What I know of the history of the United States didn’t prepare me for the scope of the history of the places we have visited in Europe. The guides describe locations with walls or parts of buildings dated to BC. Part of these lengthy histories are related to the different groups that have conquered and then been reconquered over the centuries sometimes leaving buildings and sometimes destroying and then rebuilding on the same locations time and time again.
Reims Cathedral
The Reims Cathedral [https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reims_Cathedral ] in the City of Reims dates to approximately 1200. It was the church used as the location for coronation for the Kings of France. The cathedral is technically owned by France, but it is designated as Catholic. This separation of church and state allows the state to take on the responsibility of maintenance and I assume is the reason it is regarded as an official historical site and functions as a tourist attraction.
A couple of things to notice in the following series of photos. The Cathedral bears the marks of the wars that have damaged it over the years. The pock marks in one of the images was from artillery shrapnel from WW1. There are several stained class windows that are very impressive. The one I selected was included here an interesting reason. In the middle toward the top of the window you may see a monk in what may look like a science lab. You will probably know the monk’s name.- Dom Perignon. This monk developed the process for champagne which remains so central to the prosperity of the region.
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