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Huguenot Society of Australia Tour de France by Albury Kent Travel of 13

Trip Dossier & Itinerary Fully Escorted by English Speaking Guide

Tue 12 October: Arrive in ParisArrival at Paris CDG Airport, and make your own way to our Paris Hotel for check-in. The remainderof the day is at leisure to relax and recover from the flight or go for a walk and acquaint yourself withthe area around our hotel. Evening at leisure, dinner on your own. Overnight at Hotel MercureRonceray 3 star or similar in Paris.

PARISThe French capital is one of the world’s truly great cities, that satisfies the desires of touristsand manages to retain a standard of living that makes becoming a Parisian so alluring.Despite its large size and population almost everything worth seeing is contained withinthe ring road, the Boulevard Périphérique. The compact center is easily navigable on foot,with the efficient and comprehensive Métro system always on hand to ease tired limbs. Thelifeblood River Seine splits the city neatly in two and the useful arrondissements systemneatly carves Paris into manageable chunks.The history of Paris can be uncovered in its distinctive districts. Hilly Montmartre, with its village atmosphere,was where the Paris Commune began in 1871; the Marais evokes medieval Paris, its winding streets a sharpcontrast to the wide, orderly Haussmann boulevards, envisaged by Napoleon III to keep the mobs at bay, thesegrand avenues still dominate the city. The grands travaux (large projects) of Président Mitterrand added theGrande Arche de la Défense, the ultra-modern Opéra de la Bastille, the impressive Institut du Monde Arabe,and plonked a glass pyramid in the central courtyard of the Louvre.The varied populations within Paris define the city’s atmosphere just as much as its landmarks. The Frenchestablishment resides comfortably in the smart 16th arrondissement, while African and Eastern Europeanimmigrants live less lavishly in areas such as up-and-coming Belleville and Goutte d’Or. The Jewish quartersinclude the shabby Sentier and trendy Marais; the latter is also Paris’ gay center.

Wed 13 October: Paris – Orléans – AmboiseAfter breakfast, we will meet our English speaking guide (who will be our escort/guide for the next15 days touring) at the hotel and be picked up by our driver and coach (who will also be with us forthe next 2 weeks touring in France). Leave Paris on the southern highway to Orléans. Visit of Orléanswith our guide, including Joan of Arc’s house (entrance fee included), we then continue to Amboise.Orléans and Amboise were important sites for the Huguenot movements. Enjoy dinner in our hotelor at a local restaurant (3 course menu, drinks not included). Overnight at Hotel Novotel Amboise 3star or similar in/near Amboise. (B.D)

ORLÉANS & JOAN OF ARCOn the 12th of October 1428, the English lay siege to Orléans, the last fortified town on the way to Bourges, inwhich the King, Charles VII, had taken refuge. In February 1429, Joan met Baudricourt, who gave her an escortto take her to the king. Travelling mostly at night, they passed through territory controlled by the forces of theDuke of Burgundy, reaching Orléans via the Sologne on 29th of April 1429. The same evening, Joan entered thetown to general rejoicing. On 7th of May 1429, Joan and her little army took the Fort des Tourelles, denyingaccess to the bridge into Orléans, and on the following day, during a Mass said between the two armies drawnup in line of battle, the English left the town without a fight. The siege of Orléans was over, the English weredemoralised by the presence of Joan, and the French troops were filled with courage and excitement. Orléans was a key centre of operations during the early wars of religion. A reformed church was establishedthere in 1557 and, in 1562, it was a Protestant base of operations for policing the Loire region.

AMBOISE IS KNOWN FOR ITS CASTLE AND CLOS-LUCE OF LEONARDO DA VINCIAmboise Castle: The cradle of the Renaissance: The Amboise Castle, one of the first truly “royal” residences ofits kind, was built during the 15th and 16th centuries on the orders of Charles VIII, Louis XII and François I.

Huguenot Society of AustraliaTOUR DE FRANCE

15 NIGHTS DEPARTS 12 OCTOBER 2010

Following in the footsteps of the great kings of France, you will discover amagnificent example of Gothic and Renaissance architecture. Today, theChateau still houses an exceptional collection of furniture which has beenadmirably preserved. It was at Amboise that Leonardo da Vinci lived outhis last years. Thanks to the King’s patronage, this remarkable genius wasable to devote himself to his final concerns and objects of study until hisdeath on 2 May 1519. His body now rests in the Chateau’s chapel of StHubert, an elegant 15th century building in the flamboyant Gothic style.Dominating the city of Amboise, the gardens of the Chateau offer one of themost splendid views of the Loire Valley.Clos-Lucé d’Amboise: Leonardo da Vinci passed the last four years of his life at the Clos-Lucé painting, andpursuing the many interests which absorbed him, until his death at the house on 2nd May 1519. The buildinghouses an astonishing collection of models of Leonardo da Vinci’s inventions reconstructed by IBM from themaster’s drawings, using the materials of his time. The first aeroplane, the first self-propelled vehicle, thehelicopter, the parachute, the tank, the machine gun, the swing-bridge etc.In this fine country house, you will also find the homely atmosphere of a dwelling which has been lived in andhas period furniture in all its rooms. Leonardo’s bedroom, his kitchen with the monumental fireplace, finerenaissance rooms in brick and stone, magnificently restored by the French Beaux-Arts Department, threecharming 18th century salons resplendent with the taste and gracefulness of the age of Louis XV.Surrounding the house is an Italian renaissance rose garden in a beautiful shady park with a stream runningthrough it and a small jewel-like chapel built by Charles VIII for his Queen Consort, Anne of Brittany,renowned for her great piety.Amboise was the site of the Edict of 1563, which allowed the legal practice of Calvinism in townships and nobleestates.

Thu 14 October: Amboise – Sancerre – Chenonceau – AmboiseBreakfast at our hotel before our visit of the Loire Valley, know for its famous castles and stunninggardens, for which it was named ‘the Gardens of France’. We will drive alongside the Cher River toSancerre, passing by the towns of Vierzon and Bourges, visiting the town of Sancerre to enjoy winetasting at a local producer from the region. Sancerre was a rallying point for the Huguenot cause. Onthe way back we stop in Chenonceaux to visit Chenonceau Castle. The evening is at leisure inAmboise. Overnight at Hotel Novotel Amboise 3 star or similar in/near Amboise. (B)

SANCERREThe charm of the Sancerre region strikes immediately, when coming round a curve, from its famous "piton"peak, overlooking a landscape of valleys entirely comprised of vineyards. The city is in fact built on a hill whichconceals a labyrinth of secrets to discover in its mound of roofs, the delicate and medieval nature of its smallstreets and the beauty of its old stones.Follow the cross-roads to discover the art galleries, picturesque craft shops, or admire a house with flowers andinterior courtyard, an image engraved in stone. While strolling, it is impossible not to pass by the mainmonuments of the city: the remarkable 16th century bell tower built against the ravishing Notre-Dame church,or the Tour des Fiefs which dates back to the 14th century, the only remains of the ancient feudal chateau. Fromthe "piton" peak one may gain wonderful views over undulating, vine covered slopes, between which flows theLoire river.Sancerre is renowned for the prestige of its wines, the fruit of a long tradition which dates back to thebeginning of our era. Pline, in the 1st Century and Grégoire de Tours in 592 had already proclaimed its merits!However, it was the Counts of Sancerre and especially the Augustin monks in Saint-Satur who developed theculture, during the 11th century.Today, the Sancerre region vineyards cover 2,400 hectares, extending over the medium and high portions of theslopes especially in the area immediately surrounding the city of Sancerre. Its warm micro-climate and verystony, warm and healthy ground encourages vine cultivation. Following the St Bartholomew Massacres in 1572, Sancerre was a town whichsupported the Protestant cause and withstood a siege in 1572-1573 during the4th War of Religion.

