40 minutes to see Compiègne! (by kerouac2)
Apr 28, 2010 19:55:02 GMT
Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2010 19:55:02 GMT
During my recent trip north, I wanted to stop in one last place on my return to Paris, and more or less at random, I selected Compiègne. Well, I have sort of visited places like Chantilly, Senlis or Beauvais already. Soissons, another place that I don’t know, was a bit too far east, so Compiègne was the logical choice. All of them are quite famous, even if they are only on the “B-list” of sights to see in France and not necessarily “worth a detour” as the Michelin guides often classify places.
Since I did not go to school in France, the reasons for Compiègne’s fame are not ingrained in me as they are in any indigenous French person. So I looked it up and saw that five kings were crowned there. Not bad! Louis II, Eudes I (who on earth was that?), Louis V, Hugues II (not a clue…). Big deal, right? I don’t know who they were either. But hey, Charlemagne was crowned king of Austrasie there in 778 (before he became emperor of whatever). And 3 kings were buried there, too, including 2 of the ones mentioned above. So that’s not bad for a city of less than 50,000.
Oh, and of course there were countless battles and that sort of stuff. Any time you get close to Paris, there were countless battles there, trying to get to Paris (and sometimes succeeding).
Well, all of this stuff I just found out by looking it up a few minutes ago, so I visited Compiègne in almost complete ignorance, just to see what was obvious with no guidebook or information, just as a bumpkin. You know how in movies and TV series, the protagonist always magically finds a parking space directly in front of his destination? Well, I magically found a parking space right in front of the Hôtel de Ville (town hall) on the main square of Compiègne. I put 0.70€ in the parking meter, which gave me a fabulous 40 minutes to fully visit the city.
A cursory glance at the flower beds, and I was on my way.
Okay, there was the statue of Jeanne d’Arc who maybe came through or did something here, but I was more intrigued by the three guys up on the Hôtel de Ville. I would remain ignorant of course, except that I read on a plaque that Viollet le Duc (he went EVERYWHERE!) is the one who put everything back together after it had fallen apart.
A block away, there was a major church – apparently not a cathedral – but it looked like it merited a visit.
Unfinished or partially destroyed? I never know when I see this sort of detail.
Unlike my recent visit to Amiens, the church was still open, so I went in, even though I have seen hundreds of similar churches in France. If you don’t go too often, there are still sources of wonderment in such places.
Looked like a garage sale was planned in this little side chapel.
Religious art is lovely, even when it is meaningless to you.
Since I did not go to school in France, the reasons for Compiègne’s fame are not ingrained in me as they are in any indigenous French person. So I looked it up and saw that five kings were crowned there. Not bad! Louis II, Eudes I (who on earth was that?), Louis V, Hugues II (not a clue…). Big deal, right? I don’t know who they were either. But hey, Charlemagne was crowned king of Austrasie there in 778 (before he became emperor of whatever). And 3 kings were buried there, too, including 2 of the ones mentioned above. So that’s not bad for a city of less than 50,000.
Oh, and of course there were countless battles and that sort of stuff. Any time you get close to Paris, there were countless battles there, trying to get to Paris (and sometimes succeeding).
Well, all of this stuff I just found out by looking it up a few minutes ago, so I visited Compiègne in almost complete ignorance, just to see what was obvious with no guidebook or information, just as a bumpkin. You know how in movies and TV series, the protagonist always magically finds a parking space directly in front of his destination? Well, I magically found a parking space right in front of the Hôtel de Ville (town hall) on the main square of Compiègne. I put 0.70€ in the parking meter, which gave me a fabulous 40 minutes to fully visit the city.
A cursory glance at the flower beds, and I was on my way.
Okay, there was the statue of Jeanne d’Arc who maybe came through or did something here, but I was more intrigued by the three guys up on the Hôtel de Ville. I would remain ignorant of course, except that I read on a plaque that Viollet le Duc (he went EVERYWHERE!) is the one who put everything back together after it had fallen apart.
A block away, there was a major church – apparently not a cathedral – but it looked like it merited a visit.
Unfinished or partially destroyed? I never know when I see this sort of detail.
Unlike my recent visit to Amiens, the church was still open, so I went in, even though I have seen hundreds of similar churches in France. If you don’t go too often, there are still sources of wonderment in such places.
Looked like a garage sale was planned in this little side chapel.
Religious art is lovely, even when it is meaningless to you.