It's a steep climb out of Conques the next day. Half-way up the side of the valley you reach the tiny Chapelle Sainte-Foy. I suspect that every pilgrim and walker from time immemorial has stopped here for a rest...
Finally the ridge is in sight...
The view back is tremendous...
At the top you have a choice between two routes. Since the main route was 5 km longer, and involved a lot more 'ups and downs', I took a variante, an alternative route, which passed the Chapelle Saint-Roch just beyond Noailhac...
Saint-Roch was present outside...
... and inside...
There were also some stunning modern stained glass windows...
I rolled on along the ridge towards Decazeville...
9 comments:
Why does the scenery in other countries always looks so much more inviting than ours Robert?
It's the way I photoshop the pictures, Pat! No, but seriously, I think we could easily post photos of Scotland, Wales, the Lakes, Yorkshire, Devon, Cornwall, Norfolk, Suffolk, and many other places ... and people would think: wow!
Sometimes the grass does look greener on the other side of the fence, though — I must admit.
Did you see a lot of walkers on the path each day?
I like the good Saint's obvious pride in his magnificent legs. Must have been all the walking.
Well, he's pointing to his plague sore, actually, Goat — but, I agree, those legs are pretty impressive.
Quite a few walkers in May, at least until Conques, where they all seemed to evaporate. (Not as many in the autumn and winter.)
Tremendous views. That chapel from above and the valley beyond is inspiring! As for whose view is better, I think about this often on my drives to and from work and think: If I were in Ireland or England (or France or Switzerland or Spain or or or) would I say, wow, this is gorgeous? Well I still do think it's gorgeous here in Michigan, but there isn't the stone and hills like you have in Europe, which adds so much to the views.
this looks like an exquisite village and church, but i have trouble getting beyond the unearthly greens and blues in these images. how does one walk through such a place without constantly stopping to admire the creations of both God/dess and man?
How can you bear to stop walking?
Conques appears to be one of these French towns which should be kept in a museum in their entirety. There are quite a few dotted around the country, many overrun with tourists in summer. I love them, but I always regret their out-of-this-world aspect afterwards. There is something unsatisfactory about them.
Love Friko's comment about Conques. It really does look like a fairytale village and chapel.
Maybe it's something in the view that transmits thru the camera, that makes photos on vacations look so ... ? Just a thought.
Thanks Ruth, Amanda, Friko and Karin for your most welcome and appreciated comments!
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