On our way to the Val D’Amour we spent a night in Reims – a beautiful French city in the Champagne region. Yes, champagne. Oh what a treat it was to enjoy a glass of the bubbly stuff right at the source! I had fantasies of finding a little bed and breakfast in one of the wineries and learning more about the making of etc, but alas we didn’t arrive in the region until after 9pm and had to leave by midday the next day to be able to get to our destination on time.
I did however have just enough time to enjoy a delicious glass of Mailly. The next morning, French Boy and I wandered about the town, I knowing little about where I was or what I was seeing, and he knowing quite alot. I always feel really lucky to be wandering around this fabulous country with him, he is not only like a private tour guide but he has personal memories to add to each story.
After we indulged in a breakfast of pain au chocolat, croissants, baguette with homemade jam, fresh juice and coffee (me, tea of course), we wandered toward the cathedral, having spotted the towers ahead, pointed straight to the sky. And although I am not religious – despite the fact that my last name in Dutch actually means “by the church” (so ironic!) – I do enjoy history and art, and this particular church is an incredible structure housing both amazing art and fascinating history. From the outside it reminded me of the Notre Dame in Paris. And in the inside at first well, it just reminded me of a church. But as I wandered further through the huge arched nave, and looked and listened, I realised how significant this particular place has been in the course of French history.
Would you like to know what it sounds like inside? I recorded a little soundscape for you, click the play button below to be transported inside as we gaze at the photos I took while wandering through the aisles…
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This is where I stood for the longest while, looking up at those gigantic windows and watching the light flood through. Of all the stained glass windows in the cathedral, these ones made me stop in my tracks. They were so uniquely different to all the others, so modern and creative. French Boy noticed my reaction and lent in to whisper two words to me: “Marc Chagall”. Oh I thought, no wonder I adore them, what a masterpiece.
I hope you enjoyed my quietish tour through the cathedral. Although this particular post really had nothing to do with the scenery or food of France.
xx
PS Funnily enough there just happened to be a Canadian village set up in the Reims city square that weekend. How bizarre it was to be eating croissants in this very French town and seeing Canadian flags attached to little wooden huts selling maple syrup, cranberries, beer, salmon, soaps and wool sweaters. It was like being in Montreal, but then absolutely nothing like it. Nice touch to our weekend though!
lovely photos…
funny about the little cdn village…;))
October 20th, 2009 | #
each and every photo and story is so charming and wonderful!
October 20th, 2009 | #
such a subtly breathtaking post full of beautiful choices
i love your tour guide’s whisper
too cute
p.s. reeeally want to go to champagne – t’as de la chance
October 20th, 2009 | #
I just love your tours with sounscape included! Thank you.
The images are amazing.
October 20th, 2009 | #
Pia, what beautiful tour, thank you!
And I stopped by your guest blogger Zoe, what a talent! Loved her points of view and her attitude towards her coming changes in life!
It all takes courage!
xx
Victoria, who invites you to stop by!
October 20th, 2009 | #
that’s beautiful pia. i love visiting churchs wherever i am, we always did this when we went on holiday when i was a kid, and the habit has sort of stuck. and if there’s music like in your soundscape, it’s even more perfect. your photos are beautiful – i especially love the sixth one, and especially-especially the second to last one =)
October 20th, 2009 | #
A lovely tour of the cathedral Pia…thank you, xv.
October 20th, 2009 | #
I love the quietness of churches, although I am not religious, they are the perfect places to do some meditation, relax and listen to the silence.
Beautiful pictures!
October 20th, 2009 | #
oh i loved this post! the sound with the photos was just lovely – it took me there! we have just returned from Paris….it makes me want to go right back…in a hurry! thank you. xx
October 21st, 2009 | #
Reims Cathedral is one of my favorite churches in the world 🙂 Your soundscape and pictures brought back the wonderful feeling of being there again. Thanks Pia! I love your blog <3
btw did you stop by some champagne wineries in Reims! Those are always fun.
October 21st, 2009 | #
Gorgeous photos and beautiful music in your soundscape – thanks for a delightful tour!
October 21st, 2009 | #
great shots, I really enjoyed the tour …
October 21st, 2009 | #
Reims!!!!! I spent a couple of months there studying French 15 years ago… Good memories. It is a lovely town and it did help that we drank champagne every evening. 🙂 Soooooo good to revisit! I loved the photos and the soundscape. Your post is delightful. Thank you! Merci!
October 21st, 2009 | #
you must go to the marc chagall museum near nice. also, the little tiny matisse chapel in vence. you will love them if you haven’t already been there.
October 21st, 2009 | #
FABULOUS pics, love the playing with the focus…
thea.
xx
October 22nd, 2009 | #
I’ve had France on my mind all day. Your stunning photographs were just what I needed!
October 22nd, 2009 | #
hi pia!
i love your blog and got your “paris handmade” book as soon as i spotted it here.
i’m not religious at all myself but i do appreciate churches and organ music. i don’t think you’d have to be religious to do so. it is just like entering a different world. just imagine what it must have been like for people to enter these spaces 500 years ago when they weren’t literate and just didn’t know about anything. they must have been stunned -i guess that’s the whole point. we get a tiny glimpse of what might have been. and it’s still grand after all those years. isn’t that amazing?
i’d always wanted to live on a houseboat in amsterdam by the way -so jealous!!!
keep up with the good stuff and all the best! xx dina
October 22nd, 2009 | #
the audio is transporting! thanks for posting!
October 22nd, 2009 | #
the light, the shadow, the colors [gasp] … i’m in love with these photos. especially the second to last. divine (pardon the pun!)
October 22nd, 2009 | #
Great post incredible photos.. is there a chance I could purchase the second one from the bottom?
October 22nd, 2009 | #
lovely, pia. the bottom photo is my favorite – magical!!! xo
October 22nd, 2009 | #
Pia… your blog offers such delicious treats of every kind, I am full every time I leave… Thank you my dear…
October 22nd, 2009 | #
The second and third images are amazing… And the second from the bottom is amazing with the play in shadows… Truley stunning.
October 22nd, 2009 | #
pia, these photographs are astonishing, true works of art. thank you for sharing them!
October 22nd, 2009 | #
I love the first two images of the stain glass windows! I am trying to find some abstract art, but love photography so much as well… this seems like the best of both worlds. The colours are also so stunning!
October 23rd, 2009 | #
thank you!!
Diane – I haven’t looked into selling my shots individually just yet, I’m sorry. I have so much work on that all these little personal projects of mine keep getting put to the side. I hope to one day be able to sell my images online – I’ll keep this one in mind. Thank you so much for your interest!!
xx
October 23rd, 2009 | #
Isn’t it a lovely place??!! Looks like you made the most of it during your stay. xo
October 25th, 2009 | #
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