CHENONCEAU CASTLE Chenonceau Castle, a jewel of the French Renaissance, was built in 1513 byThomas Bohier, Controller of the Royal Treasury under François I. Thearchitect was in all probability a master mason named Pierre Nepveu, knownas Trinqueau, a native of Amboise. He built the castle for Thomas Bohier on


Amboise

Chenonceau Castle

the foundations of a fortified mill, retaining the keep. The tower, known as the Tour des Marques, clearlyvisible on approaching the castle, still bears the name of the family who had owned this mill from the 13thcentury. In the castle, you will visit the Guard Room, the Chapel, Diane de Poitiers’ Room, the Green Study, the Library,the Gallery, the Hall, Francis I Room, the drawing room, the kitchens, the staircase, the hall of CatherineBriçonet, the room of Gabrielle d’Estrées, the room of the Five Queens, the room of Catherine de Medicis, theVendome Room, the Chamber of Louise de Lorraine. From the first floor balcony, there is a view of the loveliest part of the estate. To the left is Catherine’s garden,.inthe centre, and immediately in front of the castle, is the Court of Honour, and nearer still is the forecourt, whichis reached along the Great Avenue lined with plane trees. In the Court of Honour the Tour des Marquesperpetuates the name of the Marques family, who were the owners of the Seigneury of Chenonceau in the 15thcentury. To the left, and extending along the side of the forecourt, is the building known as the Domes, whichformerly housed the servants. To the right, at the entrance to the garden of Diane, stands the Chancellery whichwas built at the end of the 16th century.

Fri 15 October: Amboise – Fontevraud – Saumur – AmboiseBreakfast at our hotel. Today we will continue our visit of Loire Valley with our guide. We willdiscover the famous Abbaye de Fontevraud as well as Saumur Castle. Saumur witnessed theflourishing of Protestantism. The evening is at leisure in Amboise. Overnight at Hotel NovotelAmboise 3 star or similar in/near Amboise. (B)

FONTEVRAUD ABBEYFontevraud Abbey (or Fontevrault Abbey) is located in the village ofFontevraud-l'Abbaye, near Chinon, in Anjou, France. It was founded by theitinerant reforming preacher Robert of Arbrissel, who had just created a neworder, the Order of Fontevrault. The first permanent structures were builtbetween 1110 and 1119.The abbey was a double monastery, with both monks and nuns on the samesite. The order became an international success. There were several"Fontevrist" abbeys set up in England. Robert of Arbrissel declared that the leader of the order should alwaysbe a woman and appointed Petronille de Chemillé as the first abbess. She was succeeded by Matilda d'Anjou,the aunt of Henry II of England. This was the start of a position that attracted many rich and noble abbessesover the years, including members of the French Bourbon royal family. Louise de Bourbon left her crest onmany of the alterations she made during her term of office. In the early years the Plantagenets were greatbenefactors of the abbey and while Isabella d'Anjou was abbess, Henry II's wife Eleanor of Aquitaine became anun there.During the French Revolution, the order was dissolved. The last abbess, Madame d'Antin, died in poverty inParis. On 17 August 1792, a Revolutionary decree ordered evacuation of all monasteries, to be completed by 1October 1792. The abbey later became a prison from 1804 to 1963, in which year it was given to the FrenchMinistry of Culture. The restoration of the abbey church was finished about 1906 under the direction of thearchitect Lucien Magne.

SAUMUR CASTLELocated in the French town of Saumur, in the Maine-et-Loire département, theChâteau de Saumur was originally constructed in the tenth century by Thibaultle Tricheur. It dominates the town of Saumur and overlooks the confluence ofthe Loire and the Thouet Rivers. In 1026 it came into the hands of Fulk Nerra,count of Anjou, who bequeathed it to his Plantagenet heirs. Following itsdestruction in 1067, the château was rebuilt by Henry II of England in the latertwelfth century.In the early part of the 1200s, Philip II of France made Saumur part of his royal domain. It changed handsseveral times until 1589 when the Protestant King Henri IV (of France and Navarre) gave the castle toDuplessis-Mornay.In 1621 the castle was converted into an army barracks then into a state prison under Napoleon Bonaparte.In the first part of the 20th century, the city of Saumur acquired the castle and began a restoration program tohouse the museum of decorative arts. In line with the Saumur area's equestrian tradition and its famous "CadreNoir", the castle also serves as a Museum of the Horse. The castle has a dungeon, watchtower, and houses theMusée de la Figurine-Jouet, a collection of very old toys and figurines of soldiers, kings of France, and clowns.Most of the monuments are built in the lovely soft local stone known as tuffeau. The nearby Château deBeaulieu which stands just 200 metres from the south bank of the Loire river. Designed by the renowned


Fontevraud Abbey

Saumur Castle

architect Jean Drapeau, it is recognised for its light and elegant architecture. Amongst the other MonumentsHistoriques are the church of Saint-Pierre in the Place St Pierre in the centre of Saumur, and the Château deBriacé which is located on the north side of the riverAfter 1589, Saumur was a principal haven for Protestants,where assemblies and teaching were to flourish.When the Edict of Nantes was revoked in 1685, many protestants were jailed in the Castle.

