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Bec Abbey and the village Le Bec-Hellouin

Day 2 of our trip to the Bay of Sommes. Just before hitting the coast of Normady, there was a beau village on the route. The abbey village of Le Bec-Hellouin, built around the  11the century Bec Abbey. This Abbey was destroyed and rebuilt many times, notably during the French revolution and WW2. 

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Rouge Perriers - Pretty village on the way

Second day of our trip to the Bay Somme. Starting from Chartres, we made a spidery line for the Normandy coast, going by the prettiest and longest side roads possible instead of the big ugly autoroute we had used for the first leg. On the way, we were stopped dead by this incredibly pretty village in the middle of nowhere. The signboard at the entrance said Rouge Perriers. Nope, this isn't on the official list of "The most beautiful villages of France". But for my money,  it ought to be. I stepped out of the car for a couple of quick photos...

(next post: we stop at another nearby village that is on that official list).

Some lovely old cottages with thatched roofs, using a special technique that I believe is unique to Normandy. The thatching is done using a reed that is grown in this region for this specific purpose, unlike straw used elsewhere. This is what gives the Normandy thatched roofs their unique look. The best part is the plants growing at the top!

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Chartres, Cathedral Town

On the first leg of our trip to the bay of Somme, we stayed the night at the cathedral town of Chartres. Before the sun set, we checked out the old city, with the 12th century Cathedral of Chartres, said to be one of the best preserved Gothic cathedrals in France,  and the other historical monuments such as the Église Saint-Pierre de Chartres, the old marketplace, the alleys and byways of the old town, and my personal favorite, the breathtaking interiors of the church of Saint-Aignan (13th century).