There are good reasons for the Seine valley in Normandy to have been so popular with Impressionist painters. The light, the rolling hills, the combination of old stone-built villages with farm land, and of course the river itself.
Today, river cruises are a popular way of seeing some of the sights, with the obligatory stops at Giverny, Rouen and Le Havre, but if you go by car there are so many other really good bits in between.
Here is just a taster: my way of showing you some of the reasons that I love this part of France. Pictures taken of the riverside town of La Bouille; the Château de Soquence; the Abbey de Jumieges; and de Wandrille.
And if you find yourself in Normandy one day, and you have some time to spare, then do your own exploring and check out some of the gardens, abbeys and tiny villages in this quiet rural part of France.
PS Don't forget this week's giveaway, entries close tomorrow midnight!
all pictures thanks to google images
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So beautiful. I can see how it would be easy to get caught up in exploring all of the great sites.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could see all this in person it is so beautiful!!!
ReplyDeleteThe pics are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteOh, how simply beautiful. As I sit here dreaming over your pictures, I wonder if people in other countries look at pictures from the US and feel that same sense of wonder.
ReplyDeleteYes, they do ! And I agree with you, those are beautiful pictures !
DeleteFirst time here and so glad I found your beautiful blog.
ReplyDeleteNow, this post, is this Heaven?
OMG, these pictures made me dream, thank you for this Monday special gift.
Warm hugs from Brasil
Tereza
Stunning pictures! So beautiful. Thank-you! Best wishes, Pamela
ReplyDeleteSt. Wandrille! One of the best memories of my life. Sharon, thank you so much for this blog. I live in the US but my family is from Normandy. I miss it so much, but your blog helps.
ReplyDeletexx
Every time I visit I marvel at how lucky you are to live in such a beautiful place!!
ReplyDeleteHave to bookmark this.......absolutely took my breath away..........GORGEOUS!!
ReplyDeleteToo beautiful.
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful and historic! Love the architecture and the garden style.
ReplyDeleteOOOOH!! Que preciosas imagenes, son espectaculares!!!
ReplyDeleteSaludos!!
Veronica.
Los Mundos de Nika Vintage.
Gorgeous photos! I love the gardens, stone built homes and overall landscape of this area. I hope that I can visit this area someday.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing. :)
I have been enjoying your blog for some time and hopefully someday I will get the chance to see some of these sites in person. I cannot image seeing a place with buildings that are older than 100 - 200 years old. We just don't have anything older around where I live. Thank you so much for all your pictures!
ReplyDeleteThank you I enjoyed that. Especially the last photo. Is that de Wandrille? - Suzan
ReplyDeleteHow much I wish to visit these places in person, lovely photos thanx for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHi Sharon
ReplyDeleteI think it is marvelous that you live each day to the fullest. You have a curious mind and a joie de vivre. Thank you for sharing where you live with us
Helen
extraordinary images..that peacock caught my eye!
ReplyDeleteWhat a treat this way to travel with you on this journey. Beautiful places, I thank you for sharing, Maureen
ReplyDeleteGorgeous.. it's those tiny little villages and gardens that are the most special. Thanks for taking us along!
ReplyDelete... so now I must visit! lovely pictures, thank you for sharing x
ReplyDeleteThese photographs are gorgeous Sharon... I would love to do that one day... it looks idyllic... xv
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures Sharon! How far are you from Omaha Beach and the beautiful veterans cemetary?
ReplyDeleteOH MY GOODNESS!I took a double take mind you I have never seen in person so I sent to my husband to confirm!His response "YEP".That boat is the VESSPUCCI from Italy that my husband trained on at the Italian Naval academy!Beautiful photos.........
ReplyDeleteI wasn't aware of those cruises. A lovely way to see the river in Upper Normandy. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Alison above in the comments about the glory of such ancient buildings and towns. When I first traveled to Central/Southern Europe as a young woman, I had no international travel experience nor had I been to my own East Coast (older!) USA. In the Pacific-West, we are among the newest states to have been settled in America and, especially when I was of that age back in the 1970s, we had only few things of antiquity in certain areas which still stand or what have been restored, the first thing coming to mind being California's famed Missions/churches (21 of them) which were established by the Catholic fathers. So, yes, for some of us, sites of Europe are like nothing we've seen before...and it's amazing! These are such mesmerizing photos, Sharon. Beautiful; thank you for posting them.
ReplyDelete