A view of famous landmarks in Rouen from atop another famous landmark
This afternoon, I wandered about the city center of historic Rouen. It was raining sporadically, but I managed to catch a few moments of sunlight here and there for photographs. It was during one of these sudden downpours that I took refuge beneath this famous Rouennaise landmark, Le Gros Horloge (The Big Clock):
For the first time (I've walked through that archway at least half a dozen times since I've first arrived), I noticed a small door. As it turns out, there's a whole museum inside that clock and tower! It was an excellent way to spend an hour out of the rain. I listened to the dulcet French tones of the "ghost" of one of the late 19th century caretakers of the Horloge tell me of the history of the place. Apparently the bells of the clock dated from 1389, though the rest of the clock was constructed in the 16th century, I think. This clock isn't HUGE, but it is elaborate, and it's famous because the actual clock mechanism (the gears and such) aren't behind the clock faces - the bulk of them are in fact way up in the tower, and the gears turn the clock's hands through an elaborate series of tubes or something. Anyway, I learned a lot as I climbed the bell tower... and when I emerged at the very top, I was greeted with the best view of the city I could have ever hoped for.
Check this out.
That's the famous cathedral. You see, when you're up close, the buildings block you from seeing the whole picture. But cathedrals are really designed to be seen from a distance as well. I couldn't get enough of this church.
That was a shot of the Abbey (of St-Ouen?), on the right, and the Palais de Justice in the foreground. I have a few shots panned just to the left, and you can see the tower in which Joan of Arc was imprisoned. If I went to the other side of the bell tower I could see Joan of Arc's church, the Seine, and several other landmarks. I think the only thing I couldn't see was the train station building. It was quite literally breathtaking.
It was raining when I entered the museum, and raining again when I left, but I got to the top just at the stroke of four, in a brief, fifteen minute gap in the clouds, so the sun was shining and the bells were ringing the hour. It was beautiful. :)
I'll probably make several posts going on and on about the clock face itself, but I feel a bit sleep deprived and I have work tomorrow. I need to be alert to teach the children!
For the first time (I've walked through that archway at least half a dozen times since I've first arrived), I noticed a small door. As it turns out, there's a whole museum inside that clock and tower! It was an excellent way to spend an hour out of the rain. I listened to the dulcet French tones of the "ghost" of one of the late 19th century caretakers of the Horloge tell me of the history of the place. Apparently the bells of the clock dated from 1389, though the rest of the clock was constructed in the 16th century, I think. This clock isn't HUGE, but it is elaborate, and it's famous because the actual clock mechanism (the gears and such) aren't behind the clock faces - the bulk of them are in fact way up in the tower, and the gears turn the clock's hands through an elaborate series of tubes or something. Anyway, I learned a lot as I climbed the bell tower... and when I emerged at the very top, I was greeted with the best view of the city I could have ever hoped for.
Check this out.
That's the famous cathedral. You see, when you're up close, the buildings block you from seeing the whole picture. But cathedrals are really designed to be seen from a distance as well. I couldn't get enough of this church.
That was a shot of the Abbey (of St-Ouen?), on the right, and the Palais de Justice in the foreground. I have a few shots panned just to the left, and you can see the tower in which Joan of Arc was imprisoned. If I went to the other side of the bell tower I could see Joan of Arc's church, the Seine, and several other landmarks. I think the only thing I couldn't see was the train station building. It was quite literally breathtaking.
It was raining when I entered the museum, and raining again when I left, but I got to the top just at the stroke of four, in a brief, fifteen minute gap in the clouds, so the sun was shining and the bells were ringing the hour. It was beautiful. :)
I'll probably make several posts going on and on about the clock face itself, but I feel a bit sleep deprived and I have work tomorrow. I need to be alert to teach the children!