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The French Countryside- Sept. 1998
Ken and Marcie in the courtyard of Versailles, the palace built for Louis XIV. It is the largest palace in Europe, and once housed 20,000 people. The palace is very ornate and lavish, as seen by the gold leaf trim. The famous "Hall of Mirrors" is in Versailles- in 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was signed here, ending World War I.
Ken standing in front of Saint Maclou church in Rouen, the city where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in 1431. Note the fountain next to Ken.....
Mont St. Michel was dedicated to Saint Michel in 708. In 966, it was entrusted to the Benedictine Monks, who made the island once of the most important places of pilgrimage in the Christian world. This enormous castle was a fortress during the Hundred Years War. It became a prison from the French Revolution (1789) until 1863. In 1874, it was designated a historic monument. Mont St. Michel is a breathtaking castle- much larger and elegant than we expected.
Ken walking through The American Cemetery at Omaha Beach in Normandy. This cemetery is 172.5 acres, and is one of 14 permanent American World War II cemeteries on foreign soil. 9386 Graves are here, plus a wall that includes the names of 1557 missing.
Ken and Marcie in front of Le Chateau d'Angers. As you can see, this chateau was more of a defensive chateau and served as a fortress. We are standing next to the drawbridge, which covers a very deep moat around the chateau. This chateau is known as the salt and pepper chateau, because of the shape of its towers.
Here we are again, this time in front of Le Chateau de Chenonceau. The chateau is built over the Cher River, and was the residence for Henry II and his wife, Catherine de Medici. This chateau is very elegant and ornate.
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