Happy Pentecost Sunday. We woke up and decided to attend the Mass at St. Etiene. It was a 15 minute walk from our hotel to the church. As we were approaching the church, the bells started to ring to inform the faithful that is was time to get to Mass. The church was built between 1063 and 1097, during the Romanesque period, under the patronage of the Benedictine abbey of Cluny. Originally constructed as part of a Benedictine priory, it was designed in the Cluniac style, with rounded arches, massive walls, barrel vaults, and a simple layout. The church was in need of repairs, but still a beautiful example of what a Catholic Church should look like.
Nearly every spot in the church was filled and the beginning of the Mass started with a wonderful organ piece. As they processed up the aisle, it warmed the heart of this Eastern Catholic when the first person in the procession was swinging the incense. There was a confirmation that took place during the Mass, and we were finished after 90 minutes. We walked around the church, grabbing a few pictures and made our way to a local coffee shop. We bought some coffee and pastries, and enjoyed them in the cool morning air.
We walked to a park near the museum we wanted to visit. After opening for the afternoon, we spent a fair amount of time in the museum which included paintings, ceramics, and other artifacts. After leaving the museum, we headed over to the Palais Ducal to visit. The original structure of the palace dates back to the late 15th century, built under the orders of Jean de Clemency, Count of Nevers. It was constructed on a hill overlooking the Loire River, near the Cathedral of Nevers. The palace featured a grand central building, flanked by two symmetrical towers, large mullioned windows, and decorative dormers. One of the most striking features was a spiral staircase in an external turret. No longer a palace, Ducal is listed as a historical national monument and represents the heritage of Burgundy and the Loire.
We walked back to our hotel, stopping in a restaurant that served really good hamburgers. They were the only thing in town open for lunch on Sunday. We took a little rest period before leaving for a pizza restaurant in town. The food was really good, and surprisingly inexpensive. We took a walk through the gardens one more time, before arriving back at the hotel around 815PM. We have had a busy vacation so far, and we were happy to cut the day short and go to bed early. Tomorrow was one last train ride, back to Paris.
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