Out and About

One day recently we took a drive to Versailles.  The statuary was prolific and mostly Greek figures.

Despite all the antique craftsmanship at Versailles, just installed this year in two of the main fountains are modern electronic lighted deep blue glass pieces titled "Blue Champagne."

We were lucky to be there on one of the few days when the fountains are turned on for a musical performance.

The performance continued with the lower fountains activated.

On our drive back from Versailles, we discovered a 12th century Abbey (Abbaye des Vaulx de Cernay) established by the Order of the Cistercians founded by St. Bernard - yes, he was a man not only a breed of dog.  

The Order of Cistercians is a religious order of enclosed monks and nuns. They are sometimes also called the Bernardines or the White Monks, in reference to the colour of the habit, over which a black scapular is worn. The emphasis of Cistercian life is on manual labour and self-sufficiency, and many abbeys have traditionally supported themselves through activities such as agriculture and brewing ales.

Bernard of Clairvaux entered the monastery in the early 1110s with 30 companions and helped the rapid proliferation of the order. By the end of the 12th century, the order had spread throughout France and into England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Eastern Europe.

The following five photos are all from this magnificent abbey much of which is still intact and now is a hotel with classical concerts.  The grounds were quite extensive and as expected, most peaceful.