Limestone cliffs along Seine River valley

Dear Friends and relatives: Vetheuil, May 6, 2008

This past weekend we attended a large, colorful flower and plant festival at a very unusual castle in the small picturesque town of La Roche Guyon about 20 miles from us down the Scene River. This castle is built at a large double bend of the river and partially into high chalk cliffs  which are so characteristic for this area. Geologically this thick strata of  chalk reappears in the white Cliffs of Dover, England. We have mentioned this  earlier, in connection with the many caves which had been dug into the chalk and had been inhabited since prehistoric times. We were told that Vetheuil villagers actually occupied many of them down to the 17th century. Even today, some of the lowest caves are still used as garages.

At one time this castle belonged to La Rochefoucault, a leading French statesman and  friend of Benjamin Franklin.

The oldest construction here is a huge, round tower built into and on top of the highest clif. Like a sentinal it dominates and controls the river valley for miles.It's main function seems to have been that of an impenetrable dungeon which is -to this day- accessible only through a long steep inner stairwell which was carved right through the chalk cliff (see pictures). We climbed part of the way up these stairs, but after getting to the first level gave up. There we rested in a very peculiar open cave with hundreds of niches for pidgeons to roost in and certainly to be harvested for the "Lord's Table". We first mistook this odd cave for a strange religious chapel with many small niches for candles to light, but then learned differently.

There were in deed a number of smaller religious chapels built into the cliffs behind the castle, and these served as actual (beautiful) chapels to the lords.  

The castle itself was built partially into the chalk cliff, with the larger part overlooking the Seine river and the wide valley below. We were surprised to learn that this castle had served as  Rommel's headquarters at the time of D-Day and the American invasion of Normandie.  

Many people attended this event to buy plants and potted seedlings and to enjoy the beautiful display of flowers, offered for sale. 

So much for today. Take care and let's continue with this beautiful Spring weather. Greetings from lovely Vetheuil from Ziggy and Richey

Chalk Cliff along the Seine valley side

View of the castle and dungeon tower (from river gardens)

Richey ascending (inside chalk cliff)

Richey's graffiti to prove to himself that this chalk IS really chalk!

Hundreds of  Pigeon nesting holes carved into a lime stone cave

Now why would any pregnant woman want to ascend these enclosed stairs???

Cliffs along narrow road side along the Seine River