Two Girls From Texas in a Car: Visiting Towns in Normandy

HONFLEUR

Honfleur is picturesque port , characterized by its slate covered houses painted by artists many times. Because of its presence on an estuary on the Seine, and close to the Port of Normandie, the light and the colorful fishing boats make this small town a photographer's paradise. Gustave Coubert, Eugene Boudin, Claude Monet and Johan Jonkind were celebrated artists who formed the ecole Honfleur (Honfleur School) that contributed to the Impressionist movement, and was recognized as a "subsector" of this movement.

Honfleur was first mentioned in 1027 by Richard III. By the middle of the century, the port was an important travel route for goods being shipped from Rouen to England. Honfleur benefited from its strategic position as a port during the 100 Years War. Many explorers departed from this port. ....1503 Gonneville to Brazil; 1506 Jean Denis founded Newfoundland and the mouth of the St Lawrence River; and in 1608 Champlain founded the City of Quebec. After 1608, the port prospered with trade to Africa, and became an important location for the slave trade.

Eugene Boudin (1824-1898). Boudin was one of the first landscape painters to actually paint outdoors. He was born in Honfleur, and worked in a small shop as a child where Claude Monet displayed his art. At age 22, he abandoned his Maritime career in Honfleur, and moved to Paris where he studied. The Dutch painter Johan Jonkind influenced his maritime painting, and landscape. In 1856 he made a successful debut at the Paris salon. He met Claude Monet at this time, and joined his friends in the "impressionist salon" at this time, however he never thought of himself as a "radical", or a leader in his technique

Eric Sate (1886 - 1925). He was a very colorful character (as most artists are), and was a well known composer. He wrote two very influential pieces , "Gymnopiedes" and "Gnossienes" . He influenced the work of Ravel (whom he met), and Debussey. Both of these pieces have been used in works by Janet Jackson,Blood, Sweat and Tears, Tori Amos and Hubert Laws to name a few. He also worked on sets with Picasso, and Satre - both of whom he influenced.

MONT ST MICHEL

The island has held a strategic advantage since ancient times, and has a monastary located at the top of the cliff that has made this island famous. The monastary was built in 708 and was considered a strong hold during the 100 years war, when the English made repeated attacks on the island. It became a UNESCO hereitage site in 1979. The tides are very strong in this area, and rise to 46 feet in to the structure. Currently the French are building an overland causeway to connect the structure to the shore. It should be completed in 2015.

The Coast surrounding Mont St Michel

BAYEAUX

Bayeax is a mediveal town near the Normandy coast. It was declared the first town to be liberated after the Allies landed on the Normandy beaches in June of 1944. The Bayeaux tapestry depicted the battle of the Norman Conquest in 1066, and was made by William the Conqueror's wife Mathilde. It is considered the most famous tapestry in the world. The large Gothic cathedral, Notre Dame of Bayeaux was built in 1077, and originally housed this famous tapestry. Bayeaux is one of the only towns in Normandy to have been spared the destruction of the War events.