If like me you are a fan of intricate French pastries, and marvel at the wonders which are gorgeously displayed in the elegant windows of Normandy patisserie, then no doubt you have been an avid viewer of Channel 4′s excellent gastronomic delight “Glamour Puds” and being entertained by the Charming Eric Lanlard.
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Mont Saint Michel Story Part 4
The Old Houses
The town houses of Mont-St-Michel with originally all constructed of timber- frames, but during the late 19th century and the Belle Epoch era most were torn down and replaced by much more comfortable dwelling places, although the original land divisions were adhered to. A beautiful stone and timbered building clinging to the town ramparts and constructed on corbels, facing the Kings Gate is known as the house of the Arches. In times gone by this lovely building once housed a part of the town’s garrison.
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Mont Saint Michel Story Part 2
The Town
Nestled at the base of the abbey, ensconced behind impressive walls and towers, the town of Mont-Saint-Michel was born of the abbey, to which it is inextricably linked, and it is this which gives it a special and unique character.
The town grew up out of the need to house and feed the numerous pilgrims, who began arriving to partake of the spiritual healing and sanctuary of the famous abbey, and as such Inns and hostels were constructed. These early innkeepers provided meals and lodgings and merchants sold holy images, figures of St. Michael, and metal badges which the pilgrims proudly displayed announcing to all that they had made the pilgrimage to the abbey of Mount-Saint-Michel. In essence these were the early hotels and souvenir shops which today’s visitor to the Mount can enjoy with there great food and hospitality.
The D Day Story Part 4
Merville Battery
About 165 miles to the East, the British Army’s 9th Battalion Parachute Regiment was dropping on the Merville Battery, which was perceived as a major menace to the landings at Sword Beach. It was therefore vital that the four 150 mm guns, embedded in 12 feet of concrete and soil, heavily protected by mine fields, anti-tank ditches plus pill boxes, were quickly disabled. The strength and defences of the Battery meant it could only be silenced by a direct assault and hand to hand combat.
The D Day Story Part 3
Ste Mere Eglise the 82nd and 101st paratroopers invade
One particular landing site for the American 82nd and 101st airborne paratroopers was Ste Mere Eglise. Despite the drop starting after 12 pm many of the paratroopers were illuminated by houses that had caught fire. The occupying forces opened fire and ordered the civilians who were trying to put out the house fire back to their homes. Some paratroopers were caught in the house fires, others on telephone poles and trees.
One US Paratrooper John Steele was left hanging from the church roof in the middle of the square when his parachute got caught on the steeple of the village church in Ste-Mère-Église, leaving him dangling precariously to witness the carnage unfolding below. Wounded and in pain he hung there pretending to be dead for two agonizing hours, before the Germans took him prisoner. An effigy of John Steele and his parachute can still be seen hanging from the church in the square. The story was recaptured in the film, ‘The Longest Day’
The D Day Story Part 2
Preparation: The build up to D Day
After extensive planning and training the Allied forces began the Normandy invasion codenamed Operation Overlord. Many factors dictated the choosing of the Normandy beaches, including the lessons learned from Dieppe and the range of air support.
Preparations included an appeal to the British public to send their holiday photos of Normandy to help create a detailed picture of the area and covert operations involving divers collecting sand samples from the beaches that later became known as Omaha and Utah.
American Civil War comes to Cherbourg
By: Steven Hawkes
On the 19th June, 1864, a buzz of expectancy gripped the Normandy port of Cherbourg. The many hotels, and inns were full to bursting and the private yachts, bobbed about in the harbour,all keenly awaiting the extraordinary, and inevitable event of a pitched battle between two rival ships, involved in the two sides of the American Civil war.
The D Day Story Part 1
Quineville Museum
The French people had suffered under the German occupation for 4 years. Rationing of basic food such as sugar and milk products were well established by July 1940. The hardships of families struggling to feed themselves were compounded by the lack of farmers, and the influx of refugees from neighbouring Belgium and Holland.