Sunday, February 08, 2015

Eglise Saint Martin, Lamballe, Brittany

Wandering Around The Cottage - February 2015 Edition


Every month, I take my readers out of the Cottage, to visit a place of interest. I usually don't do it in December, as it's a very busy month for teachers and those posts do take some time to prepare. Very unusually, I didn't write a "Wandering Around" post either in January 2015 because, well, January was also very busy this year.

Tous les mois, en théorie, je fais sortir mes lecteurs du Cottage pour les emmener visiter un endroit différent. Généralement, je ne le fais pas en décembre, mois particulièrement chargé pour moi, car ces articles demandent tout de même un petit peu de temps de préparation. Cette année, le mois de janvier a été tellement compliqué que la promenade n'a pas eu lieu.


I had every intention to go some place nice and take pictures for you this month... Until the cold wave hit Brittany. So, ok, technically, the temperatures are only in their thirties, but to every Briton girl, this is the equivalent to the North Pole. 

J'étais donc pétrie de bonnes intentions pour le mois de février. Mais il fait vraiment froid. Bon, d'accord, entre 0 et 5°C, ce qui pour certains d'entre vous, c(est probablement très supportable, mais pour moi, c'est un froid polaire.


So I decided to cancel my trip to the town of *** (I'm not telling you now because I'll take you there some other day) and decided to travel through time thanks to the archive on my computer meanwhile.

J'ai donc annulé la visite que j'avais prévue de la ville de *** (ça reste un secret, je vous y emmènerai une autre fois) et j'ai décidé de voyager dans le temps grâce à mes archives photos.


Grab a nice sweater, a hot cup of tea, and here we go!

Mettez un gilet, saisissez votre tasse de thé et c'est parti!


Last summer (I told you we were travelling time), my parents discovered a nice little restaurant in the town of Lamballe, which is conveniently located half way between my Cottage and theirs (that's the yellow spot on the map above) . They wanted me to meet them there so we could eat together.

L'été dernier (ben, oui, je vous avais dit qu'il fallait voyager dans le temps), mes parents ont découvert un petit restaurant sympa à Lamballe, à mi-chemin entre mon Cottage et le leur. Ils m'y ont un jour donné rendez-vous  pour me le faire tester.


One morning, I got into my car, I drove to Lamballe and it was like I was alone on the road. I arrived in town and found a parking spot right away. I checked my watch: I was more than half an hour early to meet my parents.

Un matin, je suis donc montée dans ma petite voiture, direction Lamballe. J'étais toute seule sur la route. A peine arrivée, j'ai trouvé une place de parking. J'ai regardé ma montre... J'avais près d'une heure d'avance!!


So I walked idly around... And suddenly a church I hadn't noticed in my previous visits to this town caught my attention. This is where I'm taking you today.

J'ai donc arpenté les rues que je connais bien, jusqu'à tomber sur une adorable église que je ne connaissais pas, l'église Saint-Martin.


The first church was built here in the 11th century. But it was constantly rebuilt, added to and embellished.

La première église à cet endroit date du XIe siècle. Depuis, elle a été constamment reconstruite, améliorée et agrandie. 

Three things made me fall in love with this little church.

Trois éléments m'ont fait tomber amoureuse de ce bâtiment.

1) The tower. It's particularly beautiful from a distance... So much so that I'm wondering why I hadn't noticed it before. It's sturdy, rustic and somehow I find it comforting.

1) Le clocher. Très joli, surtout vu de loin... A tel point que je me demande comment j'ai fait pour le rater lors de mes précédentes visites. Ce n'est pas un clocher fin et travaillé comme dans un bâtiment gothique. Non, j'aime son côté rustique et solide qui le rend rassurant.



2) The porch. I love the fact that the wood work is painted, something that was very popular in the Middle Age, but very rarely kept nowadays.



