Poca favilla gran fiamma seconda
Recently I came across the striking St-Martin de Martigny-Courpierre in the Aisne, not far from the Belgian border. Here is the striking exterior: This didn’t fully prepare for the interior.…
I have posted the climactic scene of Poulenc’s opera, “Dialogues of the Carmelites”, not once but twice Today, three days after Bastille Day, is the feast day of the Martyrs…
I don’t pretend these random shots capture the glory of Laon Cathedral and I did not get an adequate picture of the highly impressive oxen statues in the tower (see…
France’s last official dueltook place in 1967 between two French parliamentarians; Gaston Defferre, Mayor of Marseilles and newspaper owner, who shouted “Taissez-vous, abruti!” (Shut it, moron!) at Gaullist deputy…
This fine church is located in what was apparently deemed in 2016 the favourite village of the French. It is a rather charming (and quite busy) place. Tradition has it…
More work by the late French sacred artist Arcabas – this online gallery of paintings related to the Passion and Resurrection:
It seems a bit of a truism to describe Charles de Gaulle as an extraordinary figure, but truisms are no less true for being true. It is hard to know…
It is the feast of the Blessed Martyrs of Compiègne: 16 Discalced Carmelite nuns executed by French revolutionaries on this day in 1794, after refusing to accept state control over…
Séamus Sweeney 