Sat 16 October: Amboise – Poitiers – La RochelleBreakfast at hotel. Today we will discover, with our guide, the Poitou Charente region and especiallyPoitiers where we will visit its famous Cathedral. Poitiers is an important site for those studing thehistory of Calvinsm. The evening is at leisure in La Rochelle. Enjoy dinner at our Hotel or in anearby local restaurant (3-course menu, drinks not included). Overnight at Hotel Mercure Yachtman3 star or similar in La Rochelle. (B.D)

POITIERS Poitiers is strategically situated on the Seuil du Poitou, a shallow zonejoining the Armorican to the Central Massif and connecting the AquitaineBasin to the Paris Basin. The town stands on a vast promontory betweenthe valleys of Boivre and Clain. The old town occupies the slopes andsummit of a plateau which rises 40 metres above the level of the streamsby which it is surrounded on three sides.Poitiers was founded as Limonum before Roman influence by thePictones tribe, whose name it later adopted. Christianity was introducedin the 3rd century, and the first Bishop of Poitiers, from 350 to 367, was Saint Hilarius. Fifty years later the cityhad fallen into the hands of the Arian Visigoths, and became one of the principal residences of their kings.Alaric II, one of their number, was defeated by Clovis I at Vouillé, not far from Poitiers, in 507, and the townbecame a part of the Frankish dominion.Until 1857 Poitiers contained the ruins of a Roman amphitheatre more extensive than that of Nimes; remains ofRoman baths, constructed in the 1st and demolished in the 3rd century, were laid bare in 1877; and in 1879 aburial-place and the tombs of a number of Christian martyrs were discovered on the heights to the south-east— the names of some of the Christians being preserved in paintings and inscriptions. Not far from these tombsis a huge dolmen (the "Pierre Levée"), 22 feet (6.7 m) long, 16 feet (4.9 m) broad and 6 or 7 feet (2.1 m) high,around which used to be held the great fair of St. Luke.The first decisive Christian victory over Muslims — Battle of Tours — was fought by Charles Martel's men inthe proximity of Poitiers on October 10, 732. It has been said that "But for their defeat by Charles Martel in theBattle of Tours the entire Western world might today be Muslim."In the Early Middle Ages, the town was the capital of the Poitou region, governed by the Counts of Poitiers.Eleanor of Aquitaine frequently resided in the city, which she embellished and fortified, and in 1199 entrustedwith communal rights. The Battle of Poitiers was fought at Poitiers on September 19, 1356, during the HundredYears' War. In 1418, the royal parliament moved from Paris to Poitiers, where it remained in exile until theEnglish withdrew from the capital in 1436. During this interval (1429) Joan of Arc was subjected to a formalinquest in the town. The University of Poitiers was founded in 1431. John Calvin had numerous converts at Poitiers, preaching many of his early sermons here in 1534, and later,with the establishment of Protestant communities in 1557. The city had its share. of the violent proceedingswhich attended the Wars of Religion. In 1569 it was defended by Guy de Daillon, Comte du Lude, againstGaspard de Coligny, who after an unsuccessful bombardment retired from the siege at the end of seven weeks.Poitiers is closely associated with the life of François Rabelais and with the community of Bitards. ManyAcadians or Cajuns living in North America can trace ancestry to this region as their ancestors left from here inthe 17th century. Poitiers was bombed heavily during the World War II, particularly the area round the railwaystation. Among the 20th-century natives of the city was the influential French philosopher Michel Foucault.One of the more recent famous Frenchwomen to come from the area is Florence Largeau more famous for herrendition of the ageless French classic the Connemara.Poitiers Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Poitiers), begun in 1162 by Henry II of England and Eleanor ofAquitaine on the ruins of a Roman basilica, and well advanced by the end of the 12th century, is the largestmedieval monument in the French city of Poitiers. It is built in the Romanesque and Early Gothic style, thelatter predominating. The principal front, which is broad relative to its height, has unfinished side-towers 105and 110 ft. tall, begun in the 13th century. Most of the windows of the choir and the transepts preserve theirstained glass of the 12th and 13th centuries; the end window, which is certainly the first in the order of time,contains the figures of Henry II and Eleanor. The choir stalls, carved between 1235 and 1257, are among theoldest in France.


Poitiers City

Sun 17 October: La Rochelle –Marais Poitevin – La RochelleAfter breakfast in our hotel we will, with our guide, discover the beautiful city of La Rochelle and LeMarais Poitevin; we will also visit a Protestant Temple in La Rochelle. The evening is at leisure at LaRochelle. Overnight at Hotel Mercure Yachtman 3 star or similar in La Rochelle. (B)

LA ROCHELLE Founded in the 10th century on a rocky platform in the middle ofmarshlands, La Rochelle, a fishing village, became a major port asearly as the 12th century. In 1199, Eleanor of Aquitaine granted a towncharter to La Rochelle, which was thus free of feudal domination. Themayor, the aldermen and the shipowners cleverly benefited from thequarrel between the kingdoms of France and England to increase theirprivileges and wealth. The power of La Rochelle was based on the saltand wine trade. Its independence naturally made it a meeting placefor new ideas and reform. La Rochelle, the capital of French Protestantism, was a threat to thepolicy of unification undertaken by Richelieu. In 1628, la Rochelle wasstarved, decimated, and reduced to a state of mercy by Louis XIII. Inspite of the heroic resistance of the Mayor, Jean Guiton, La Rochelle lost its privileges, saw its trade ruined andits ramparts dismantled. Not until the 18th century did the sugar trade from the Varivean triangle, and the furtrade from Canada bring back wealth to the shipowners of La Rochelle, and the town regained some of theglory of its previous activities. In the 18th century, La Rochelle was not only the seat of an upsurge in trade, butalso of an intellectual renaissance, an artistic radiation. The Revolution and the Empire Wars, set La Rochelle tosleep, waking up only when the deep water port of La Pallice was constructed at the dawning of the 20thcentury. With its glorious past, La Rochelle, a renowned fishing port, international leisure port (3000 boats),with its modern infrastructures, its beaches and those on the Isle of Ré accessible via the bridge, is a touristlandmark.The city was a key place of refuge and leadership for Protestants. It suffered sieges in 1573 and 1627, and was aplace of embarkation when Protestants fled France, especially post 1685.

THE OLD HARBOUR As early as the 18th century, the harbour of La Rochelle was installed in this location. It is probable that, fromits origin, it was fortified. The remaining towers date from the 14th to 15th centuries. They survived thedestruction of the walls surrounding the town after the 1628 siege. On either side of the entrance, are the TourSaint Nicolas, the tallest, and the Tour de la Chaine; then, further on, connected to the latter by a curtain wall, isthe Tour de la Lanterne, which serves both as a beacon and for defence purposes. The Tour de la Chaine datesfrom the end of the 14th century. It has come under heavy attack on several occasions. Restored a few yearsago, it now houses a model of the old town of La Rochelle. The name of the Tour de la Chaine comes from theenormous chain which was drawn across the harbour entrance to the Tour Saint Nicolas to stop ships enteringthe port. The chain still lies preserved at the foot of the tower. Dating from around the same period, the TourSaint Nicolas is an impressive sight and an interesting example of military architecture, and offers splendidviews over the town, the bay and the islands. The Tour de la Lanterne, also known as the Tour des QuatresSergents, made up part of the seaward defences. It is a squat Tower crowned with a gothic spire decorated withribs and crockets. Inside are several rooms, one above the other. A winding staircase leads to the covered way,then to the outside gallery which encircles the spirt, half way up and from there you get a fine view out overthe town and the entrance to the harbour. For a long time this tower was used as a prison and inside, manyBritish, Spanish and Dutch prisoners have left their names engraved in the stone. As its name implies, it alsoserved as a lighthouse.

