2012 Tours
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The Dukes of Normandy
Led by Dr. Pamela Marshall
May 9th-16th 2012
William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, is best known as an overriding conqueror after his accession to the throne of England in 1066. But his early life was precarious and filled with struggles against enemies even within his own family. This tour will explore the historic origins of the Norman ruling family from the 10th century, following in the footsteps of the dukes and their aristocratic vassals in their homeland. The Normans shaped the wider history of Europe, not only by the conquest of England, but as colonisers of southern Italy and the Holy Land.
During the latter half of the eleventh century, under the patronage of William and his ancestors, the Norman School of Romanesque architecture came to represent a cutting edge of building design in Western Europe. We shall visit outstanding examples of the architecture that flourished under their rule, both spiritual and secular, visiting many of the churches and castles created by William, his forebears and his descendant kings of England.
We shall also find the Gothic tradition strong in the region under the patronage of Philip Augustus, king of France, who made his mark after wresting Normandy from King John in 1204.
The tour concentrates on the western part of the duchy, beginning at Caen where William I created a western capital to emulate his ancestral eastern capital at Rouen. Here he founded a new castle and, with his wife Matilda, endowed two great abbeys. We shall also see the story of his conquest of England told in the Bayeux Tapestry. We then move on to Coutances to facilitate visits further south and west, including Mont St. Michel. A church was founded here in 709 at the instigation of the Bishop of Avranches egged on, apparently, by the Archangel Michael. In 966 the Duke of Normandy endowed a Benedictine abbey, the core of which remains encapsulated within the dense complex of buildings that rose ever upwards, encasing themselves like Russian dolls on this restricted site. The Romanesque abbey church is stunning, as are the early Gothic elements patronised by Philip II.
A full itinerary of daily visits includes:
Day 1 Wednesday: Meet at 9.15 at Portsmouth Ferry Port for the 10.00 sailing to Caen. There will be an introductory talk during the crossing and there is also a wide range of facilities available on the ship to pass the time during the crossing. 17.00 Arrival at Ouistreham and transfer to hotel in Caen. Dinner
Day 2 Thursday: Tour on foot of the Norman monuments in Caen. Abbaye aux Hommes (St Etienne), William’s foundation; Abbaye aux Dames (Notre Dame), Matilda’s foundation; Château, which not only retains a most impressive enceinte and some early structures, but also houses two museums and an art gallery.
Day 3 Friday: Full day excursion to Falaise, birthplace of William I. Visit to the Château, which has well-preserved buildings by Henry I, Henry II and Philip Augustus; Romanesque and Gothic churches in Falaise and its vicinity.
Return to Caen.
Day 4 Saturday: Check out of hotel. Morning: excursion to Bayeux; Tapestry Museum and Cathedral. Mid-afternoon: visit to the very fine 11thC Abbey at Cérisy-la-Forêt en route to Coutances. Check in at hotel
Day 5 Sunday Full day excursion to the north-east: late medieval Chateau de Gratot; Chateau de Pirou, ancestral home of the Hautville family, who brought Norman rule to southern Italy; beautiful Romanesque abbey church at Lessay. Return to Coutances
Day 6 Monday Full day excursion to Mont St. Michel. Return to Coutances
Day 7 Tuesday Morning: visit to the fine Gothic Coutances Cathedral. Afternoon: excursion to Abbaye de la Lucerne, set in woodland with fine Romanesque and Gothic remains. Return to Coutances
Day 8 Wednesday Check out of hotel and head for Ouistreham with visits en route to Romanesque churches at Savigny and Ouistreham.
Set sail at 15.30: 20.30 arrival at Portsmouth
Cost:
£1,395 (£180 single supplement)
The price includes:
- Crossings to France by Brittany Ferries;
- 7 nights half board accommodation in en-suite rooms (including wine and coffee at dinner);
- all excursions, including entrance fees & tuition;
- gratuities.
Reduction of £25 pp for each booking received by Jan 31st 2012
Optional extra nights at Portsmouth with breakfast and taxi to/from the ferry port at £80 per double room per night, £75 per single per night. This option can be added later. If you know that you wish to take it up, however, please state this under ‘special requests’ when booking and say which night you want (or both).