The beam reads "L'an mil cinq cent dix neuf Jean Lesné me fit tout neuf" (in 1519, Jean Lesné made me new). Isn't it amazing that the carpenter left his name there? And how cool is it that in 1519 the church needed some renovation work - it was already four centuries old - and that the renovation is still there?

You can also see on both sides of the porch the stone benches where beggars would ask for charity.


2) Le porche.

 J'aime qu'il soit peint comme il l'était probablement au Moyen Age, quelque chose qui n'est pas toujours respecté lors des rénovations.


Sur la poutre, on peut lire "L'an mil cinq cent dix neuf Jean Lesné me fit tout neuf". N'est-ce pas amusant de penser que le travail de rénovation entrepris par ce charpentier alors que l'église avait déjà quelques siècles d'existence est toujours là?


3) The ceilings.

Again, I love that they are painted. I guess blue was to imitate the sky. The ceiling above the altar is amazing.


3) Les plafonds.

Là encore, ils sont peints, en bleu évoquant le ciel. Le plafond surplombant l'autel est particulièrement travaillé pour une si petite église.

 Somehow the blue and white in this church made it very summer like and for a church that is not written as a "must visit" in the touristic guides, I thought it was really pretty. What do you think?


 Ce mélange de blanc et de bleu m'a paru particulièrement estival. Je trouve que pour une église qui n'est pas référencée comme un "bâtiment à voir" dans les sites de la ville, elle est absolument charmante. Qu'en pensez-vous?



See you soon,

A bientôt,


PS1: Guess who doesn't want to paint with those freezing temperatures?

PS1 : Devinez qui n'a pas envie de peindre avec ces températures glaciales?

PS2: I'm sharing this post with:

 Thoughts from Alice              Travel Photo Monday         Dwellings-the Heart of You Home  

Linky Party         ARTL FEB 9                     http://theenchantingrose.blogspot.fr/2015/02/roses-of-inspiration-linkup-6.html           


Ivy and Elephants           http://mysalvagedtreasures.blogspot.fr/2015/02/vintage-inspiration-party-176_10.html                               

62 comments:

  1. Cette église est charmante. On a toujours du mal à s'imaginer les églises colorées, celle-ci est un bon exemple, les bleus ont l'air magnifiques. Merci pour cette promenade !
    Bon dimanche bien au chaud...
    Nathalie

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  2. Oh, le temps Magali, chez nous, c'est pareil! Mais votre tour ici me rendre contente ce matin. Je viens de regarder un documentaire au sujet de l'histoire de la langue anglaise, et on a mentionné la BRETAGNE, et j'ai pensé à toi! La langue de votre région m'enchante aussi bien que l'architecture ici.

    BON DIMANCHE! Anita

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  3. Très jolie cette église. Plus remarquable encore la manière dont elle est entretenue. Admiration.
    Bon dimanche. Caresses aux chatons. Bises. Babette

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  4. Oh, Magali, I so enjoy your little excursions and this one to Lamballe was absolutely lovely. The church is beautiful, so many interesting architectural features, but the tower is, indeed, quite unique! Thank you for these wonderful photos!

    Poppy

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  5. Such a lovely church and I agree, the ceiling above the altar is spectacular! I totally understand the job and temperature issues you are having as I am too. My teaching job overwhelms me at times and the cold is getting to me as well. It's in the thirties every morning and I am over it! It does warm up to the sixties, but I am more of a seventies girl...:) So looking forward to spring weather. Have a lovely Sunday!

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  6. Thank you for taking us along on a tour of such a charming old church, Magali! The details are amazing and I agree, it should definitely be listed as a "must see" for tourists visiting the city.

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  7. This church is so pretty, love the colours, it's so characterful. Amazing to think those renovations have lasted so well from 1519.

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  8. Thank you for such a wonderful tour of an amazing church. I love the porch with the benches for the poor, such sad times, but great to see this can be still be seen for historical purposes. Thanks again, I loved it!

