Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Seine

Richard I of England (aka "Richard Lionheart") was taken prisoner on his return from the Third Crusade by Leopold V, Duke of Austria. He was imprisoned was imprisoned in Dürnstein Castle and later Trifels Castle and was finally released after Emperor Henry VI had received 100,000 pounds of silver as ransom. During this time his brother John Lackland revolted against him with the aid of Philip II of France. Richard Lionheart, who was King of England and Duke of Normandy had this castle built in record time of only two years from 1196 on. After Richard´s death in 1199 the Château Gaillard was taken in 1204 by Philip II, after a lengthy siege. The castle changed hands several times in the Hundred Years' War, but in 1449 the French king captured Château Gaillard from the English definitively, and from then on it remained in French ownership. Henry IV of France ordered the demolition of Château Gaillard in 1599. .. and during the "Tour de France" the wall of the castle is decorated "with a giant "maillot jaune".

The river Seine seen from the bank at La Roche-Guyon. White limestone cliffs flank the northern riverside. Imagine 120 Viking boats, carrying about 5000 Normans, rowing up the river Seine in March 845. The Normans raided and looted Paris and only withdrew after being paid 7000 livres ransom (so called "Danegeld") by Charles the Bald. The Normans returned again in the 860s and secured loot or ransom, but 885-886 the city walls of Paris held.

While the Pont Neuf is the oldest bridge in Paris, the Pont Notre Dame is known as the "most ancient". A bridge crossed the Seine here already in pre-Roman times, destroyed and reconstructed over the centuries numerous times. Like many bridges in medieval times, the Grand-Pont (now named "Pont Notre-Dame") once was lined with approximately sixty houses, the weight of which caused a collapse in 1499 The bridge I am standing on now, facing east to the Pont d'Arcole, was constructed from 1910 to 1914.

Liutgarde of Vermandois, daughter of (Carolingian) Herbert II, widow of William I of Normandy (aka "William Longsword", "Guillaume Longue-Épée") and spouse of Theobald I (aka "Theobald the Trickster", "Thibaud le Tricheur"), donated her property at Gesiacum (= Juziers) including the existing church to the Abbey of Saint-Pierre in Chartres in 978. Soon after Comtesse Luitgarde died and the monks established a priory here. Within the 11th century the nave of Saint-Michel got erected. The choir got added about a century later. During the Wars of Religion the buildings burnt down, but a rebuilding process started again. It started to crumble again. After the Revolution the priory did not exist any longer. For a while the church was used as an "atelier de salpêtre", what meant high explosives were stored and handled here. Some poor restoration had been done in the early years of the 19th century, before Prosper Mérimée added the building to the lists of "Monuments Historiques" in 1850. The very knowledgeable, friendly lady gave us a great tour and even switched the light on. Here is the early Gothic chevet, erected around 1150 - and up to the French Revolution reserved strictly for the monks of the priory. The lower level consists of blind arcades topped by a large window within each section of the wall. The second level has added a blind triforium with a passageway that encircles the apse. The chevet has tall colonnettes that reach up from the floor with vaults springing at the base of the clerestory. The clerestory contains a single lancet window within each section, smaller than those of the first level.

Liutgarde of Vermandois, daughter of (Carolingian) Herbert II, widow of William I of Normandy (aka "William Longsword", "Guillaume Longue-Épée") and spouse of Theobald I (aka "Theobald the Trickster", "Thibaud le Tricheur"), donated her property at Gesiacum (= Juziers) including the existing church to the Abbey of Saint-Pierre in Chartres in 978. Soon after Comtesse Luitgarde died and the monks established a priory here. Within the 11th century the nave of Saint-Michel got erected. The choir got added about a century later. During the Wars of Religion the buildings burnt down, but a rebuilding process started again. It started to crumble again. After the Revolution the priory did not exist any longer. For a while the church was used as an "atelier de salpêtre", what meant high explosives were stored and handled here. Some poor restoration had been done in the early years of the 19th century, before Prosper Mérimée added the building to the lists of "Monuments Historiques" in 1850. The very knowledgeable, friendly lady gave us a great tour and even switched the light on. The five-bay nave and the aisles date back to 1055 and show a Carolingian influence. The clerestory is very high. The vaulting was probably done in the 18th or 19th century. Standing in the center of the choir, facing back to the entrance. The two arches opening to the transept-arms are uneven since the major repair had to be done after the crossing tower had collapsed within the 18th century.

