Iter Facere

Le Conquet and the Finisterre coast

Drove north along the coast...the Cote des Abers. Very pretty, windswept and vast. The surf was high, I assume because of the storm. The surfers were out, crazy folks.





After lunch next to the tallest lighthouse in Europe, we head to Lampaul and it's sister city, Lampaul-Guimiliau. The place names in Finisterre are certainly challenging. These two cities became wealthy during the late middle ages from the linen (Lampaul) and tanning trades(Lampaul-Guimiliau). They competed, along with other towns, to build the most impressive parish closes...the cemetery, church and outbuildings for the parish. Usually it included an ossuary since the cemeteries were getting full. Lampaul-Guimiliau's was the first we saw, and it's pretty impressive. I'm not sure I've ever been more impressed with the interior of any church. Of course, that's when my battery died. It was light and airy, with great altarpieces. Since it was built in the 16th century, the sculptures were the full effect Renaissance look, lifelike, busy and expressive. Also polychrome.




Ossuary at Lampaul-Guimiliau.

The spire is truncated, since it was destroyed by lighting in the 18th century.




The next town, Lampaul, had a more impressive exterior than the first, although I didn't like the interior as much.





Closes have a cavalry, which were also exuberant in both.



Back to town for dinner at Quai Ouest. Higher end food, not exactly sure what part of duck I ate. Kathy had lotte, with something, which we suspect was tripe. The food was good (except for the tripe). Catastrophic failure of french language skills when plates were brought out. Hilarity(?) ensued.

Location:Le Conquet

posted by Jim @ 10:06 PM