Trip in France (Auxonne, Taize, Dijon) - Part 1
VISIT TO BURGANDY COUNTRY IN FRANCE WITH FR. MICHEL GIGORD
May 2-3, 2007
On May 2, I went to visit Fr. Michel in his parish in Auxonne, south of Paris. The following day, he brought me to Taize, passing through some very lovely towns and villages in the Burgundy country of France. Along the way we passed by and visited various old palaces and churches.
As we traveled through the undulating hills of the countryside, we passed through vast vineyards. As this was late spring moving quickly towards summer, the leaves have sprouted from the vines. 
Another old castle that we visited along the road towards Taize. This one goes back to the period when there were princes living in the countryside as they amassed wealth. Today, this palace is not only a site for tourists but is used for parties by the wealthy.
This painting supposedly was viewed by Matisse and became the inspiration for his own painting on The Dance which I believe is at the New York MOMA.
The baroque garden as seen from the second floor of the castle.
The majestic stairway made of marble that connects the ground floor of the castle to the floors above.
A century-old tree grows in the garden whose canopy covers a wide expanse of the yard.
A view of Taize and its main buildings from the road below the hill.
As we went up the hill towards the grounds of Taize. 
The main structure that also serves as focal point of Taize, the bell-tower which also serves as arch.
The simple building that serves as the place to welcome pilgrims and visitors and where information can also be sought.
Young people congregate in front of the humble front of the main church in Taize where the big celebrations take place. From the outside it does not look so big but inside it can seat more than a thousand people.
The inside of the church with the altar ablazed in fiery colors. This was just after the mid-day prayers.
The older pilgrims had a separate place for lunch. We shared our lunch with pilgrims from Sweden. Lunch was very simple: bread, vegetable, a piece of meat and water. There are young people who come and volunteer for months to help in the various tasks in Taize.
There were four such young people from the Philippines who came from Bukidnon, Bohol, Mindoro and Quezon. They came only just before Holy Week and were staying for 3 months. Since they were quite homesick, they appreciated our visit.
Michel and I visited the graveyard of Bro. Roger who lies buried beside other Taize brothers in very simple graves. The one of Roger bloomed with spring flowers.
As I gazed at Bro. Roger's graveyard I remembered the one of Dorothy Day at Staten Is., New York.
Inside the first chapel built in Taize, a small chapel that remains open to pilgrims who need time for quiet solitude.
An icon of the Madonna and child inside the chapel which is now one of the main symbols at Taize.
A stained glass window of St. Francis and his bird-friends.
The onion-shaped towers of the main church at Taize - our last glance as we left for our return to Auxonne.
On our way home, we passed by the church of Chapaize whose Romanesque architecture could be described as early Mediterranean. Its construction go back to 1030. The site of Chapaize was known to antiquity, as it was located not far from the junction of two Roman roads. It was first in the hands of the Benedictines.
The inside of the church.
Cheery blossom trees bloom outside the church.
The parish church at Auxonne where Fr. Michel serves as parish priest.
In front of the train terminal in Dijon.
Trees with white flowers blooming in late spring line the main street in Dijon between the train terminal and the city center.
The tourism office.
The
An open market at the very heart of Dijon. Note the old restored buildings at the background.
A cafe near the open market.
Spring flowers from lilies to roses, from tulips to orchids being sold by a flower shop.
The cathedral in Dijon noted for its facade with gargoyles side by side with characters of the old town satired by the sculptors.
A close up view of the figures on the facade.
Note that the statues above the main gate were defaced during the height of the French Revolution.
Inside the cathedral with the huge pillars made of stone.
The Black Madonna believed to be miraculous. Pilgrims come to offer prayers to the Madonna. The features of the face are like those of Modigliani which are elongated.
Tourists mill around a corner of a building near the cathedral which has an embosed figure of an owl. Visitors and tourists touch the owl and make a wish. Legend has it that such wishes are grnated.
A woman's hand reaches out to the owl. Given the million hands that have touched it, the figure is already quite flat.
An old restaurant where Michel took me to lunch the day I arrived in Dijon.
Students of an art class sit on the cement ground and paint or draw the old buildings of Dijon.
The remains of an old building in Dijon which serves as marker in a park to remind the people of its rich origins that go back to the Roman times.
In the grounds of the Dijon Museum where students come on a fieldtrip.
The main square of Dijon with impressive old buildings that now serve administrative functions in the city government.
Some more old buildings in the old part of the city.
An interesting piece of sculpture the park near the train terminal, three children looking down on three frogs who look up to the children.
A last image I took before boarding my train to return to Paris.
May 2-3, 2007
On May 2, I went to visit Fr. Michel in his parish in Auxonne, south of Paris. The following day, he brought me to Taize, passing through some very lovely towns and villages in the Burgundy country of France. Along the way we passed by and visited various old palaces and churches.
As we traveled through the undulating hills of the countryside, we passed through vast vineyards. As this was late spring moving quickly towards summer, the leaves have sprouted from the vines. 