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  9. If the walls can talk. Love your walk abouts. Very spiritual, Kathleen in Az

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  10. That church is Amazing..so Beautiful..glad you took us back today..funny how you never noticed it before..it looks huge..what a difference a little bit of time makes..looking forward to the next adventure you go on..by the way..I don't blame you for putting a trip in 30* weather off..this Maryland girl here in the states would have done the same thing..hoping the temps get in the 50's sooner then later..for both of us.!

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    1. Well, it was sunny today, but it's still rather cold... So I might need to go in my archives again next month!

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  11. Thanks for sharing! I enjoy your travelling blogposts! I love painted wood in churches too!AriadnefromGreece!

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  12. Absolutely beautiful! Oh how I wish I could tour with you in person!!

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  13. Oh my goodness, I actually got goosebumps while looking at these photos! As you probably know, we have nothing like this in the States. I am still hoping that someday me and my husband can visit Brittany (remember, we have friends that have a cottage there...they reside in Bristol, England but their Brittany cottage is their second house) and then I can see some of these beautiful buildings in person.

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  14. I also enjoy your" history tours." I love the feeling that comes when sitting in an old, as in hundreds of years, church and imagining the people who sat there through time. Thanks for the time travel. On a side note, I am reading a book that has an orphan going to stay with Irish Nuns and is set in a little village in Brittany where the convent is set in a brick wall and your pictures help me envision it a bit better. Thank you.
    y

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  15. It's a beautiful church with so many amazing details. Thanks for taking us on a visit, Magali!

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  16. !!!!! those dragons, incorporated in the beam!!! over the porch!!!!

    oh why don't churches today, have dragons?????? ,-)

    Tessa~

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  17. Thank you thank you for sharing this church with us. This feature of your tours is my favorite part of your blog! But this church....I am in awe. I love everything about it. Everything that you point out...yes...it is wonderful. Truly should be on a must see list. One of my favorite parts is when the Saint statues are tucked in a niche in the side of the building so I love the one, is it St. Joseph, tucked at the entrance. Beautiful tour. xxo

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  18. Dear Magali,
    Absolutely breathtaking! What a beautiful historical Church.. Your photos are wonderful... What a sight to see in person.
    Thank you so much for sharing.
    blessings,
    Penny

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    1. It's really a darling little church and after I met my parents, I took them there.

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  19. Thank you for a lovely trip to this beautiful church. I hope you had a good meal and visit with your parents. Save the painting for a warmer day when you can open windows for fresh air. Wishing you a wonderful week. xo Patty

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  20. What a beautiful church. I know you enjoyed your visit with your folks. You have such gorgeous scenery all around you. Thanks for sharing with us.

    Judy

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  21. Just beautiful! Thank you for the arm-chair tour of your countryside. I am on the Pacific Coast of the U.S. Your cottage is just what my ideal dream home is in my mind. You have done a wonderful job. I look forward to more of your pictures and your ideas.

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  22. Magali, I love the church. I like to sit in a church and just look at the woodwork, the stained glass, the pews...there's a lots of beauty. Blessings to you, xoxo,Susie

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  23. Yes the ceilings are beautiful, I love all the shades of blue and how pretty is that painted porch with the dragon or serpent heads, thank you for taking us on another tour and reminding us that it isn't cold ALL year round. x

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  24. Oh, how I loved this little field trip! Old churches exude such a remarkable sense of history, and the renovator's description is amazing! This church should definitely be on the "must see" travel list for tourists when in the area.

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  25. Oh what a beautiful church. I can see why you like it. The little town looks so quaint and lovely. Thanks so much for taking us this wonderful adventure. Hope you had a good lunch with your parents.
    Mary

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  26. Thank you for this special tour to a lovely church.

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  27. Just beautiful! Thank you for this tour!

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  28. What a gorgeous place! Little European churches- I can't get enough of them! Thanks for sharing this little gem.

    www.queenbcreativeme.blogspot.com

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  29. Simply wonderful Magali! The church looks like something out of Tolkien! Love it, thank you for another lovely tour!

