Friday, February 13, 2009

Honfleur


The theme of my blog would appear to be focused on sailing. As I wrote earlier, I am pleased to from time to time diverge to another aspect of life. at least to a point. Leave it to me to find a thread tying life to the sea.
I recently visited Honfleur, in Normandy at the mouth of the Seine river, which as one may be aware winds it's way to Paris.
Honfleur's location made it pivotal to the history of France; both as a trading port and as a point of departure for the French navy, particularly with it's attacks on England. Colbert, in 1684 directed the inner harbour be built.
The 15th century cathedral of St. Catherine built in wood by the same shipwrights who built the French navy, the largest wooden church in France. Striking by its difference from the usual stone edifices found in France.


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