LE MARAIS POITEVIN The Marais Poitevin (Poitevin Marsh), also known as Venise Verte (Green Venice) is a marsh region in WesternFrance, a remnant of the former Gulf of Poitou. With a surface area of 970 km2, it is the largest marsh on theAtlantic coast and the second largest of the whole country. It is situated north of La Rochelle and south of theVendée region. Although the area was declared a regional park (parc naturel régional) in 1979, it lost that statusin 1996 as intensive agricultural development around the Marsh meant the unique character of the region was -and still is - endangered.Tourism includes boating in traditional barques, which is a form of punting. There are several 'embarcadères',from which boats can be hired. The myriad canals are covered in green 'weed' (hence the nickname 'VeniseVerte') and the drained marshland is home to a varied fauna, best seen from the boats. The Marais Poitevin isalso the most important area of angelica cultivation in France.


La Rochelle

Mon 18 October: La Rochelle – Bergerac – Rocamadour – CahorsBreakfast at our hotel. This morning, with our guide, we will drive through Bergerac. Bergerac was acentre of Protestantism in the 17th Century. Visit of Rocamadour with our guide, including elevatortickets and access to sites. Enjoy dinner at our hotel or a local restaurant (3-course menu, drinks notincluded). Overnight at Hotel de France 3 star or similar in Cahors. (B.D)

BERGERAC The old town forms a quadrangle inside a line marked by the Dordogne River,between the streets Neuve d’Argenson and St Esprit, the old moats and the townwalls which were demolished by Richelieu. Despite the destructive effects of the100 Years War, repeated during religious wars and by time, there are still manyinteresting remains of the old town to be seen.The Covered Market is built on the site of an old temple which was destroyed in1682. At the north western corner of the square, one can see a house with a cornerturret and a gable-end, the only remains of damaged ramparts, where Charles IXand his mother Catherine lodged on 8th of August 1565.The pilgrims bound for Santago de Compostela used to stop at the St JacquesChurch, whose arched belfry and magnificent window still remain. In the choirwere two paintings of the Italian Renaissance School: Adoration of the Magi by Guido.The Vieille Auberge (old inn), situated in the Rue des Fontaines, is still preserved with its two gothic arches, itsornamental arcade and cornices from the 14th century.The Cloître des Recollets (monastery) is now the headquarters of the Interprofessional Council for Bergeracwhich has restored the buildings very successfully. The monastery is situated between the river and De CaylaSquare which provides the only entrance. On the right is the chapel which has become the Protestant church.The walls, built of alternating stone and brick, have regained their original colours and in the courtyard standsa cloister combining work from the 17th and 18th centuries with the monastery over in the corner.The Maison Peyrarède faces the Rue de l’Ancien Pont. It is an interesting 15th century building extensivelyaltered in 1603 by Mathurin Peyrarède and characterised by an elegant turret and cold arch supporting the twoupper storeys. Louis 13th lodged in the house in 1621. It contains a Tobacco Museum unique in France withmany interesting exhibits and several paintings by old masters, and also an Historical Urban’s Museum.In the 17th century, over 6000 Protestants lived in the town and, despite persecution and church destruction,continued to worship. Their spiritual resistance was renowned.

ROCAMADOUR - BREATHTAKING CITY, SACRED CITY Hanging on the edge of a desolate gorge, the medieval city of Rocamadourwas carved in the cliff by human faith. On your arrival at L’Hospitalet, on theplateau above the medieval city, you will discover, as did the pilgrims of thethirteenth century, the breathtaking valley and the mystical city below,nature and monument indistinguishable. Built against the cliff, Rocamadour appears to be a challenge to gravity - as acascade of roofs and rocks miraculously resting on a vertical line. Betweenthe castle which crowns the city and the little river Alzou peacefully winding along the bottom of the valley, aone hundred metre drop shelters the sanctuaries and the houses. On the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, Rocamadour was for centuries one of the most celebratedpilgrimages of the Christian world and continues today, still attracting numerous faithful who come to pray tothe black Virgin. The great staircase leads the visitor to the courtyard of the religious city surrounded by sevenchurches and chapels.

SAINT-AMADOUR “In the year of the Incarnation 1166, an inhabitant of the country, being on his deathbed, asked his family,undoubtedly through divine inspiration, to bury his body at the entrance to the oratory. When the ground wasdug, the body of Amadour was found, quite whole; it was placed in the church, near the altar and is shownthus, in its integral form, to the pilgrims.” This is what Robert de Torigny (Abbot of Mont Saint Michel) relatesin his chronicle about the pilgrimage of Henry II King of England. Nothing in the documents makes it possibleto identify the body, however... It was commonly believed that the body of Amadour rested there, but no oneknew exactly where.Local tradition, this remarkable unrecorded history handed down from the earliest of times, identifiesAmadour as Zacchaeus of the gospels... Zacchaeus, a Jew from Jericho, lived at the time of Christ. The texts ofthe gospels tell us that, being short, he climbed a maple tree better be able to see Christ; seeing his faith, Jesuscalled him and invited him to come and stay with Him. After that visit, converted and repentant, Zacchaeus


Bergerac

Rocamadour

distributed half of his goods to the poor and promised to return fourfold what he might have acquired unjustly.It should be said that he was head of the Publicans, that is, tax collector of Jericho. According to one legend,Zacchaeus was the servant of the virgin Mary. Advised by her, he went to Gaul and there led the life of a hermitfor many years. Another legend has him married to Sainte Veronica... They left together and their vessel,pushed by the wind - a manifestation of divine will - landed at the port of Soulac, in the Gironde. After thedeath of Veronica, he lived a solitary life in the caves of Rocamadour.There is no doubt that the state of preservation of the body of Amadour made a great impression... nearly 400years after the discovery of the corpse, the body was still intact. A parishioner over 100 years old, buried atRocamadour in 1632, related having seen with her own eyes, the glorious body of Saint-Amadour “completelywhole, of skin and bones like the day he died”, and she remembered well the pillage of 1562 : “When theHuguenots made a big fire on the paving stones of the parish church of Saint Amadour, wanting to burn thebody, but God prevented it, they tore the body to pieces and took the silver reliquary... “. To the minds of the people of the time, this faithful servant of the Virgin Mary was in this way awaitingresurrection. So everyone turned to the worker of so many miracles: the Black Madonna.

THE BLACK VIRGIN:How can it be explained that the black colour of the Virgin of Rocamadour was not pointed out before the 17thcentury? Is it the actual appearance of the Madonna which attracted such crowds of pilgrims for severalcenturies? Was her austere look offset by precious ornaments? And was her face, with its sober features andclosed eyes, given animation by some polychromatic processes? Numerous Romanesque virgins were paintedin bright colours and covered with jewels; was it the same with the Virgin of Rocamadour? What should bethought of the traces of polychromy still visible? Unfortunately, lack of archives leaves all these questionsunanswered. Nevertheless, Notre Dame de Rocamadour has come down to us today, the noble features andslight smile on her lips giving the whole face a reassuring gentleness. How many eyes have turned to her, howmany voices have entreated her, how many pilgrims have taken leave again, confident, relieved or cured!

