This week was awesome

Châlons-en-Champagne is the capital of both the department of Marne and the region of Champagne-Ardenne, despite being only a quarter the size of the city of Rheims.

Early in the week we visited the "Notre-Dame-en-Vaux church"

Champagne-Ardenne is a region of traditions combining religious and architectural heritage, nature and gastronomy. Renowned internationally, the champagne, famous sparkling wine that accompanies all special occasions, and its region can be discovered by travelling along the famous Champagne trail bordered with charming wine-producing villages and prestigious cellars. But Champagne-Ardenne offers many other places of interest to discover, such as its Gothic cathedrals, its fortified timber-framed churches, and its cities of Art and History with numerous gems.

The city of Châlons-en-Champagne (formerly called Châlons-sur-Marne, officially renamed in 1998) is the capital town of Marne, Champagne-Ardenne and lies on the right bank of the Marne. It is 60 minutes from Paris and offers visitors a charming blend of heritage and nature. Here mon amour Anna and I sat on the bank of the Marne and sipped a bottle of 1998 Clos des Goisses Brut, a very pricey but tasteful champagne and ate Brie et crackers. What a lovely sun set we shared. See you next week.

360 Views of Notre-Dame-en-Vaux 

Poking fun at the french accent.

This is seriously funny

This Week, WINE COUNTRY!!!!

 Epernay, wine and champagne country. With its magnificent vineyards, impressive heritage and world class champagnes, the region makes a great excursion from the traditional French site seeing. We toured the Moet and Chandon cellars in Epernay and also visited the Mumm Champagne House and Reims Cathedral. The sheer magnitude of the immense western facade of Reims Cathedral is breathtaking. Magnificently carved triple portals sit between soaring towers reaching 267 feet into the sky. Built on the traditional coronation site of the kings of France, it sits alongside Chartre and Amiens as one of the finest examples of High Gothic design.

Laden with statues of martyrs and saints, the central portal is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, above which sits the magnificent rose window containing 13th century stained glass. As the facade reaches upwards, one can see the Gallery of the Kings with Clovis, the first Bishop of Reims holding centre stage.

As you step inside the cathedral, an immensely long nave stretches into the distance beneath a ribbed ceiling some 135 feet above. The profusion of fine sculptures threatens to be eclipsed by window after window of awesome stained glass. Not to be missed is a fine organ in a flamboyant Gothic case, a choir clock ornamented with curious mechanical figures and some fine tapestries.

Inside the Reims Cathedral 

French Wine Video

Funny Guy explaining french wines

Week 2, Fontainebleau City

We had so much fun climbing it was hard to leave the rocks. But, there is so much more to see! So Anna and I decided to visit the city of fontainebleau and take some guided tours. Our first stop was at a local guide service, Le meilleur de la France or,The best of France, as the locals say. Our tour was amazing. We saw castles and museums. I could not believe the culture her. Here is an example of what we saw in the picture. Located 35 miles away from Paris, the castle of Fontainebleau is one of our favourites in France because it has most of its original furniture and it feels more intimate as well.

On the way down to Fontainebleau, we stoped in Barbizon, an artistic center in the 19th century.

We also visited the chateau of Fontainebleau, castle where most of the Kings of France and Emperors stayed for hunting in the immense royal forest.

The architectural elements are from the 16th to the 19th century. In the 16th century, Henry II and Catherine de Medici commissioned architects Philibert Delorme and Jean Bullant to build a new palace on the site. Italian Mannerist artists Rosso Fiorentino and Primaticcio came to assist in the interior decoration, helping to found the School of Fontainebleau.

Fontainebleau was Napoleon's favourite residence. In 1814 he resigned there and bade farewell to his troops before going into exile to Elba."

This tour was so amazing! The architecture, the decor, the detail. All so amazing! If you are in the area, I high suggest checking it out!

Until next time,

Au revoir!

 

Here we go!!!

Yesterday we arrived in Avon France via the Paris Connector. It was a lovely flight, and the drive was short to Fontainebleau. Anna and I were planning on staying at the Hotel Mercure Royal Fontainebleau, but the weather was so beautiful we decided to camp out where we planned on climbing today. We arrived after night fall so the hike in was a bit of a voyage. The only light was our head lamps until we built a fire. After camp was established for the night, Anna and I cracked open a bottle of Clocher des Bénédictins Merlot 2004 from the Clocher des Bénédictins Limoux Winery, A local favorite. The wine put us in a drowsy state so sleeping on the hard soil was of no concern. I slept like a new born. Today we will climb two routes I have always dreamed about, Cornelius and the Bleau Back Boulder. More about our trip next week!

Au revoir!

James Hamilton