Beaune is a beautiful medieval French town, so we spent two nights there to have a good look around. It is the historic capital of the Burgundy wine trade. Also lucky, because Joy was unwell for a bit.
The Collegiale Notre-Dame is a 1120 Burgundian Romanesque church with a Gothic front porch.
Inside the church.
The highlight, and one of the most interesting places we have seen in Europe is the Gothic Hospices de Beaune. It was built in the 1443 to look after Beaune's poor and sick by Nicholas Roland who wanted to end his life on a philanthropic note. It functioned as a hospital until 1971. The outside is relatively plain so as not to attract britgands.
Listening to the audio guide.
This is the massive and beautiful public ward, the Salle des Pauvres, or room of the poor. They actually only had 30 beds in here.
The painted broken-barrel timber vaulted ceiling.
Dragon heads are carved at the end of all the beams. There are also carvings of peasant's heads.
More detail of the ceiling.
Painting of a nun administering to a little girl.
The chapel at the end of the ward.
One of the treasures in the chapel.
Even the kitchen fixtures were fancy. Note the swan taps.
Another highlight in the hospice is the famous masterpiece by 15th century Flemish painter Rogier van der Weyden depicting The Last Judgement. Note the tortured souls going to hell on the right.
Great blogging. You should write a travel book.
ReplyDeleteHave seen the hospital but only from the out side. The roof is indeed beautiful. The inside looks very interesting too.
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