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  30. Magali, So pretty. I love to visit churches. This church is very beautiful.

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  31. Magali you made my day with this post. History is huge in my life and to have you show this beautiful historic church was a blessing for me today. I'm very ill and seeing the beauty of this is amazing. Thanx for sharing ~Hugs, Jo

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  32. When it comes to beautiful architecture, few structures can rival that of churches, especially European churches. It's wonderful to wander around and find something you've never seen before. Especially something so lovely as this. The ceiling is amazing, and the altar is beautiful. Simple, but rich in detail. I enjoyed this post so much!

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  33. merci pour cette plaisante excursion ! le porche est incroyable - si des vacances me mènent par là, je ne manquerai pas cette halte paisible - cordialement - monique59

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  34. Ah, les petites églises bretonnes... toutes de pures merveilles et tes photos sont vraiment belles ! Profites bien de tes vacances !

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  35. Thank you for the tour of that wonderful church, the colors and the drawings it is all so moving. Old buildings have so much history and wonder.

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  36. Thank you for coming over to view my post for my Mother... So happy you enjoyed your stay
    blessings,
    Penny

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  37. I love your Wandering Around pictures. I always enjoy the tours.

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  38. Beautiful pictures! I do not blame you for not wanting to go anywhere in the cold.

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  39. Charming church. It would be nice to sit in there and hear peace. Blue ceilings on porches were fashionable for southern plantation homes.

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  40. Magali,,a beautiful work of art. Thanks for taking us along on this trip..Happy Tuesday..Judy

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  41. I am happy that you often remind me, through you little trips, how utterly beautiful Bretagne is !! Last summer my sister and her family holidayed in a fishermen's cottage in the south of Finistère... it was lovely and they had a wonderful time, leaving me jealous and taking care of her cats... life isn't fair, is it... :-) Grts, Marcy

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    1. You had to take care of the cats? Isn't that the best job ever?

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  42. ahhhhh! Gorgeous. I am always so fascinated by stone structures. Being from the new world, we don't have many stone buildings, only a few sandstone churches and schools here. Thanks for letting me be an armchair tourist Magali! Always a privilege!

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  43. Such a beautiful church, Magali. It's just amazing in every way. I absolutely LOVE the porch design and the way it's painted. Oh, so charming.

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  44. Hi Magali, I'm visiting from Stephanie's party. Wow what a beautiful church and thanks so much for the tour. I love your blog and feel like I will learn a lot from you. I am now your newest follower! Thanks again for this lovely tour!
    Julie at Julie's Lifestyle

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  45. Those pictures make one want to walk among the buildings. It's like being right there. Thank you for sharing these wonderful pictures.

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  46. I always enjoy your tours; it's the next best thing to really being there. I love seeing places with such history. Beautiful!

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  47. J'adore les églises et chapelles bretonnes !
    Vivement les vacances !
    À bientôt, Flopsy

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  48. What a beautiful and charming old church. I prefer to visit places that are off the tourist path too. Aren't you glad you arrived early for lunch? Thank you for sharing with us at Vintage Inspiration Party.

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  49. I had my sweater and I was sipping my tea :) Such a beautiful post filled with enchanting photos, dear Magali. Thank you, my dear, for taking us along. And thank you for sharing at Roses of Inspiration. Hugs to you!

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  50. Such a beautiful place to wander around. And you took beautiful shots of it as well. Wishing you a wonderful day ~ Wendy of AppleApricot (visiting from Roses of Inspiration)

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  51. Such a beautiful stroll and the architecture is just beautiful. Love stone buildings.
    Thank so much for sharing at AMAZE ME MONDAY!
    Blessings,
    Cindy

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  52. What a beautiful church! I always enjoy your tours. :)

    -andi

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  53. Lucky you arrived a little early so you had time for this church. I think it is amazing and beautiful and would love to visit. When we travel we always leave time for exploring off the beaten path. We've never traveled to this part of France but I see we should, beautiful. Thanks for the tour.

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