Castle Christmas Market and the Abbaye Fauntevraud

We were pleased to go to our first Christmas market in the neighboring village of Brissac. 

The market was located in the castle at Brissac, which has the distinction of being France's tallest castle.    The owners live in the castle.  Below are Genia and Gary getting ready to shop. 

    

The castle was packed with crowds doing their Christmas shopping.  

Genia liked this vendor's wares in particular. 

Genia and Tom posing in front of the castle next to one of the many trophies that was on display throughout.

 THE ABBAYE FAUNTEVRAUD

We went on a separate trip to an abbey about one hour away from where we live.  The abbey is the largest and most intact medieval abbey in Europe.  It is no longer used for religious purposes, and was actually used as a prison from 1804 to 1963. In addition to having tours of the facility, they also sponsor art exhibits.  Gary is admiring one piece of artwork below.    

 Inside the church are effigies of Henry II, Plantagenet king of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine.

 The cloisters in the abbey were wonderful.

 

 

There was a mixture of architecture at the abbey.  One of the most interesting buildings was the turret that housed the kitchen.  It looked like something Turkish and did mot match the design of the rest of the abbey, but was fascinating nonetheless.  Inside was a hole at the top of the roof that vented the smoke from the kitchen fire out.

 

 

 Another art display in the abbey, followed by a closeup of a gargoyle.