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Graham & Jane
This morning we docked in Tournus, it is one of the oldest towns in France sitting on one of the old roman roads midway between Lyon and Dijon. A quaint little town which on a Sunday morning is of course shut like almost everywhere in France, however this did not stop us visiting the local Abbey. The Abbey of St. Philibert
This is a fascinating place, with the original parts dating back to the 10th Century, and one of the few original "black Madonna's" as one of it's relics. This of course is now covered in gold to preserve it. The Madonna's were carved from Oak and put into the wells of heathens to turn them to Christians, and once they had turned to Christianity the Madonnas were taken out of the well and treasured, of course by then they had turned black, hence!
During the revolution all Church owned property was seized and made property of the state, and the local administrative councils are responsible for them. In 2002 the ladies of the town asked the council to install heating into the church as they were cold during mass, the council agreed and work was started, as the electricians were carrying out the work, some 30cm below the paved area around the alter was dug up and a beautifully ornate mosaic was discovered. This dates from the 12th century and is one of the best examples remaining in France.
Following the visit to the abbey, we wandered through the town and back to the ship passing through the local Sunday flea market (car boot sale) to get ready for one of the highlights of the trip, the visit to Cormatin chateau. This Chateau was built in the early 1600's by the Marquis of Huxelles, and when he died aged 28, his wife decided to lock up the chateau and it remained locked up for many years and so remained as it was when built. In the late 1800's it was bought by Raoul Gunsbourg the director of the Monte Carlo opera and he made it famous for parties with Nelli Melba and Caruso attending some of them.
It was then left and neglected for many year until 3 private investors decided to take it on in the 1980's, and they have gradually restored the house and gardens since then, in the first year the chateau was opened they only had 4000 visitors, this has now grown to some 150,000 per year visiting this magnificent house. Each year the profit is plowed back into the renovation and restoration of the property.
This is a fascinating place, with the original parts dating back to the 10th Century, and one of the few original "black Madonna's" as one of it's relics. This of course is now covered in gold to preserve it. The Madonna's were carved from Oak and put into the wells of heathens to turn them to Christians, and once they had turned to Christianity the Madonnas were taken out of the well and treasured, of course by then they had turned black, hence!
During the revolution all Church owned property was seized and made property of the state, and the local administrative councils are responsible for them. In 2002 the ladies of the town asked the council to install heating into the church as they were cold during mass, the council agreed and work was started, as the electricians were carrying out the work, some 30cm below the paved area around the alter was dug up and a beautifully ornate mosaic was discovered. This dates from the 12th century and is one of the best examples remaining in France.
Following the visit to the abbey, we wandered through the town and back to the ship passing through the local Sunday flea market (car boot sale) to get ready for one of the highlights of the trip, the visit to Cormatin chateau. This Chateau was built in the early 1600's by the Marquis of Huxelles, and when he died aged 28, his wife decided to lock up the chateau and it remained locked up for many years and so remained as it was when built. In the late 1800's it was bought by Raoul Gunsbourg the director of the Monte Carlo opera and he made it famous for parties with Nelli Melba and Caruso attending some of them.
It was then left and neglected for many year until 3 private investors decided to take it on in the 1980's, and they have gradually restored the house and gardens since then, in the first year the chateau was opened they only had 4000 visitors, this has now grown to some 150,000 per year visiting this magnificent house. Each year the profit is plowed back into the renovation and restoration of the property.
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