If you’ve seen the movie ‘The Longest Day’, you will remember the scene where John Steele’s parachute gets caught on the church steeple of Sainte-Mère-Église. Well this is where it happened. He lay there for over 2 hours pretending to be dead until he was captured by the Germans (he later escaped).
A minor correction to the dummy – he was actually hanging on the other side, but I guess it looks more impressive from the town square.
Have a close look at the stained glass window from inside.
The Sainte-Chapelle is tucked right next door to the Conciergerie on Île de la Cité. It has magnificent stained glass windows, through which the light pours. It was built in the 13th century, and is reputed to have once the Crown of Thorn. The crown (whether it is real or not) was presented to Louis IX in the 12’th century, is now housed just around the corner in Notre Damme (it was saved in the fire).
There is no cost to visit the castle complex, and you can wonder around most of the complex. The view of the river and the city from the castle is spectacular.
Budavári Palota – Buda Castle
Matthias Church dates back to the 13th-century, with the Fisherman’s bastion in the front.
The beautiful quad inside the castle, its also used as a live music venue.
Fisherman’s bastion, supposedly it was the inspiration for the Disney castle. Its a long flight of stairs up from the river (or you can cheat and take the elevator at the back of the castle complex).
The churches in Greece all seem to have a similar style, a large dome in the middle with four sides pushed tightly up against it.
Roadside church
Church in the middle of Athens
The Holy Church of Saint Demetrio on Philopappos Hill dates back to the 9th century. Its about a 5 minute walk from the main entrance to the Acropolis.
Monastiraki is a great part of Athens for people watching. It is full of little shops and restaurants, and has a lovely market area where you can buy anything from cheap food, home-made leather goods and knock-off clothing. A great place for a bargain, and possibly its certainly cheaper than the nearby Plaka area.
The church in the top photo is very typical of the older churches you’ll find all over Greece.
Bratislava old town hall from the quadrangle, a lovely and cool respite from the warmth of the city.
This is the church belonging to the wonderful convent where we stayed. I was not expecting to stay at a convent, but the apartment was lovely, and the sister that looked after us was delightful.
Bratislava market square and old town hall.
This little church was built entirely of wood in 1847. Not much information is available about this church (well not that I can find), but it is dedicated to Saint Klemens, and is often known as the “old church”. It is a lovely place to spend a few minutes in quiet contemplation, and to get away from the business of the shops and markets in Zakopane.
This church is easy to miss. You have to walk up the road towards the Acropolis and pass directly past the entrance and walk into the woods of Filopappou Hill. Just on your right you’ll find this wonderful church.
And if you are energetic, walk to the top of the hill. You’ll find the best view of the Acropolis in Athens, and you’ll be completely alone (so maybe take somebody with you – just in case).
The Church Of Saint Nectarios in Aegina is a surprisingly modern building. It was built in the 1970’s, but its history goes further back than that – the ministry dates back from the early 1900’s.
It is a lovely quiet and peaceful place to wonder around, or to sit and contemplate in the shaded walkways. The monastery was built in 1904, you can easily visit the ministry by climbing the stairs at the back of the main building, and that is where you can find the relics of Saint Nectarios. Saint Nectarios is a well-known Greek saint, and when you visit the much smaller ministry it can get a little more crowded with many people visiting the relics.
I love the pastel terracotta colours of the buildings, they feel so much cooler in the hot Greek weather.
St Peter’s Church is in the middle of Vienna’s old town. I went to visit because every day they put on a free organ recital, and when I went to visit I was delighted to hear Bach’s Toccata and Fugue, which is my favourite piece organ music.
The recital is usually at 3pm, but best to check the full programme on their website.
Get their early (or linger a little after), because the inside is magnificent, and you can easily spend an hour wondering around inside.
I hope I was allowed to make a recording, because here it is.
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