Frankrijk - France

The Jardin de l’Hôtel d'Emonville (Garden of the Hôtel d'Emonville) is an Anglo-Chinese garden suitable for walking and discovering the remarkable trees that have adorned the garden since the 19th century. The garden was created by an important Abbeville family. In 1859, Arthur Foucques d'Émonville inherited this property, which had already been extensively landscaped in the style of the period. He used the garden, measuring around 1.5 hectares, to indulge his passion for horticulture. In 1861, he had an imposing private mansion built in the heart of the plot. This Jardin de l’Hôtel d'Emonville , which was awarded the ‘Remarkable Garden’ label in 2013, features a diverse range of plants: conifers, broad-leaved trees, perennials and annuals. Among the many trees, some of which are over 150 years old, are a dozen rare species.

The city of Arras is well known for its two magnificent Flemish-baroque-style squares: Grand’Place and Place des Héros (also called La Petite Place) which show a monumental architectural complex, spread over 17.000 square meters. This Flemish architecture is not surprising, as the city was once part of the Netherlands, controlled by Spain from 1556 to 1714. Louis XIII reconquered Arras in 1640; the town officially became part of France in 1659. The two squares were initially built to host markets which reflected the prosperous trading economy of Arras. In the 17th century, the municipal magistrates decided to redesign the two squares (and the Rue de la Taillerie) by constructing more harmonious buildings around them. Nowadays the squares have 155 houses, built in the baroque style with typical Flemish gables individually decorated with garlands of flowers, ribbons or horns of plenty. The façades of the houses are made of brick. At street level, arcades are supported by 345 sandstone columns. During World War I the city (and squares) were almost entirely destroyed, but the houses were rebuilt, even if the wood was replaced by bricks and stones. The smallest square, Place des Héros (main image), is overlooked by the majestic Town Hall. This gothic structure is flanked by a 77 meters high belfry, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Beaumont-en-Auge is dating back to the foundation of a Benedictine priory in 1060, giving the village a regional stature. It has played an important role in French history, reaching its peak at the end of the 18th century. The village is located on a 90 meters high outcrop, offering vast panoramic views of the Touques valley. Before the Christian era, the Celts who populated Normandy must have occupied this easily defensible peak. Nowadays the village with around 500 inhabitants - is well-known for its colourful half-timbered houses. Beaumont-en-Auge is listed as one of the prettiest villages in France. To be honest, we were a little disappointed about Beaumont. The number of half-timbered houses was quite limited, while the large number of parked cars detracted from the atmosphere and charm of the village.

In the 9th century a watchtower was built, which was converted into a place of worship and part of a monastery. This sturdy church - Église Saint-Saveur - was constructed in the 11th century by the lord of Beaumont and has become a place of worship and pilgrimage. The church was extended with two apses, tall flamboyant crossings, a rose window, a primitive tower, a bell tower, scarlet half-timbering and a wooden spire. This former priory church is characterized by a mixture of architectural styles. Wars, the Revolution, abandonment and multiple acts of destruction have left a deep mark on its history. The various phases of reconstruction have gradually transformed the original layout. Apart from the tower, which has retained its Romanesque style, the nave and choir, which were partially destroyed in 1612, have been remodeled. An extension of the monks' building, the parish church, destroyed in 1804, was enlarged with a ‘neo-Gothic’ porch in 1861. Major renovations have been undertaken in recent decades: stained glass windows damaged during World War II in 1952 and a restoration of the bell tower in 2007.

The origins of Beuvron-en-Auge probably date back to Gallo-Roman times. The name ‘Beuvron’ appears in other forms in documents as early as the 11th century. It refers to a small river that flows through the village: Beuvron = beaver river. In the 12th century, a small rural community emerged. For centuries, until the end of the 18th century, the lands of Beuvron belonged to the powerful d'Harcourt family, who made a major contribution to the economic development of the village. The development of the village accelerated in the 15th century and reached its peak in the 17th and 18th centuries, when tanning and weaving ensured the prosperity of the village. In the 19th century, Beuvron was in danger of becoming a ghost village. In the 1970s, the remaining inhabitants decided to breathe new life into the village. The half-timbered houses were restored and the market hall, which had been demolished in 1958, was rebuilt. Slowly, Beuvron regained its former charm. Beuvron-en-Auge nowadays has about 40 half-timbered houses, mainly located around the market hall on Place Michel Vermughen. The village is officially recognised as one of “Les Plus Beaux Villages de France” (The Most Beautiful Villages of France) because of its well-preserved Norman architecture.