Tue 19 October: Cahors – Montauban – Moissac – ToulouseBreakfast at our hotel. We will visit Montauban with our guide. Then enjoy a guided visit of Cloisterof Abbaye de Moissac (entrance fees included). The evening is at leisure in Toulouse. Overnight atHotel Holiday Inn Centre 3 star or similar in Toulouse. (B)

MONTAUBAN (Montalban in Occitan) is a town and commune of southwestern France, préfecture(capital) of the Tarn-et-Garonne département, 31 miles (50 km) north of Toulouse.With the exception of Mont-de-Marsan, Montauban is the oldest of the bastides ofsouthern France. Its foundation dates from 1144 when Alphonse Jourdain, Count ofToulouse, granted it a liberal charter. The inhabitants were drawn chiefly fromMontauriol, a village which had grown up around the neighbouring monastery of StThéodard.In the 13th century the town suffered much from the ravages of the Albigensiansand from the Inquisition, but by 1317 it had recovered sufficiently to be chosen byJohn XXII as the head of a diocese of which the basilica of St Théodard became the cathedral.In 1360, at the Treaty of Brétigny, it was ceded to the English; they were expelled by the inhabitants in 1414. In1560 the bishops and magistrates embraced Protestantism, expelled the monks, and demolished the cathedral.Ten years later it became one of the four Huguenot strongholds under the Peace of Saint-Germain, and formed asmall independent republic. It was the headquarters of the Huguenot rebellion of 1621, and successfullywithstood an 86-day siege by Louis XIII. It did not submit to royal authority until after the fall of La Rochelle in1629, when its fortifications were destroyed by Cardinal Richelieu. The Protestants again suffered persecutionafter the repeal of the Edict of Nantes in 1685.During World War II, Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa was briefly hidden in a secret vault behind a wine cellarat Montauban.

MOISSACMoissac is a town and commune of the Tarn-et-Garonne département, in southwestern France. It is on theancient pilgrimage route of Santiago de Compostela, and is famous world-wide mostly for the artistic heritagehanded down by the ancient Saint Peter's Abbey.Abbey Saint-Pierre in Moissac has a 12th century tympanum, portico statues (including the famous trumeaufigure of the Prophet Jeremiah) and cloister (which has a later 15th century roof structure). There is also a Centreof Romanesque Art with important documents on medieval sculpture, illumination and wall-paintings. TheAbbey church and cloister are listed among the World Heritage Sites of the Routes of Santiago de Compostelain France.


Cahors

According to legend, the abbey was founded by Clovis (the Frankishking), but from historical information it was founded by Saint Didier,bishop of Cahors in the middle of the 7th century. The establishmentof the monastery was difficult because of raids by the Moors and theNorsemen. The 11th and 12th centuries witnessed a first golden age,the result of Moissac being affiliated to the Burgundy abbey of Clunyand its accepting the famous Reformation, under the guidance ofDurand de Bredons who was both the Abbot of Moissac and theBishop of Toulouse. This outstanding era witnessed the major abbotsDom Hunaud de Gavarret, and Dom Ansquitil, who had the doorwayand tympanum built. In the 13th century, Raymond de Montpezat and then Bertrand de Montaigut, abbots andbuilders, ruled the abbey. Aymeric de Peyrac, writing his Chronicle in the 15th century in the castle of SaintNicolas de la Grave reveals us those events.The 15th century saw a new golden age with abbots Pierre and Antoine de Caraman, whose buildingprogramme included in particular the Gothic part of the abbey church. The 1626 secularization of the abbeycaused the Benedictine monks to leave the cloister which had been a centre of Benedictine life for nearly 1000years. They were replaced by Augustinian canons, under commendatory abbots including well-knowncardinals such as Mazarin and de Brienne. In 1793, the French Revolution put an end to monastic life inMoissac. In the middle of the 19th century, the laying of a railway track threatened the cloister but it was saved(though the refectory was demolished to facilitate the railway cutting) and listed as a historic monument. Eventhough the outlying buildings have suffered a lot and the appearance of the abbey has changed, this inheritanceis nowadays the object of intense care as the south-west portico tympanum and trumeau statue of the ProphetJeremiah, renowned amongst the greatest works of the European Romanesque, and the oldest and one of themost beautiful cloisters in France, can still be admired

Wed 20 October : Toulouse – Castres – Vigan – MontpellierBreakfast at our hotel. Visit of Castres, a town resonating with protestant history, with our guide anden route a guided visit of Musée Cévenol in Vigan (entrance fees included) – The Musée Cévenolshows the life in the Cévennes during the past centuries. Pass by the Cirque de Navacelles (naturalsite) on the way to Montpellier. The evening is at leisure in Montpellier - Overnight at Hotel Mercure3 star or similar in Montpellier. (B)

CASTRESThe name of the town comes from Latin castrum, and means "fortified place". Castres grew up round theBenedictine Abbey of Saint Benoît, which is believed to have been founded in AD 647, possibly on the site of anold Roman fort (castrum). Castres became an important stop on the international pilgrimage routes to Santiagode Compostela in Spain because its abbey-church, built in the 9th century, was keeping the relics of SaintVincent, the renowned martyr of Spain. During the Albigensian Crusade it surrendered of its own accord to Simon de Montfort, and thus entered intothe kingdom of France in 1229. In 1317, Pope John XXII established the bishopric of Castres. In 1356, the town ofCastres was raised to a countship by King John II of France. However, the town greatly suffered from the BlackPlague in 1347-1348, then from the Black Prince of England and the Free Companies (bands of lawlessmercenaries) who laid waste the country during the Hundred Years' War. Around 1560, the majority of thepopulation of Castres converted to Protestantism. In the wars of the latter part of the 16th century theinhabitants sided with the Protestant party, fortified the town, and established an independent republic. Castreswas one of the largest Protestant strongholds in southern France. Henry of Navarre, leader of the Protestantparty, who later became King Henry IV of France, stayed in Castres in 1585. The Protestants of Castres werebrought to terms, however, by King Louis XIII in 1629, and Richelieu came himself to Castres to have itsfortifications dismantled. Nonetheless, after these religious wars, the town, now in peace, enjoyed a period ofrapid expansion. Castres was turned by the Catholic church into an active center of Counter-Reformation, withthe establishments of several convents in town, and the building of a renowned bishop's palace by Mgr.Tubœuf,. A new cathedral was also built, after the destructions of the religious wars. Perhaps even moreimportant, Castres was made the seat of the Chambre de l'Édit of the Parliament of Toulouse, a court of justicedetached from the Parliament of Toulouse and in charge of dealing with the cases involving the Protestants ofLanguedoc, a measure of protection granted to them by the Edict of Nantes. This court attracted lots of businessto Castres. In 1665, there were 7,000 inhabitants in Castres, 4,000 of whom were Catholic, and 3,000 Protestant.The Revocation of the Edict of Nantes soon followed, and Castres suffered a lot when a great number ofProtestants chose to go into exile. Then came the plague of 1720-1721 and the fire of 1724. Last but not least,Castres lost its liberal charter in 1758. In the 1760s, a few years after the famous Calas Affair in Toulouse,Castres made the headlines nationwide: Pierre-Paul Sirven and his wife, both Protestants, were wrongly


