I had made a quick tour of the three churches I want to see, and found out that the nearest one - St Ouen - was having a special multimedia presentation at 9 PM. They would be projecting the sights and sounds of the forest onto the columns and vault roof of the nave so that you felt you were in a forest. So instead of sleeping, I went outto see it. It was impressive. It must of been part of a save the forests movement. What French I understood talked of the forest being a temple of God. Of course I believe that, but at the same time felt them being a little contradictory there in a temple of God made by man. A temple quite capable of lifting ones spirit to the heights of God. A temple necessary for them to make such an impressive presentation.
Again until tomorrow.
It's Monday morning and still overcast and cool. I remembered to take my rain jacket with me and indeed we had a little shower, then the sun came out, but still lots of clouds. I went over to St Ouen, and it is closed on Mondays! Don't they know there are pilgrims in town. Well luckily there were workers there packing up the projection equipment from last night, and I was able to sneak in and take some photos anyway. One thing I found unique and thought really neat was that on the really large arcade pillars going down the nave of the church, there were two shelves for two very large statues. I imagine a large solemn procession, with bishops and abbots and maybe even the king, coming through the huge front doors and proceeding down that aisle of Saints. What a spectacle that must have been. Alas, the church has seen better days. The abbey is no more, the church needs a little TLC, and except for the first two columns, the other nitches are empty. Someone said that the great organ is desired for concerts, and there are three beautiful great rose windows in the flamboyant Gothic style, but the abbey church is not used for worship (though it is part of the local parish).
I got lots of pictures of the exterior, mostly sooty and black from age and pollution, but in some ways the sculptures are remarkably fine.
The third Gothic church - St Maclou - is only open on weekends! So will have to be happy with the exterior shots. It has a great central tower rising high over the cityscape. I had ducked in last night for a peek, but as Mass was about to start I left, but in that short time one of the stone gargoyles had fallen down right outside the entry shattering on the cobblestones. Luckily no one was hit.
The cathedral - Notre Dame de Rouen - opened at two and I spent a lot of the afternoon there. Of course I took pictures, but mostly just spent time there in another holy place. Again this place was huge! The aisles were impressive in themselves, so the nave and apse even more so. There are ten bays in the nave alone! There is a great central tower that is open on the inside, and topped with a great spire outside. The interior decorations changed with the builders. Most of the nave is four tiered, the apse and transept is three tiered while multiple columns give way to great round columns. Yet the overall impression is harmonious. The west facade has scaffolding, so no nice photo, carvings were typically nice and impressive, two unidentical towers complete the scene.
It was a great treat to have a whole afternoon to enjoy there.
