Treguier, Le Roch Jagu and Abbaye de Beauport

Gentle Friends today lets visit the great little town of Treguier (Trecorum), which dates from the sixth century, grew up round a monastery founded by Saint Tudwal (died c. 564).  We had lunch there, but I am saving those snaps for my "Food" post, yet to come.  

In the main square is the Cathedral Saint-Tudwal.

... notice the elaborate stone vaulted ceiling that is covered in fresco's...

... the vaulting seems to just spring from these bundles of slender columns...

a lovely window full of modern stained glass....

the garden inside the cloister, full of the lovely hydrangeas in bloom, we saw full bloom and blown hydrangeas all over Brittany...

... inside the cloister are these period effigies of knights and patrons of the Cathedral (these are not tombs)

... a nice statue of Saint Tudwal...

... the relics of Saint-Ives and Saint-Tudwal.... and a little info about Saint-Tudwal....from Wikipedia..."

Saint Tudwal(died c. 564) was a Breton Monk.  He is considered one of the seven founder Saints of Brittany.  Tudwal travelled to Ireland to learn the scriptures, then became a hermit on what is now called Saint-Tudwal's Island East off North Wales.Tudwal later emigrated to Brittany, settling in Lan Pabu with 72 followers, where he established a large monastery under the patronage of his cousin, King Deroch of Domnoee . Tudwal was made Bishop of Treguier on the insistence of Childbert I, King of the Franks.

Tudwal is shown in iconography as a bishop holding a dragon, now the symbol of Tregor.  His feast day is celebrated on 1 December."

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Because we were driving everywhere we could make up our own itinerary and go to the more obscure and out of the way places...... like Le Roch Jagu....

 This is the garden side of the Chateau.

Standing high on the side of the wooded Trieux River, the tough-looking Château de la Roche-Jagu is the only survivor of some ten fortresses that once oversaw stretches of this valley in medieval times. Recently restored, it still guards the way to the pretty river port of Pontrieux.  It was built in the 15th century.  You can tour on your own the entire Chateau and the gardens.  None of my pictures of the inside came out, I'm not sure why.....

 The river side of the Chateau, overlooking the river Trieux.... 

and the view from inside looking out looks like this......

... great views up and down the river, but like all waterways in Brittany it is tidal, as you can see from the exposed banks the tide was going out......

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The Abbaye de Beauport although once a large thriving community has now mostly fallen into lovely and stable disrepair....

 The Abby was founded in 1202 and most of the buildings built during the 13 and 14th centuries.  Mostly in ruins now you can tour through what is left and through the remnants of a very extensive orchard.  

The church was built in the 13th century, what is left standing is the facade, and open to the elements....the nave, north aisle and north transept.

 .....outside looking in......

 ..... inside looking out.....

.....the large flying buttresses holding up the walls.  It was a very successful Abby fro0m the 14th - 18th century but fell not decline by the mid 18th century and was sacked in 1797 by Revolutionaries.  What they did so well here was make cider.  Brittany is still known as a great region for cider making, which by the way is quite delicious!!!!. What is left of the gigantic orchards attest to that "apple legacy."  While we were there we saw huge apple trees laden to overflowing with apples......

... the ground was covered, the trees were covered and even some of the branches from threes were on the ground having broken off from the weight of the apples.  We gathered some up and took with us and munched on them for a few days and included them in salads - quite tasty.

... the orchards are enclosed by a pretty high stone wall, as are the gardens....  I climbed on top of one of the walls (I didn't see a sign that said not to) and took this picture looking out to sea.....

 ... arches in the refectory...

... under the refectory is this basement space where cider presses once stood.  They were making cider here up and into the 1920's and exporting it all over the country.

... the double doorway into the Chapter House....

... the vaulted ceiling inside the Chapter House.

 the stairs outside the Chapter House.... and that about wraps up the Abbaye de Beauport.

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Thanks once again for stopping by, do stop again!!

Take care,

edgar