Toulouse at night

accused of having murdered their daughter in order to prevent her fromconverting to Catholicism. Tried and sentenced to death in absentia on March 29,1764, they were defended by Voltaire, and eventually exonerated in 1771.The outbreak of the French Revolution was generally welcomed in Castres,particularly among the local Protestant merchants and entrepreneurs, but themajority of the population remained moderate during the whole period. In 1793for instance, Protestant pastor Alba La Source, Castres' representative at theConvention in Paris, opposed the deportation of "non-juror" Catholic priests toFrench Guiana, where death in the horrid jungle was certain. "Non-juror" priestswere by far the majority in the region of Castres. Accused of being a moderate, Alba La Source was guillotinedin October 1793. Suspected of being lukewarm toward the revolution, Castres was duly chastised. The bishopricwhich had been established by Pope John XXII in 1317 was abolished, Castres later becoming part of thebishopric of Albi.

LE VIGANThe town marks the furthest point of Cevennes Protestantism. In the 17th century, it was almost entirelyProtestant. Its surrounding valley, Arre, remained Protestant despite the Catholic reconquest before and afterthe 1685 Edict.The Cirque de Navacelles is large circular landform, located towards the southern edge of the Massif Centralmountain range, near Saint-Maurice-Navacelles and Blandas between the Hérault département and the Garddépartement.The Cirque is very isolated, with only a few small village communities living in the surrounding area. Thenearest notable settlement is Millau, a two hour drive away. Recently, the Cirque has seen increased visitornumbers, due to the recent completion of the A75 motorway from Clermont-Ferrand to Pezenas, providing anew non-stop motorway connection between Paris and Mediterranean. This allows easier transport to the area.Furthermore, the famous bridge, the Viaduc de Millau (which bypasses the town that gives it its name) bringseven more visitors to the area, many of whom wish to "venture" further into the countryside.

Thu 21 October: Montpellier – Ganges – Cévennes – Mialet – MontpellierAfter breakfast at our hotel we will pass by the Parc des Cévennes, then enjoy a guided visit of theMusée du Desert (entrance fees included) which shows a history of the Camisard and the Huguenotsin Cévennes. Then to Le Mialet and a guided visit of the Grotte des Demoiselles (entrance feesincluded). The evening is at leisure in Montpellier – Dinner at our hotel or a local nearby restaurant(3-course menu, drinks not included). Overnight at Hotel Mercure 3 staror similar in Montpellier. (B.D)

THE CÉVENNES NATIONAL PARK French: Parc National des Cévennes is a national park, located in southernFrance, in the mountainous area of Cévennes.The park was created in 1970. Itsadministrative seat is located in Florac at Florac Castle. The park is mainlylocated in the départements of Lozère and Gard, and covers some parts ofArdèche and Aveyron. The Aven Armand cave is located in the park. The Cévennes area was a bastion of Protestantism. In the heart of a typicalhamlet in the Cévennes, the alleyways lead to the birthplace and house of Camisard leader, Rolland. Throughartifacts and authentic documents, the DESERT MUSEUM brings to life the Huguenot past and the history ofthe Camisards. The museum, founded in 1910, was built around the house of Rolland, a significant Camisardleader, and features displays of 17th and 18th century Protestant history in the Cévennes. It includes achronology of events and people as well as special features of the culture and artefacts of the period.

GROTTE DES DEMOISELLES Many legends and stories have been linked with the cave, the existence of which has been common knowledgein the Languedoc region since time immemorial. The best known legend tells of a shepherd looking for a lostlamb who wandered into the swallow hole that marked the entrance to the cave. He heard the lamb but couldnot see it, and so he continued deeper and deeper into the cave, until he reached the chamber now known as thecathédrale (cathedral). With only a torch for light, he slipped and fell to the bottom of the chamber (a 60-metreplunge between stalactites and stalagmites). Knocked senseless by the shock, he noticed—just before passingout—a group of young ladies dancing and singing around him. When he woke up, he was back on the surfacewith his lamb. The modern name of the cave, Grotte des Demoiselles (“maidens' grotto”) reflects this legend;previously it had been known as the Grotte des Fées (“fairies' grotto”).At various times in history the cave has also served as a hiding place and refuge.


Montpellier

Park des Cevennes

In 1889, more serious exploration of the cave was undertaken by the renowned speleologist Édouard-AlfredMartel. At the time, visiting the cave was quite perilous, but in 1931 a funicular, concrete stairs and walkwayswith sturdy railings and extensive electric lighting were installed to make it accessible to the general public; andsince then it has been a popular regional tourist attraction..

Fri 22 October: Montpellier – Sète – NîmesBreakfast at your hotel. Today we will discover Montpellier and Sète with our escort/guide.Montpellier was a crucial city for the advance of protestant causes. Dinner at Hotel or local restaurantnearby (3-course menu, drinks not included). Overnight at Hotel Novotel 3 star or similar in Nîmes.(B.D)

MONTPELLIER (Occitan Montpelhièr) is a city in the south of France. It is the capital of the Languedoc-Roussillon region, aswell as the Hérault department. The city is situated on hilly ground 10 km (6 miles) inland from theMediterranean coast on the River Lez. The name of the city, originally Monspessulanus, is said to have stood formont pelé (the naked hill, because the vegetation was poor), or le mont de la colline (the mount of the hill).The Reformed Church was set up here in 1560. It has always been a stronghold for Protestant followers. Itschurches were destroyed during Catholic conquests. About 33 pastors were put to death here between 1690 and1754. Through its universities and libraries, the town has been a leader in the study of Protestant theology.

SÈTE (Seta in Occitan) is a commune in the Hérault department in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France. Known as the ‘Venice of Languedoc’, it is amajor fishing and commercial port and a sea-side resort on theMediterranean Sea. The initial village started growing with the completionof the Canal du Midi (1681). It was called Cette until 1927. Built upon andaround Mont St Clair, Sète is situated on the south-eastern hub of the Bassinde Thau, an enclosed salt water lake used primarily for oyster and musselfields. To its other side lies the Mediterranean.

