Findon's location,
about 4 miles from the English Channel, means that it is actually
closer to France than Wales or Scotland. Many village residents have
connections with France and the nearby town of Worthing hosts an annual
French market.
France is divided into 22 régions,
each subdivided into départements. There
are 96 departments in metropolitan France (ie the mainland and Corsica)
and another 5 in overseas territories. Each department is numbered.
The photographs below are listed by place, department and
region. All the photographs below were taken using a digital camera.
- Beynat, Corrèze
(Dept 19), Limousin
- Calais, Pas-de-Calais (Dept
62),
Nord-Pas-de-Calais
- Castillon,
Ariège (Dept 09), Midi-Pyrénées
- Coutances, Manche (Dept
50),
Basse-Normandie
- Foix, Ariège (Dept
09),
Midi-Pyrénées
- Nailloux(?), Haute-Garonne
(Dept 31), Midi-Pyrénées
- Saint Girons,
Ariège (Dept 09), Midi-Pyrénées
- Saint Lizier,
Ariège (Dept 09), Midi-Pyénées
- Links
This photo was taken somewhere near Beynat, in Limousin.
Limousin is world renowned for its breed of hardy cattle, called
Limousin. A limousine was
originally a large wraparound cape, worn by herdsmen in Limousin, hence
the name was later applied to versions of the twentieth-century
automobile.
[aerial photo / map]
Calais-Sud's most prominent landmark is the Hôtel
de Ville with a clock tower that rises over 60 metres into
the sky. This Flemish Renaissance-style town hall was finished in 1926
and miraculously survived the bombings of World War II.
[aerial photo / map]
A cast of Auguste Rodin's famous ensemble of
six emaciated, but proud, figures known in English as The
Burghers of Calais. Rodin's famous bronze honours six local
dignitaries who in 1347, after eight months of holding off the
besieging English forces, surrendered themselves and the keys of the
starving city to the victor, Edward III of Endland, following
the Battle of Crécy. They
hoped that by surrendering themselves they might save the town and its
people. Edward's wife, Philippa of Hainault Queen consort
of England, intervened sparing both the six brave leaders and the
Calaisiens.
A glimpse of the snowcapped Pyrenees 'peaking' through the
clouds.
[aerial photo / map]
The 13th century Cathédrale de Notre-Dame
crowns the summit of the old hilltown of Coutances, located 65km south
of Cherbourg, providing a magnificent landmark.
[aerial photo / map]
The cathedral is lit up at night, showing off its
Norman-Romanesque architecture in pale coloured limestone to best
effect.
[aerial photo / map]
I waited until the moon was postioned midway between the two
towers, in order to take this photo.
[aerial photo / map]
Foix is the administative centre of the département
of Ariège. This is the view on the way up to the Château
des Comptes de Foix which contains the Musée
d'Ariège.
I believe this Statue of Liberty
look-alike is in Nailloux.
[aerial photo / map]
A sign that American culture has
penetrated deepest France.
[aerial photo / map]
This picturesque walled town, which sits on a hilltop, has two
cathedrals one of which is the Cathédrale de
Saint-Lizier containing twelfth century frescoes.
[aerial photo / map]
Saint Lizier is perched precariously close to the river Salat,
which flows down from the Pyrenees into the river Garonne.
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