Another old castle that we visited along the road towards Taize. This one goes back to the period when there were princes living in the countryside as they amassed wealth. Today, this palace is not only a site for tourists but is used for parties by the wealthy.
This painting supposedly was viewed by Matisse and became the inspiration for his own painting on The Dance which I believe is at the New York MOMA.
The baroque garden as seen from the second floor of the castle.
The majestic stairway made of marble that connects the ground floor of the castle to the floors above.
A century-old tree grows in the garden whose canopy covers a wide expanse of the yard.
A view of Taize and its main buildings from the road below the hill.
As we went up the hill towards the grounds of Taize. 
The main structure that also serves as focal point of Taize, the bell-tower which also serves as arch.
The simple building that serves as the place to welcome pilgrims and visitors and where information can also be sought.
Young people congregate in front of the humble front of the main church in Taize where the big celebrations take place. From the outside it does not look so big but inside it can seat more than a thousand people.
The inside of the church with the altar ablazed in fiery colors. This was just after the mid-day prayers.
The older pilgrims had a separate place for lunch. We shared our lunch with pilgrims from Sweden. Lunch was very simple: bread, vegetable, a piece of meat and water. There are young people who come and volunteer for months to help in the various tasks in Taize.
There were four such young people from the Philippines who came from Bukidnon, Bohol, Mindoro and Quezon. They came only just before Holy Week and were staying for 3 months. Since they were quite homesick, they appreciated our visit.
Michel and I visited the graveyard of Bro. Roger who lies buried beside other Taize brothers in very simple graves. The one of Roger bloomed with spring flowers.
As I gazed at Bro. Roger's graveyard I remembered the one of Dorothy Day at Staten Is., New York.
Inside the first chapel built in Taize, a small chapel that remains open to pilgrims who need time for quiet solitude.
An icon of the Madonna and child inside the chapel which is now one of the main symbols at Taize.
A stained glass window of St. Francis and his bird-friends.
The onion-shaped towers of the main church at Taize - our last glance as we left for our return to Auxonne.
On our way home, we passed by the church of Chapaize whose Romanesque architecture could be described as early Mediterranean. Its construction go back to 1030. The site of Chapaize was known to antiquity, as it was located not far from the junction of two Roman roads. It was first in the hands of the Benedictines.
The inside of the church.
Cheery blossom trees bloom outside the church.
The parish church at Auxonne where Fr. Michel serves as parish priest.
In front of the train terminal in Dijon.
Trees with white flowers blooming in late spring line the main street in Dijon between the train terminal and the city center.
The tourism office.
The
Dijon arch inspired by the one in Paris.
An open market at the very heart of Dijon. Note the old restored buildings at the background.
A cafe near the open market.
Spring flowers from lilies to roses, from tulips to orchids being sold by a flower shop.
The cathedral in Dijon noted for its facade with gargoyles side by side with characters of the old town satired by the sculptors.
A close up view of the figures on the facade.
Note that the statues above the main gate were defaced during the height of the French Revolution.
Inside the cathedral with the huge pillars made of stone.
The Black Madonna believed to be miraculous. Pilgrims come to offer prayers to the Madonna. The features of the face are like those of Modigliani which are elongated.
Tourists mill around a corner of a building near the cathedral which has an embosed figure of an owl. Visitors and tourists touch the owl and make a wish. Legend has it that such wishes are grnated.
A woman's hand reaches out to the owl. Given the million hands that have touched it, the figure is already quite flat.
An old restaurant where Michel took me to lunch the day I arrived in Dijon.
Students of an art class sit on the cement ground and paint or draw the old buildings of Dijon.
The remains of an old building in Dijon which serves as marker in a park to remind the people of its rich origins that go back to the Roman times.
In the grounds of the Dijon Museum where students come on a fieldtrip.
The main square of Dijon with impressive old buildings that now serve administrative functions in the city government.
Some more old buildings in the old part of the city.
An interesting piece of sculpture the park near the train terminal, three children looking down on three frogs who look up to the children.
A last image I took before boarding my train to return to Paris.
posted by kakay at 2:19 PM
2 Comments:
Wow!
Karl!
Life is beautiful and seeing it through your eyes in this sabbatical trips makes me more excited and impatient to course my own! hehe.
Well, God bless!
Hello Fr. Karl. I am so touch seeing your pictures especially with Fr. Michel. Way back in Iligan, Fr. Michel founded Catholic Center Campus Ministry and I am one of those of his followers, where I became a leader and his general secretary in service for the youth leaders and students of MSU-IIT that was from the year 1997 to 2001. Just yesterday, we have a gathering here in UAE for all OFW's who get to know CCCM and we come up with plans of raising funds and pledge as a support to campus ministry once Padre founded. As before we are students, now we are benefactors who continues to reach out to CCCM and to kabayans here in UAE. The last time we see Fr. Michel was when in Butuan that was I think 2006. I am inspired by your pictures. Please allow me to save some of your pictures so I can let others see in our group in Facebook named as CCCM UAE BENIFACTORS. Fr. Michel touch our spiritual, social, and emotional aspect of life and we want to nurture what we learn from him. Hope to hear from you soon. Padayon!
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