The original building of the Église Saint-Hélier (St. Hélier Church) in Beuzeville dates back to the 12th century. The church has a nave with two aisles and a choir with side chapels. It was once surrounded by a cemetery. The church is dedicated to Saint Helier (a 6th-century monk from Belgium, who became a hermit in Jersey and gave his name to the island's main town). The building, which was modified in the 16th and 18th centuries, has elegant windows, balustrades and buttresses, as well as rare Norman-style half-timbering on the east side. The bell tower houses three bells, the oldest of which was consecrated in 1779. St. Hélier Church is well known for its nineteen colourful stained-glass windows, depicting saints. These windows were designed by François Décorchemont, a master glassblower from nearby Conches. The windows were made between 1960 and 1966.

The Église Saint-Martin (Saint-Martin church) was built between 1640 and 1643. The original church stood within the walls of Harcourt Castle, but was moved to a site north of the village that belonged to Bec-Hellouin Abbey. Around 1920, the original bell tower, which was in poor condition, was replaced by a brick tower in neo-Gothic style. The church therefore stands out for its red brick tower and white exterior. The furnishings and interior were thoroughly renovated at the end of the 19th century and in the 20th century. The stained-glass windows and organ were installed in 1924. However, several old elements have been preserved. The most striking is the 18th-century high altar.

Église Saint-Pierre (Saint-Pierre Church) was built between the 13th and 16th centuries to replace a 12th-century Romanesque church. The church features a mix of Gothic and Renaissance architecture. The nearly 80-metre-high tower dates from the 14th century; the nave was built in the 15th and 16th centuries. The tower, which was destroyed during the fighting at the end of the World War II, was rebuilt in 1957. Inside the church, the columns, vaults and statues showcase the craftsmanship of the Middle Ages. The stained-glass windows add a splash of colour.

Château de Caen (Caen Castle) is located in the centre of the city. William the Conqueror (PiP4) started construction of the citadel in 1060. Over the following centuries, the impressive fortress was reinforced and expanded, and is now considered one of the largest medieval castles in Europe. After many wars throughout the centuries and the bombings at the end of the World War II (June/July 1944), all that remains now are the contours of the former castle, the moat and the defence towers. La Salle de l'Échiquier, formerly the courtroom of the Duchy of Normandy, still stands proudly. The Romanesque Église Saint-Georges, now an information centre on the progress of the restoration work, was the parish church of the castle's inhabitants. Within the immense grounds, there are two museums, the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Caen (Museum of Fine Arts of Caen) and the Musée de Normandie (Museum of Normandy).

Église Saint-Georges (Saint-Georges church) - located within the complex of Caen Castle - is first mentioned in a text from 1082. Elements from this period have been preserved in the church. There are traces of windows from the Romanesque period and the triumphal arch was rebuilt in the 1100s. The Gothic windows date from the 14th and 15th centuries, and the choir and door were rebuilt at the beginning of the 16th century. Inside, the nave is covered with a wooden roof structure that was built during the Hundred Years' War. Archaeologists have dated this to the years of the English occupation, around 1435. The wooden bell tower disappeared in the 19th century when the church was converted into a service building for the army. The church was severely damaged by bombing at the end of the World War II and was restored from 1948 onwards. The new stained-glass windows were installed after 1970. Today, Église Saint-Georges is an information centre for the history of the castle and a reception area for the two museums of Caen Castle.

Château de Crèvecoeur (Crèvecoeur Castle) is a unique example of a small rural country estate. The complex is surrounded by a moat and has retained its original layout in two parts. The grounds feature a group of 15th- and 16th-century agricultural half-timbered houses: the farmhouse, dovecote, barn and a 12th-century chapel. In the upper courtyard, accessible via a bridge, the 15th-century residence is protected by a moat and a 12th century wall with defensive loopholes. A simple garden, a sheepfold, chicken coop, bread oven and pottery kiln complete the seigniorial estate. The gatehouse originally was located at the former castle of Beuvillers (near Lisieux). It has been moved and is now used as a reception area and shop.

Caen has a history stretching back 1,000 years. The city originated from an island fortified by the Normans at the confluence of the Orne and Odon rivers. The city suffered severely during the World War II and was largely destroyed. A large part of the historic buildings had been destroyed, which is why the city centre now consists mainly of new buildings, with a few exceptions. The Maisons a Pans de Bois are two historic half-timbered houses that remained intact despite the violence of war. These half-timbered houses date from the early 16th century. Nowadays the houses have been restored as a three storied townhouse. Due to their renovation, it was possible to date the oak used in their construction to the year of 1513. The Maisons a Pans de Bois were listed as historic monuments in 1947.

