This morning I went on a guided visit of the Collège des Bernadins organised by the British and Commonwealth Women's Association. We met out side the Collège and there were introductions. They are a very considerate bunch of people. The guide spoke in English. The building was at one time a vast Cistercian monastery started in the 13th Century. The stone work inside is plain and simple and on a large scale. Apparently after the French revolution, when the monks were kicked out and the building became the property of the state it was transformed into a prison, then a warehouse before being converted into a fire station. It wasn't until 1887 that the building was listed and the firemen were there until 1995, doing considerable damage. Now a great deal of money has been raised and spent and it's a theological and cultural centre.
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| The group |
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| Looking down the nave |
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| Rose window |
After the tour we sat together and had coffee and then I wandered around the area trying to find the bus back and happened on a rather nice shop where I spent a good half hour - without spending anything!
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