France has SO many beautiful cathedrals. I could not do France justice and not post pictures of them. I cannot believe the artistry and craftsmanship that went into these beautiful buildings. This one is being renovated. You can see 3 distinct phases of the renovation through the colors. The black being the areas where renovation has not happened, then the gray, then the lightest colors are appearing with the most recent renovation. This Cathedral was constructed in an amazing lace. I can't describe it in any other way.
There are SO many representations of Mary and Jesus in France. This was my favorite one.
This shows Peter holding the key. I'm so grateful to know that the true keys of the priesthood have been restored, as prophesied, and that we having a living Prophet, Thomas S. Monson, to lead and guide the world today...if they will listen and obey.
This was the most amazing staircase I have ever seen. It is carved on the side of the wall. Truly a work or art and so beautiful!
After seeing SO many cathedrals, it was humbling to see a sign for our church on a nondescript building in the middle of town. It could have very easily been missed among the sites, sounds, and smells (the bakeries). Here in that small space, every Sunday, sit those who have been ordained to the Priesthood, who have the actual keys and authority and power to act in God's name. Those few have more power than anyone in the city...and only a few realize it. I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
If I had a lot of money to spend, this is the shop I would have spent it in! It had the most beautiful porcelain; bowls, plates, soup bowls, baskets, etc. There was a lady in the back painting the green ware for firing. The picture below was kind of interesting. I guess we all need a canister for our opium!
There were a lot of these small passages in the city. Look again at the wood that was used in the construction! It gives the buildings and passages such character! People using what they had and making it beautiful, each with a personality all it's own!
Notice all the colors!
This was a sad place. It was basically a crematorium/graveyard. During the war, the dead were brought here and burned. Their bones were then thrown in the windows until there was no room for any more. It stayed this way for decades. If I heard correctly, the upstairs are still full of bones, but they have converted the downstairs to schools for the arts. The black wood all around is carved in similar ways to what I have shown.
This a truly leaning building, not an optical illusion! There was so much color in this town!
I loved this old carousel!
This is the square where Joan of Ark was burned at the stake. This is the old foundation of the church. The Cathedral for Joan of Ark was built in 1979, and personally, I think it is a travesty. All of the beautiful cathedrals and Joan gets this structure. It's only saving grace, in my opinion, are the beautiful stained glass windows. During WWII these windows had been taken out of a church and stored. That Cathedral was destroyed. When this cathedral was being built, a woman came to the architect and told him about the windows and asked if they could be used here. He told her no...three times, but then decided to incorporate them in the structure. I'm so glad he did. Joan certainly deserved more than what the outside looks like!!
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