Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1892-07-20
WANDERINGS IN NORMANDY.

- NOh y w hCA ehOihs
CLAREMoNT, n. Fl.
WANDERTNGS IN NORMANDY.
In Normandy one lives in an atmos-
phere of William the Conqueror, and
nowhere in this most interesting part
of "La Belle France" does one feel its
Influence more than at Falaise, the
birthplace of the great warrior IA. d.
1927, and the feudal home of his an
cestors, the Dukes of Normandy.
The remains of its majestic old cas-,
tie, its fine churches, its quaint old
streets, and its picturesque situation,
all tend to render it q place most at
tractive to the artist.
Viewed from the Place on its south
ern side, the Church of st. Gervais is
extremely picturesque, the central
Norman tower, with its deeply-recess-
ed windows, and the south doorway,
being particularly worthy CT note.
Henry II, King of England and Duke
of Normandy, was present at its conse-
Grafton in Il34.
Not far from this is the handsome
hurch of La Trinite, with a curious
triangular porch at its west end, now
disused as such, and converted into q
chapel
Close by the latter church, in the
open square, stands a colossal eques-
trian statue in bronze of the Conquer
or, the work of Rochet, erected in 1851.
1t is very spirited and fine produc-
ton, placed on a lofty pedestal, sur
rounded by figures representing the
first six dukes of Normandy. Near to
La Trinite is the street leading to the
cs--tle; but, before passing through its
entrance gateway, the visitor should
tnrn to the left, in order to obtain o
good view of the outer enceinte, with
its semicircular towers of the twelfth
century, and whics encloses a modern
college. On entering the precincts of
the castle, we ascend to the plateau on
the summit of the ancient walls, shaded
by fine old timber, and, looking over
the parapet, see far down beneath us
an avenue of lofty trees and the road
way, which, in medieval times. was
| flooded, and formed the ditch on this
/ side of the fortress. The massive Nor
man donjon or keep rises to our rigL t,
grandly, situated on a rugged promon-
tory JuttIng out over the valley. 1t is
65 feet Ill height, and the same in
breadth, and is square stone struc-
ture. with fiat, broad buttresses, mag
nifcent in its stupendous massiveness.
1t was from a window in the keep,
overlooking the little river Ante be-
meath. and still pointed out by the
custodian of the chateau, that Robert
the Magnificent, also called Robert the
Devil, sixth Duke of Normandy, but
! then Count of Hiesmes, first saw the
! fair Arlette, the tanners daughter,
whilst engaged in washing linen at the
| foot of the Castle Rock, who subse-
quently became the mother of William
the Conqueror. And there remains the
window, there is the tanner, and there
are the women washing, to carry rs
back 900 years.
In the thickness of the wall, and
| close by this window, is the small
chamber in which, accor ding to tradi-
! ton, the future warrior first saw the
light. The historic interest of this
/ part of the castle is enhanced by the
visitor being shown the dungeon-room
in which the unhappy Arthur of Brit
tany is sail to have been confined by
his uncle King John of England. We
give sketch of the keep, taken from
the bridge that crosses the valley at the
| foot of the main street of Falaise.
Adjoining the keep stands the Talbot
Tower, founded by Henry V. after his
French victories, when be left Sir John
Talbot, X. g., first Earl of Shrews-
bury, and one of the most renowned
captains of his age (called by Shake
/ spesre ''the great Alcides of the field ;,
Lord Warden of the "Marche Nor.
maEde." it is grand piece of mason
ry, rising to height of 130 ft., with
walls 15ft. thick, enclosing a winding
stair leading to the top. Our sketch If
taken from The promenade below the
rampaIts of the castle. The chateau is
kept in excellent order by the French
Government; but it is much to be re-
gretted by the artist that he Is not per
mitted to sketch within its walls. I'm
mediately opposite it, across the valley,
! is the steep falaise of Mont Mirat, on
which Henry V. planted his cannon
when besieging the place in 141S. Fal
aise remained IN the possession of the
, English Crown till 1850, when it wa:
finally taken by Charles Will, King
of France.
Bits of the old town walls remain
peeping out here and there from
amongst the houses, and are especiall'
seen above the wooded slope overhang
ing the valley of the Ante; and one o
its gateways-the Porte des Cordelier:
lis still very perfect, an excellent sub
lject for the sketch-book, whether
viewed from within or without the
walls. Past the east cad of st. Gervais,
and through the ruined Porte Lecomte
the picturesque suburb OF St Laurien
is reached, built up and down the
valley, with its old houses and very
ancient little church perched on 1
rocky emineuce. The suburb of Gui
bray, on the opposite side of the rail
way from Falaise, contains n specially
fine church in Norman style, da ling
chiefly from the eleventh century.
Falaise is certainly one of the places
best worth seeing in Normandy. con
tanning as it does such variety of sub
lects for the sketch-book. The coun
try road is very pretty, and if the
visitor elects to reach it from Caen by
carriage he will have delightful drive
through scenery of the most charm ue
character.