Liutgarde of Vermandois, daughter of (Carolingian) Herbert II, widow of William I of Normandy (aka "William Longsword", "Guillaume Longue-Épée") and spouse of Theobald I (aka "Theobald the Trickster", "Thibaud le Tricheur"), donated her property at Gesiacum (= Juziers) including the existing church to the Abbey of Saint-Pierre in Chartres in 978. Soon after Comtesse Luitgarde died and the monks established a priory here. Within the 11th century the nave of Saint-Michel got erected. The choir got added about a century later. During the Wars of Religion the buildings burnt down, but a rebuilding process started again. It started to crumble again. After the Revolution the priory did not exist any longer. For a while the church was used as an "atelier de salpêtre", what meant high explosives were stored and handled here. Some poor restoration had been done in the early years of the 19th century, before Prosper Mérimée added the building to the lists of "Monuments Historiques" in 1850. The very knowledgeable, friendly lady gave us a great tour and even switched the light on. The five-bay nave and the aisles date back to 1055 and show a Carolingian influence. The clerestory is very high. The vaulting was probably done in the 19th century or, after the crossing tower had collapsed within the 18th century.

Liutgarde of Vermandois, daughter of (Carolingian) Herbert II, widow of William I of Normandy (aka "William Longsword", "Guillaume Longue-Épée") and spouse of Theobald I (aka "Theobald the Trickster", "Thibaud le Tricheur"), donated her property at Gesiacum (= Juziers) including the existing church to the Abbey of Saint-Pierre in Chartres in 978. Soon after Comtesse Luitgarde died and the monks established a priory here. Within the 11th century the nave of Saint-Michel got erected. The choir got added about a century later. During the Wars of Religion the buildings burnt down, but a rebuilding process started again. It started to crumble again. After the Revolution the priory did not exist any longer. For a while the church was used as an "atelier de salpêtre", what meant high explosives were stored and handled here. Some poor restoration had been done in the early years of the 19th century, before Prosper Mérimée added the building to the lists of "Monuments Historiques" in 1850. Seen here is the western facade. The church was locked. Some of the former convent buildings still exist and "le Bourg" is just east. Walking around, we met a friendly person, who told us, that a friend of him... he grabbed his cell phone... and five minutes later a lady arrived with the keys! Merci beaucoup!

Liutgarde of Vermandois, daughter of (Carolingian) Herbert II, widow of William I of Normandy (aka "William Longsword", "Guillaume Longue-Épée") and spouse of Theobald I (aka "Theobald the Trickster", "Thibaud le Tricheur"), donated her property at Gesiacum (= Juziers) including the existing church to the Abbey of Saint-Pierre in Chartres in 978. Soon after Comtesse Luitgarde died and the monks established a priory here. During the 11th century the nave of Saint-Michel got erected. The choir got added about a century later. During the Wars of Religion the buildings burnt down, but a rebuilding process started again. It started to crumble again. After the Revolution the priory did not exist any longer. Some poor restoration had been done in the early years of the 19th century, before Prosper Mérimée added the building to the lists of "Monuments Historiques" in 1850. Seen here is the wall of the Romanesque nave. A classic Basilica- design.

Liutgarde of Vermandois, daughter of (Carolingian) Herbert II, widow of William I of Normandy (aka "William Longsword", "Guillaume Longue-Épée") and spouse of Theobald I (aka "Theobald the Trickster", "Thibaud le Tricheur"), donated her property at Gesiacum (= Juziers) including the existing church to the Abbey of Saint-Pierre in Chartres in 978. Soon after Comtesse Luitgarde died and the monks established a priory here. During the 11th century the nave of Saint-Michel got erected. The choir got added about a century later. During the Wars of Religion the buildings burnt down, but a rebuilding process started again. It started to crumble again. After the Revolution the priory did not exist any longer. Some poor restoration had been done in the early years of the 19th century, before Prosper Mérimée added the building to the lists of "Monuments Historiques" in 1850.

William the Conqueror had a castle here of which some structures still exist. Later John Lackland ("Jean sans Terre", "Johann Ohneland"), English King, succeeding his brother Richard I of England ("Lionheart") lived here for a while. Today Bonneville-sur-Touques is a quiet village near the urban agglomeration Deauville-Trouville. Seen in the background is the bridge over the mouth of the Seine near Le Havre.