Burgundy, France

Burgundy

Burgundy is a region in central France. The region consists of four departments. The capital of Burgundy is Dijon.

Burgundy is a region with a rich tradition: the area was already quite densely populated in the Paleolithic; Finds show that it was settled 15,000 years ago. Today’s region is mainly known for its Roman and Christian buildings and traditions.

Burgundy plays a role in the famous song of the Nibelungs, which is partly based on historical events and in which people from history appear. However, this does not explicitly mean today’s Burgundy. The song of the Nibelungs is about the vanished kingdom of the Burgundians that existed elsewhere.

Today’s Burgundy (Bourgogne) is primarily a wine country. The region was named the most livable region in France in 2002, which is primarily due to the wonderful landscape and the excellent wine with the matching cuisine. In fact, wines from the Cote d’Or are highly valued internationally: the white Chablis, for example, is world-famous, but the red Cote de Nuits is also an internationally renowned wine. Comté cheese is a delicacy that is in great demand far beyond the borders of Burgundy and France.

Burgundy around the dijon dijon, which is also a university town today, experienced an economic and cultural heyday in the Middle Ages, of which 400-700 palaces and castles still testify today. Walks between these old mansions through the lovely wine landscape make a holiday in Burgundy so attractive and unique.

Burgundy is also home to numerous important monasteries and is still rich in spiritual life today. Many of the monasteries also offer tourists the opportunity to stop for days or even weeks of silence, which many tourists and also stressed managers of industrial society enjoy and increasingly take advantage of.

A holiday in the Burgundy region is a holiday for the heart and soul, where neither physical nor spiritual well-being is neglected.

Notre-Dame de Chartres Cathedral

The French city of Chartres lies about 80 kilometers southwest of Paris on a spacious plain. The present urban area was already settled in antiquity. At the end of the 12th to the beginning of the 13th centuries, a cathedral was built in Chartres, which continues to attract believers and many tourists to this day. The flat land around Chartres enables the traveler to see the imposing cathedral many kilometers from the city gates.

Famous landmark

The huge church building is dedicated to the veneration of Mary. The construction of the building with the dominating towers represents the beginning of the era of the cathedrals. The complex was built in the Gothic style and is considered a model for many cathedrals in Europe. A particular stroke of luck with this church is that many of the furnishings such as the window glazing and a large part of the sculptures still originate from the time the building was built. Today the cathedral is the seat of the bishopric of Chartres.

The nine huge portals through which the visitor can enter the interior of the cathedral are impressive. The choir is the largest in size compared to other French cathedrals. It occupies an area of ​​650 m². The cathedral was built on the remains of an older Romanesque church building. The crypt, which is also the largest in France, comes from the previous building. Chartres Cathedral has even more superlatives to offer: the transept is 63 meters long and the imposing rose window is more than 13 meters in diameter.

Mysteries and the famous blue of Chartres

One of the special features in the interior of the cathedral is the mystical labyrinth with eleven passages built into the floor panels. Colorful glasses were used for the design of the windows.

A special blue color was even developed: the warm and luminous Chartres blue. The magnificent colorful windows shine in the sun and bathe the church interior in different colors. A trip to the episcopal city is worthwhile just to experience this atmosphere.

Strasbourg Cathedral

The Strasbourg Cathedral is one of the largest cathedrals in Europe. The landmark of Alsace and its capital Strasbourg was built from pink sandstone and impresses not only with its size, but also with its features. The “Liebfrauenmünster” stands in the center of the lively city and is the destination for tours and study trips through eastern France. The cathedral is open every day. There are exhibitions, organ concerts and guided tours.

Impressive monument of medieval architecture

The imposing cathedral is the extension of a Romanesque church that stood on the central square in downtown Strasbourg around 1015. From this phase the apse, the choir, parts of the transept and a section of the crypt have been preserved.
From 1176 to 1439 the cathedral was built in the Gothic style. The nave was built from 1276 and the 142 m high, imposing north tower was completed in the last construction phase. In the tower there is a visitor platform at a height of 66 m, which allows a fantastic view over the city.

The imposing west facade is adorned with numerous portal statues. The minster has five portals. At the south gate, a Romanesque double portal, the statues of Ecclesia and synagogue as well as of King Solomon watch over those entering. Inside, the pulpit, stained glass windows from the 12th to 14th centuries and the famous angel pillars are particularly worth seeing. The astronomical clock is also impressive. There are three historic organs in the minster, including a Silbermann organ.

Burgundy, France

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