Wednesday, November 07, 2018

Travelogue: Port-en-Bessin-Huppain


While visiting Normandy last August, we stayed three nights in the fishing village of Port-en-Bessin-Huppain. As land-locked Coloradans, we seize every opportunity to stay near the ocean when we can, and it was perfect for access to all the Normandy Beach sites as well as Bayeaux.

We found marvelous restaurants along the water's edge, an interesting beach to walk along, and this amazing church. I've visited many churches over the past few years, from the Vatican in Rome to tiny, unheated and unlit St. Oswald's church along Hadrian's Wall, but this one stood out as providing incredible insight into the people who worship in the church from the town.

First and foremost, Port-en-Bessin-Huppain is a fishing village, and has been so from time immemorial.

Here's a peak inside the church so you can see what I mean...










8 comments:

  1. You took such a fascinating trip. The village and church seem like they are unique planes to visit of the kind that not every tourist gets to. I would love to explore these places myself.

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  2. What an amazing church! Your photo gallery is marvelous, such a treat to see it! It is so beautifully devoted to the fishing theme, which, when one thinks about it, is also perfectly appropriate to Jesus and his band of fishermen from Galilee. Of all the uniquely nautical ornamentations, my favorite is the stained-glass window. Thanks for sharing this stop from your journey!

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    1. I love stained glass as a rule, and that one was perfect--theme and composition and color.

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  3. Lovely post, and photos! We didn't get here on our trip, but did visit Arromanches. This village & church look worth seeing, wow.

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    1. We spent about 30 minutes in Arromanches and we vowed to return and at least spend a day or two.

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  4. Great pictures. That's great that you stayed it such an interesting spot and that church! From the outside one wouldn't know how unique it really is.

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    1. Here's a bit more of the story. We were out for a walk before dinner, and passed this church and I was feeling a bit weary of churches, but my husband wanted to look inside. So he went in while I took pictures outside. He came out and said, "You have to come and see this!" He was right--it was unique!

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  5. We visited Normandy a couple of years ago and loved seeing all of the D-Day beaches and museums. We stayed in Bayeux so we didn't see anything like the village you stayed in. Thanks for sharing!

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