Tag Archives: Mortain

Photo Of The Day: Twisty Vine on Ornate Rusting Fence in France

Today’s photo of the day is from Mortain in Normandy, France. I was fascinated with how tightly the vine was winding itself around the rusty and crumbling iron fence. This ornate fencing is in front of an old chateau that is now used as a government building.

Just a little piece of random beauty. Enjoy!

Tightly twisting vine on ornate but rusting fence in Mortain, Normandy, France

Petite Chapelle Dans Les Bois – Little Chapel In The Woods Memorial

Abruptly turning the steering wheel, he directed the van along an ever-climbing and sharply twisting road until we arrived at the top and I saw the sign. Mark had decided to surprise me with a visit to La Petite Chapelle (the little chapel) perched high on an overlook above Mortain in Normandy, France.

Walking down the gravel path through tall trees toward the Petite Chapelle in Mortain, Normandy, France

Walking down a gravel path through the fragrant pines, we reached the tiny stone chapel, built in the late 1700s and then reconstructed in the 1850s, which is now dedicated to the American forces who lost their lives defending this strategic position from the advancing German troops and tanks during World War II.

La Petite Chapelle perched high atop Mortain, Normandy, France

Two marble memorial plaques stand in commemoration of their sacrifice.

Monument to the 30th Infantry in the woods outside the Petite Chapelle in Mortain, Normandy, France

Small memorial slab commemorating the participation of the 35th Infantry at the Battle of Mortain

The 30th Infantry is particularly highlighted and honoured for their role in the staggeringly intense Battle of Mortain as related in this historical report.

When you pass through the outcropping of boulders that snug the sides of the tiny chapel and venture out to the back, a steep set of stone stairs is set into that shallow bit of remaining land behind the chapel and those stairs lead to a viewing platform.

Twisty stone stairs leading to viewing platform behind the Petite Chapelle in Mortain, Normandy, France

The chapel itself is perched rather close to the end of the summit and you only realise that when you stand on the viewing platform and look back.

Back of the Petite Chapelle in Mortain, Normandy, France from the viewing platform

As long as you are not afraid of heights, the view from the top is breathtaking. On a clear day you are able to see for miles around including the seacoast beyond and Mont St. Michel in the distance. It’s obvious from the panoramic view that the American forces which were holding this position knew how vital it was to keep this high ground so that they could not only see any German troops on the way, they could maintain an ability to rain their weapons fire down onto the Germans who were struggling up the steep terrain.

A clear view for miles all around from atop the Petite Chapelle lookout in Mortain, Normandy, France

Today the land around the chapel in the woods is a silent place, a peaceful place — but still filled with memories and echoes of the past.

Entry to La Petite Chapelle perched high atop Mortain in Normandy, France

Photo Of The Day: Meditating Atop A Waterfall

Hiding behind the stone walls and down a twisting path through the woods, the old chateau had an interesting secret. We were in Mortain in Normandy in the north of France and our two young friends suggested a walk to the falls. We were standing on one of the main streets of the town and I thought to myself, what falls are they talking about?

Down a gravel path alongside a stone wall, on through into the woods, past a couple of crossings over the water, and we emerged into a clearing where we could see the waterfall in front of us. We weren’t alone and there were a stream of tourists hiking up and down the steps and paths to the falls and the flat area just above it. But our friends Sonia (on the left) and Lauren (on the right) weren’t satisfied with that!

I had juggled two heavy cameras with large lenses and a camera bag on that trek into the woods and I stood looking through one of those lenses and laughing as the two girls scrambled onto the rocks, sat cross-legged, and began to meditate. They didn’t know until they saw my photo afterward that they were being looked at quite curiously by the other tourists who were passing.

Two young women meditating atop the falls in Mortain, Normandy, France

Photo Of The Day: Guess What Is Coming To Town?

This may not get everyone’s blood pumping, but my cycle-mad husband was quite excited when he figured out what the sign said that I was photographing. This sign was on the sidewalk in Mortain in Normandy, northern France. Just a few more weeks to go!

Signs announcing the imminent arrival of the Tour de France

Remembering The Valiant in Normandy, France

Normandy in Northern France — site of some of the bloodiest battles of World War II including the D-Day Landings. To this day the local population still honours those lost young men and also the lucky ones that returned home.

One of the most ferocious campaigns took place in a French town called Mortain and the Germans called this offensive campaign Operation Lüttich. We are currently living a mere 12 kilometres from there.

Last week was the anniversary of the D-Day Landings by the Allied forces. The poignant painting below, surrounded by genuine artifacts of the war, was seen in the window of a local gallery on the main street of the now peaceful Mortain.

Remembering the valiant military and civilian forces who defended France in World War II

A Wanderful Life

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