Sat 23 October: Nîmes – Arles - Alès – NîmesBreakfast at our hotel. Visit of Nîmes, Alès and Arles with our guide, including entrance fees toRoman Arenas of Nîmes and entrance fees to Roman Theatre in Arles. Also, visit the GrandProtestant Temple in Nîmes. Overnight at Hotel Novotel 3 star or similar in Nîmes. (B)

NÎMES: The name of the town goes back to the Roman Colonia Nemausensis part ofthe Province of Narbonne and where Roman civilisation was introducedafter Caesar’s conquest of Gaul. The oppidum previously built by theVolcaz Arecomici became a town of Roman design. Nîme, Lyon andNarbonne were among the largest towns in Roman Gaul during the reign ofAugustus.Medieval Nîmes: The wars of religion inflicted major damage on the city.The city shrank, huddled around Saint-Castor Cathedral and the Romanarena, which was used as a fortress and a refuge for the population in caseof war. The first renaissance of Nimes was at the end of the Wars of Religion thanks to the textile industrywhich became established in the 17th century. The town grew during this period, the outlying areas expandedand numerous public and private buildings bear witness to the prosperity of the period.Recent and Modern Nîmes: The demolition of the ramparts at the end of the 18th century and the arrival of therailway a hundred years later gave the city its present shape. The boulevards which run around the historicalcentre of the city replace the fosses (ditches) which were part of the fortifications. The siting of the station andavenue Feuchères determined the subsequent southward growth of Nîmes. Today it is a thriving modern town.Nîmes was a source of Protestant activism. It outlawed Catholic worship in 1562. In 1566, the Temple of LaCalade was built but later destroyed in 1685. It was the centre of Huguenot military resistance during the warsand a political centre for Protestant rallying. After 1685, many massacres of Protestants occurred there.Monuments: Amphitheatre: The Roman arena (1st century AD), now used for bullfights, shows and concerts,gives us a strong image of a Roman public that loved elaborate and exciting shows.Maison Carrée: The Square House draws its apparently curious name from the word carré, meaning rectangularin Old French. This beautifully proportioned temple dedicated to Augustus’ grandsons was in the forum, the


Sète

Nîmes

administrative and business centre of the Roman town, Castellum: the Castellum (1st century AD) distributedwater to the various parts of the town. The water came from Eure spring near Uzès and was conveyed by anaqueduct. Porte Auguste: Augustus Gate was one of the gates in the roman ramparts. The military stonemarked the beginning of the Domitian Way between Nimes and Beaucaire. Tour Magne: This was the largest of the towers in the Roman ramparts around Nîmes.Jardins de la Fontaine: The gardens were laid out in 1745 by Jacques-Philippe Mareschal, who was Louis XV’sEngineer and Director of Fortifications in the Province of Languedoc.

ARLES

Arles is the largest city in France with an area of 758km2. It is encircled by anenvironment of exceptional beauty: the banks of the Rhône river, the aridplains of Crau, the Alpilles and the untamed land of Camargue. Once ametropolis of Roman Gaul, Arles then became a symbol of ardentChristianity as can be seen through the arena, the Alyscamps burial grounds,the amphitheatre and the Roman baths of Constantin.Arles is now the gateway to Camargue, land of the Gypsies and meeting place of the Camargue cowboys,Today the ferias or bull runs and bull fights are held in this very same arena (12,000 seats) that was the scene ofthe Roman games in the first century! City of festivals, art, and culture, Arles has never stopped attracting artists. Van Gogh stayed here with hisfriend Gauguin. Picasso, a lover of bull fights, was inspired by them to do two paintings and 57 drawings. Arlesis also a centre of photography. Each summer the Rencontres Internationales de la Photographie brings manyvisitors. The Roman monuments of Arles, registered with Unesco are outstanding, The houses and private mansions ofthe 16th and 17th centuries, the cloister of St. Trophime, the Hôtel de Ville, and the shaded terraces of the Placedes Lices are also all well worth a tour. The Roman Theatre, which dates from the period of Augustus, has a diameter of 102 m, the seating stretches tothe Tour de Roland and it includes the nearby arches. This allows a good idea of the outer dimensions of thebuilding. Nowadays, it is used for the festival of Arles (June, July) and the International Photography Festival.

ALÈSAlès is a commune in southern France, in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. It is one of the sub-prefectures ofthe Gard department. It was formerly known as Alais. In the 16th century Alès was an important Huguenotcentre. In 1629 the town was taken by Louis XIII, and by the Peace of Alais the Huguenots gave up their right to placesde sûreté (garrison towns) and other privileges. A bishopric was established there in 1694 but suppressed in1790.

Sun 24 October: Nîmes – Poët-Laval – LyonBreakfast at the hotel. This morning we will have a guided visit of Museum of Protestantism in Poët-Laval (entrance fees included). Dinner at our hotel or local nearby restaurant (3-course menu,drinks not included). Overnight at Grand Hotel des Terreaux 3 star or similar in Lyon. (B.D)

POËT LAVALIn the heart of this picturesque medieval village, the Dauphiné ReformationMuseum was founded partly in a 14th century Manor House. In the 17th centurythe house became a Reformed Church and, at the time of the "Revocation", it wasone of two churches in the country which were not eradicated. The Museum willenable you to discover the history of the Dauphiné Reformation: its wideinfluence, the setting up of the first local churches, the religious wars betweenRoman-Catholics and Protestants and the 1598 Edict of Nantes.

Mon 25 October: Lyon – Cluny – Wineroad – BeauneBreakfast at our hotel. A guided visit of Abbaye de Cluny (entrance fees included), then visit a localwine producer on Burgundy wine-road with tasting. After that visit of Beaune with our guide.Overnight at Hotel Athanor 3 star or similar in Beaune. (B)

ABBEY OF CLUNYThe Abbey of Cluny (or Cluni, or Clugny) was founded in AD 910 by William I, Count of Auvergne, whoinstalled Abbot Berno and placed the abbey under the immediate authority of Pope Sergius III. The Abbey andits constellation of dependencies soon came to exemplify the kind of religious life that was at the heart of 11th


Arles

Poët-Laval

century piety. The town of Cluny, in the modern-day department of Saône-et-Loire in the region of Bourgogne,in east-central France, near Mâcon, grew round the former abbey, founded in a forested hunting reserve.The Benedictine order was a keystone to the stability that European society achieved in the 11th century, andpartly owing to the stricter adherence to a reformed Benedictine rule, Cluny became the acknowledged leaderof western monasticism from the later 10th century. A sequence of highly competent abbots of Cluny werestatesmen on an international stage. The monastery of Cluny itself became the grandest, most prestigious andbest endowed monastic institution in Europe. The height of Cluniac influence was from the second half of the10th century through the early 12th. The Abbey was sacked and mostly destroyed in 1790 by a mob ofrevolutionaries. Only a small part of the original remains.The Hotel de Cluny in Paris dates from around 1334, and was formerly the town house of the abbots of Cluny.It was made into a public museum in 1833, but apart from the name it no longer possesses anything originallyconnected with the abbey.