Les Jardins du Pays d’Auge (The Gardens of the Pays d’Auge) is one of the most beautiful gardens in France; they are classified as “Jardin Remarquable”. The gardens are dating back to the year of 1994, when the owners bought a 3ha field next to their renovated farmstead. The project was very challenging since the abandoned field was covered in brambles, without a single tree or building. A landscape architect was called in to design the garden. The next three years the gardens and their Normandy-style buildings were constructed. Nowadays the Gardens of the Pays d’Auge offer a series of beautiful themed gardens; like the Sun Garden, Moon Garden, Garden of Scents, Purple Garden and Garden of Angels. Throughout the gardens there are several half-timber buildings,which have been rescued by the owners from various stages of dereliction and moved to the gardens to be restored. One of them houses a small museum.

The Église Saint-Denis (Church of Saint Denis) dates back to the late 12th century. It was consecrated in 1188 by Henri II, Bishop of Bayeux. Only the square Romanesque tower made of limestone remains from this period. The pyramidal roof is topped by an octagonal spire. The bell tower has been listed as a historic monument since 23 April 1921. The church was largely rebuilt in the 17th century. In the 19th century, the church was renovated and enlarged: the nave was extended, a northern chapel was demolished and the cemetery was relocated. The church was given a new high altar and a sacristy and a new presbytery were built. The interior of the church offers sixteen stained glass windows from the 20th century, evoking the history of the early Christians or historical figures such as Joan of Arc or Charlemagne.

Sword Beach and Juno Beach are two of the five D-Day beaches where Allied troops landed in the early morning of 6 June 1944 during the invasion of Normandy. Sword Beach was the British-French beach, where the landing went smoothly. Juno Beach was the beach where Canadian soldiers landed and where the fighting was heavy. On 6 June, in the afternoon, Hitler gave the order to advance a large number of divisions towards Normandy. But it was already too late; the battle had been decided. By midnight, more than 150,000 Allied soldiers, 23,000 paratroopers and 20,000 vehicles were in Normandy. 12,000 men were killed, wounded or taken prisoner. Main image: Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer, monument to 48th Royal Marine Commando’s During our holiday in Normandy, a visit to the D-Day beaches was a must. From our accommodation in Ouistreham, we took a bike ride along the coast to Courseulles-sur-Mer (Centre Juno Beach), passing Sword Beach and Juno Beach. We were impressed by the large number of monuments, memorials and military vehicles along the road. We live in Apeldoorn (the Netherlands), a town that was liberated by Canadian soldiers. No wonder we were particularly interested in Juno Beach with the Canada House - the first house liberated by Canadian troops on 6 June 1944, during Operation Overlord - and Juno Beach Centre, a Canadian museum dedicated to the landing beaches.

Étretat is a village on the Alabaster Coast. Once a real fishing village, today Étretat relies mainly on tourism. The old centre has winding streets with pretty buildings and a few half-timbered houses. An old covered wooden market hall stands on the central square. Étretat is embedded between tall white chalk cliffs (with three natural arches). Until the 19th century, this place was difficult to access and remained untouched for a long time. The landscape was so special and authentic that many artists flocked to it.

Étretat's chalk cliffs were formed in the Cretaceous period, millions of years ago, when the region was covered by the sea. The cliffs consist of deposits of light-coloured calcareous marine organisms and skeletons of siliceous organisms. Subsequent movements of the Earth's crust pushed these deposits up and brought them to the surface. Erosion by sea, wind and frost formed the characteristic rock arches and needles in the sea. The cliffs around Étretat seem perennial, yet are fragile and constantly changing: wind, tides, infiltration of rainwater, freezing and then thawing weaken them. As a result, landslides occur regularly and the cliffs crumble. They have become the impressive rock formations that can be seen today, such as the Falaise d'Amont/Cliff of Amont (main image, PiP 1and 2), Falaise d'Aval/Cliff of Aval (PiP 3 and 4), Falaise la Manne Porte/Manne Porte Cliff (PiP 5) and the Aiguille Creuse/Hollow Needle (PiP 6 and 7).

At the beginning of the 20th century, French actress Madame Thebault had the villa ‘La Roxelane’ and its garden built on the cliff of Amont. The house and garden fell into disrepair over the years. In 2014, landscape architect Alexandre Grivko discovered the neglected complex. A year later, restoration began. It took Grivko 24 months to build hundreds of meters of walls, apply 1,000 tons of earth, build two kilometers of gravel paths and plant more than 30,000 conifers. In 2017, the renovated Jardins d’Étretat (Étretat Gardens) reopened to the public. The garden consists of a mix of English, French and Japanese architectural styles. In this green oasis, landscape, artfully pruned shrubs and trees and modern works of art come together in a unique way. A platform offers stunning views over Étretat and the cliffs.