27 – The Doors…

In To The abbey

Have you heard of Project Gutenberg? Johannes Gutenberg is of course widely acknowledged as the father of the printed word. The eponymously named Project has a simple mission – to encourage the creation and distribution of e-books.  Amongst the volumes available for download from this source is a fascinating and detailed glimpse into the past of Mont St Michel from the American journalist, historian and academic Henry Brooks Adams (February 16, 1838 – March 27, 1918). If you appreciate poetic, fine and slightly archaic writing it’s worth taking a look at this work.

Why do I mention this? Coincidentally during this trip to France I was to visit two very different places of Christian worship – the Mont and Chartres Cathedral. I went to Chartres principally to view the magnificent stained glass art of the cathedral windows – acknowledged to be amongst the finest in the world.  Adams’ work by coincidence is titled “Mont-Saint-Michel and Chartres” and he well illustrates through his writing how very different in character these two destinations are. Having already enjoyed the splendour and colour of the windows Chartres, the simplicity of the work found in the abbey of Mont St Michel is a marked contrast in style. And yet it is also very much in keeping with the monastic atmosphere of the island. 

We entered the abbey door. A hush fell on the crowd. Before us lay the towering transept of the abbey at Mont St Michel.  It was a lot to take in.

02 – the Mondiale

The motor show ....

It may seem strange to start my story of Mont Saint-Michel with an insert on the exhibition centre at the Porte de Versailles, but on this trip I had come primarily to visit the Mondiale de l’Automobile (Paris Motor Show). If you followed my first Parisian visit through Paris…In My Pocket! you will have realised I wouldn’t need much of an excuse to return to the city.  

Beyond my childhood dream of seeing Mont Saint-Michel, one of the other items on my personal ‘bucket list’ has been to do the three main European Motor Shows (Paris, Geneva and Frankfurt), and this was the year for Paris to have her turn (Paris and Frankfurt politely alternate hosting two of Europe’s major motor exhibitions). With my Audi due for replacement and the four ringed German marque having just revealed it’s then still controversial new face PLUS - with the model of the RSQ Concept (seen in the movie iRobot) being Audi’s guest of honour - AND a rumour that the next Le Mans supercar prototype (now known in production as the covetable R8) may be on display - this seemed the obvious year to check that particular motor show box.

But that would fill a day, or probably two, leaving my planned week long visit with quite a few days open to fulfil some other long held wishes. Of course I’d have to revisit many of my favourite Paris city sites, but the further choices I had made were to visit:

Chartres (for the legendary stained glass windows of the cathedral),

Some of the Loire Valley châteaux and champagne estates

… and of course …

Mont Saint-Michel.

That image from the stamp just would not go away.

Not that I wished it would!