DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.29899#0206
186
FKENCEt ARCHITECTURE.
Part II.
ûeight, though they hardly retain any features which can be called
strictly architectural. In the South, the fortified towns of Carcassonne
and Aigues Mortes, and in the ISTorth, Fougères, retain as ruuch of
their walls and defences as alruost any place in Europe. The forruer
in particular, both froru its situation and the extent of its remains,
gives a singularly favourable and impressive idea of the grave majesty
of an ancient fortalice. But for alterations and desecrations of all
sorts, the palace of the popes at Avignon would be one of the most
remarkable castles in Europe : even now its extent and the massiveness
of its walls and towers are most imposing.
These are all either ruins or fragments ; but the castle of Mont St.
Michel, in ISTormandy, retains nearly all the features of a Mediæval
fortress in suflicient perfection to admit of its being restored, in
imagination at least. The outer walls still remain, encircling the
village, which nestles under the protection of the castle. The church
crowns the whole, and around it are grouped the halls of the knights,
the kitchens and offices, and all the appurtenances of the establish-
ment, intermingled with fortifications and defensive precautions that
must have made the place nearly impregnable against such engines of
war as existed when it was erected, even irrespective of its sea-girt
position.
FKENCEt ARCHITECTURE.
Part II.
ûeight, though they hardly retain any features which can be called
strictly architectural. In the South, the fortified towns of Carcassonne
and Aigues Mortes, and in the ISTorth, Fougères, retain as ruuch of
their walls and defences as alruost any place in Europe. The forruer
in particular, both froru its situation and the extent of its remains,
gives a singularly favourable and impressive idea of the grave majesty
of an ancient fortalice. But for alterations and desecrations of all
sorts, the palace of the popes at Avignon would be one of the most
remarkable castles in Europe : even now its extent and the massiveness
of its walls and towers are most imposing.
These are all either ruins or fragments ; but the castle of Mont St.
Michel, in ISTormandy, retains nearly all the features of a Mediæval
fortress in suflicient perfection to admit of its being restored, in
imagination at least. The outer walls still remain, encircling the
village, which nestles under the protection of the castle. The church
crowns the whole, and around it are grouped the halls of the knights,
the kitchens and offices, and all the appurtenances of the establish-
ment, intermingled with fortifications and defensive precautions that
must have made the place nearly impregnable against such engines of
war as existed when it was erected, even irrespective of its sea-girt
position.