150 Churches in Paris and elsewhere

  It is odd that it took me a while to add Rouen cathedral to the blog, given that I walk past it almost every week on my way to work. It is mostly famous for having been painted by Monet (I mean he painted pictures of it) at different times of day with different sunlight effects. I finally went in to take photos shortly before closing time, so all the parts behind the main altar got missed out. Will have to go back to add more pictures. I also included more outside pictures than usual, but then the outside is spectacular. Some of it goes back to the 11th century. Fabulous Baroque side altar, check. Low-key style pulpit, check. Soaring Gothic arches, check. Handy sword, check. Thirteenth century stained glass, check. Also, a pretty confessional. Richard the Lion Heart is buried here (well only his heart actually), as is Rollo (the duke not the chocolate). Information in English Information in French Information in Picard

  Valence cathedral is dedicated to another of those sixth-century bishops and has a l ovely baroque side altar.  The main altar table and the baptismal font are fine pieces, too. The pulpit a very common style, even ordinary. Also slightly gruesome story, because Pope Pius X died in Valence in 1799. His body was eventually taken off to Italy for burial, but the Valence parishioners wanted his heart and his guts back, so they were sent back and are buried in the cathedral. Valence also has a very interesting and important museum of the Armenian genocide (there is a very large Armenian community locally). And the museum opposite the cathedral has finds at a local Roman villa which I really liked. Information in English Information in French Information in Slovenian