BEAUNEIn Beaune you will find a town steeped even more deeply in the Burgundywine tradition. Once the region’s main town, it is now Burgundy’s winecapital. Its most famous building, l’Hotel Dieu, an old hospice built in 1443 forthe sick and needy, is famous for its annual wine auction and the royalhoneycombs of coloured tiles on its roofs. The heavy oak doors of its cellars,when drawn open, reveal a still dark world beneath the historic streets of thiscolourful city. Here, laid down sometimes for decades at a time, the bottles ofthe grands crus slumber in their racks gathering dust and maturity.Hôtel-Dieu : This 15th century masterpiece of gothic art, with its coloured glazed roofs, is one of the crowningglories of France. In act of undeniable piety, Nicolas Rolin Chancellor of the Duke of Burgundy and his wifeGuigone de Salins founded the hospital in 1443 to provide to the sick and destitute - a role it has filled eversince. This exceptionally well preserved monument is a rare example of civilian architecture in the Middle Ages.In 1971 the medical function was transferred to more modern buildings, leaving the visitor free to discover theGrande Salle des Pauvres, the lavishly decorated Paupers’ Ward leading on to the Flamboyant Gothic chapel.The present-day museum gives an excellent idea of the working of a hospital in the 15th century. The crowningglory is Roger van der Weyden’s famous polyptych of “The Last Judgement”, dating back to the time when thehospital was erected. Over the centuries the Hospital has acquired, through bequests and donations, some 57hectares (143 acres) of valuable vineyards enabling it to host the world’s most famous wine auction on the thirdSunday of November each year.

Tue 26 October: Beaune – Dijon – Vézelay – BeauneBreakfast at our hotel. Visit of Dijon and Vézelay with our guide, including visit of Basilica inVézelay. Overnight at Hotel Athanor 3 star or similar in Beaune. (B)

DIJON Dijon has been the capital of Burgundy since ancient times. Here you can visitthe Duke’s palace and illustrious noble houses, be struck by the richness of oneof France’s very best fine arts museums, stroll in the spacious streets where thepedestrian reigns over the motor car, explore ancient alleys, squeezed betweenwell-restored old houses with half-timbered fronts - and buy what was firstgrown in the vineyards - mustard. As for eating and drinking, in Dijon you arespoiled for choice. From Roman ways to modern highways, Dijon, the capital of Burgundy, has always been an important junctionbetween the north and the south of Europe. As you stroll along the pedestrian streets, lined with privatemansions, churches, parks and gardens, you will discover an amazing, historical heritage, witness of aprestigious past. The town is perfectly harmonious with its varied treasures and styles. Dijon is a lively capitalbeing both a large university town with more than 25,000 students and a large shopping centre. Its gastronomyis of international repute.Dijon gradually built up around its roman wall. In the 14th and 15th centuries, it became the amazing capital ofthe Great Dukes of the West. The splendour of their court attracted many artists who came from every part ofthe Duchy and left exceptional works of art. Dijon is endowed with a great number of buildings. There is aharmonious balance between the diversified styles and the architectural ornaments: churches, mansions, half-timbered houses, carved stone, glazed tiles. You can stroll in the picturesque and lively pedestrian streets, youcan walk in the famous Burgundian vineyard... Dijon also offers refined cuisine. Famous chefs andgastronomical specialities such as mustard, “pain d’épice “, black currant liqueur and most famous of all its


Beaune

Dijon

“kir” aperitif, will enhance its long established reputation of hospitality.Protetstant assemblies started in 1561 in Dijon, but were never to take foothold in a largely Catholic Burgundy.Protestant groups were heavily reduced through arrests and abjuration, especially after 1572. From 1830, newProtestant assemblies were able to commence following Napoleon’s liberalism.

VÉZELAYEven before UNESCO listed it amongst the World Heritage, this village was knownthroughout the world. Close to a million visitors, believers and non-believers, pilgrimsand the curious, pass through Vézelay each year. Towering upwards, away from thesurrounding land, as if so ordained by the sky, it is the inspired hill, the Eternal hill,where the breath of the spirit has been felt since the most ancient of times. A Christian shrine in the Middle Ages, Vézelay owes its prosperity to the relics of SaintMary Magdalen which are preserved in her church. Pilgrims flocked to it, salesflourished, vineyards grew, major fairs were held here and the town then occupied theentire surface of the hill. Vézelay, at its apogee, became one of the great pilgrimages ofthe age and the starting point of one of the four routes leading to Santiago de Compostela. In 1146: SaintBernard preached the second crusade. Philip Augustus and Richard the Lion Heart met here before embarkingon the Third Crusade in 1190. The first Franciscan convent in France was established here in 1217. The Basilica Sainte Madeleine was originally a simple Benedictine monastery founded in the 9th century byGirard de Roussillon. Because of the relics it sheltered, Vézelay Abbey became a major shrine in the MiddleAges. However, the 13th century saw Vezelay’s reputation fade. Pilgrims abandoned the hill and the abbey,looted, deconsecrated and burnt during the Revolution was nothing more than a ruin when Viollet Le Ducbegan restoring it in 1840. In 1860, the Magdalen was saved. The abbey church, the village, the site are today the finest in France. On eitherside of the long street climbing up to the church square are alleys, medieval houses, porches, grilles, vaultedcellars, taking the visitor, a pilgrim despite himself, on a voyage through time, to the days of Philip Augustus,Richard Lionheart, Saint Louis, which also paying respect to the house where Romain Rolland, apostle ofuniversal peace, spent the last years of his life.Vézelay is also famous for being the birthplace of Theodore de Beze (1519-1605), who became Calvin’s “right-hand man”.

Wed 27 October: Beaune – Fontenay – Paris CDG airportBreakfast at at our hotel. Before ending the tour at the airport we will have a 1 hour guided visit ofthe Abbaye de Fontenay (entrance fees included). End of touring at Paris CDG airport at latest 18h00.

ABBEY OF FONTENAYThe Abbey of Fontenay is a former Cistercian abbey located in the communeof Montbard, in the department of Côte-d'Or.It was founded by Saint Bernard of Clairvaux in 1118, only a few years afterhe left Cîteaux Abbey to found Clairvaux Abbey. Located in a small forestedvalley 60 kilometres northwest of Dijon, it achieved great prosperity in thetwelfth and thirteenth centuries. Fontenay enjoyed the protection of the Kingsof France but was plundered in the Hundred Years’ War and the Wars ofReligion. Later, its fortunes declined, and the refectory was demolished by the monks in 1745. The abbey wasclosed in the French Revolution, and became a paper mill until 1902, owned for most of its period of operationby the Montgolfier family.The abbey was bought by Édouard Aynard in 1905 and restored. Apart from the demolished refectory, it retainsalmost all of its original buildings: church, dormitory, cloister, chapter house, caldarium or "heating room",dovecote and forge, all built in Romanesque style, with later abbot's lodgings and infirmary. Today the abbeybuildings are set in modern manicured parterres of lawn and gravel. It is one of the oldest and most completeCistercian abbeys in Europe, and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981.


Vézelay

Abbey of Fontenay

Lic No 2TA5533 ABN 77 083 577 164

Call to book or for information Ph: (02) 9569 1197Fax: (02) 9560 0938 • E: [email protected]

PO Box 92 Westgate NSW 2048 www.alburykenttravel.com.au

Huguenot Societyof AustraliaP.O. Box 184 Newtown NSW [email protected]

huguenot society of australiamembers.optushome.com.au/ozhug/resources/hugenottourtrip... ·...

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