Aigues Mortes and adjacent canals were developed by King Louis IX (Saint Louis) in 1240 as a launch-point for crusades in the Mediterranean to take back the Holy Land from the Muslims. Saint Louis embarked on the seventh (1248) and eighth (1270) crusades from here.
The town walls of Aigues Mortes were entered in the Register of Historical Monuments in 1903. The salt hills are visible in the distance, right side.
Flamingos with salt hills behind them in the Camargue. Salt is gathered in an evaporation method. In the briny waters, a red plankton flourishes. The flamingos turn pink from eating this plankton.
The hilltop castle of Peyrepertuse blends into the hillsite, as seen from the road below.
The lower castle of Peyrepertuse, seen here, dates to pre-French times; the upper castle was built by King Louis IX (Saint Louis). Peyrepertuse was one of a chain of five castles that protected France against Spain.
The castle of Peyrepertuse had four cisterns. One is located behind Scott, who is standing in the doorway of the chapel.
Medieval town laid out in a circle around the church. There are maybe 1,000 of these in southern/southwestern France. (Image: SSP)
The Canal du Midi, built between 1667 and 1694, travels 360 kilometers from Toulouse to the Mediterranean. Today it is largely used by tourist boats. We watched a young boy catch his first eel on the banks near Trèbes, 7 kilometers east of Carcassonne. The Canal du Midi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Reconstructed windmill in the Black Mountains, northeast of Carcassonne. Wind powered the millstones.
Modern "éoliens" or wind-turbines along the road between Carcassonne and Nimes. The French government has created large incentives for landowners to install wind-turbines, creating much debate in historical and natural landscapes, such as around the Mont Saint Michel on the English Channel.
Camargue bulls, horses and cowboys. (Image: SSP)
Young Camargue horses are born with varying degrees of grey and brown, but turn pure white by three years of age.
