Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei is named for Serenicus (or Genericus), an Italian hermit who lived here during the 8th century. When he died, a monastery was built, later destroyed by the Vikings in 903. The church currently standing is newer, but still very old. The architecture is different from most churches around here.
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| Look at this ceiling! |
The "Way of the Cross" was given to the church by a patron and is in keeping with the artistry of the town.
The cemetery is also very old. When you see all the headstones of people who died so many years ago, whole families using the same "family plot", today abandoned and neglected, cremation seems a better alternative.
The name le-Gérei comes from William Giroie, who built a castle here in 1044 of which only parts of the walls remain today. In 1060 the castle came under siege from Duke William II of Normandy (the future King William I of England) before being taken by Robert Courteheuse his son in 1088.
During the Hundred Years' War, Ambroise de Loré managed to defend the stronghold against the king of England Henry V and, then his brother John Plantagenet until 1434.
Today, this village is considered one of France's Most Beautiful Villages. The beauty of the village's setting, in a wooded loop of the River Sarthe, has attracted and inspired many artists since the 19th century. The village even has its own festival which annually celebrates those painters who came to, or lived in, Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei.
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| Karl loves taking photos next to doors. |
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| Art work that looked like a jeweled skull. |
We ate across from this "Salon de Thé", at l'Auberge de la Vallée.
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| Terrine de lapin (rabbit). Notice the big white radishes! |
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| Best scalloped potatoes with oodles of cheese! |
It was a long drive home.
We were in the "Perche" district (where the Percheron horses come from), so we stopped to look at some four-legged friends. These were a little tired and mangy looking; not at all like the representatives we saw at Haras du Pin. But they were friendly and were curious to see if I might have a carrot or an apple.
Our next stop was a short refreshment break in Mamers. This church is very different from the one in Saint-Cénéri-le-Gérei.
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| Beautiful symmetry |
After a 9-hour day, it was good to be home.
Oh, this stop had so much that I love -- history, churches, a great meal and the Percherons. The claim of most beautiful village may well be true, so pretty.
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