France River Cruise
September, 2014
Vernon
Our second to last stop before reaching Paris, Vernon is a town that we decided to explore on foot, and have a more relaxed day, instead of the organized rush of a tour.
It was a cold, misty morning which provided a grey overtone to the landscape as we walked around. But considering the time of year, and the location, this wasn't unexpected.
Vernon is a popular port for the cruising industry and it's not unusual to see two or three ships rafted together at the dock. Guests from outboard ships have to walk through or over top of the inboard ships. So this provided us with a glimpse at the competitions vessels to compare with our own. One that we walked through must have been quite old, as the interior had a decidedly musty smell.
Vernon had a number of interesting sights to look at. The largest of which was the Collegiale Notre-Dame, a church that was built between the 11th and 16th centuries in the Gothic style. Located quite close to the river where we docked, it was minor in scale and ornamentation compared to the Notre-Dame in Paris or Rouen. Nevertheless, it provided the anchor around which the town was most likely built.
Also visible nearby is the Tour des Archives, the only remaining part of the old Chateau-Fort of Vernon. This round twenty-two metre high tower is the only remaining part of the original structure that was built back in the 12th century. It was used as the town's archive in the 18th century, which is the reason for it's current name. It was surrounded by gardens, and a walking path, and remnants of the old fortress walls are still visible around the property.
Many of the streets surrounding the church are lined with original half timber buildings dating back to the 16th century. From a North American's perspective, it's a pretty amazing thing to see buildings that are up to 500 years old still in everyday use. Most buildings in North America fail to exceed 50 years of age, much less 500. We really do have a wasteful culture in the new world.
The remnants of the 16th century Chateau-Fort defensive structure.
