For my Thursday Doors post this week, I am revisiting a different part of a splendid ensemble of buildings which were once the beautiful Abbey of Notre Dame. After a long and chequered past of good fortune and subsequent destruction during the 100 years’ War and the Wars of Religion, the abbey and its ‘logis’ now have the misfortune to lie next door to the hideous Lafarge cement works. The abbey is a stunning monument to the glorious architecture of the 12th to 16th centuries (with some 17th century revisions), whilst the cement works is a monstrosity of 20th century construction. I thought I would ignore the cement works again – no really, it truly is that ugly – and revisit the 15th/16th century ‘logis’ part of the abbey to show you its stunning, monumental gateway. If you would like to see more of the 12th century abbey ruins please click here………
Thanks as always to Norm Frampton for this excellent weekly challenge, to see more contributions please click here…. PS Thought I’d better add a photo of the cement works which dominates the skyline for miles around – ghastly…..
ALL PHOTOS © JANE MORLEY
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View from a French Hillside 
Beautiful architecture. But now that you have discussed the beastly cement plant more than once, you need to give us a look at the ugly side of things.
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I just added a photo of the cement works to the post – it really isn’t pretty! 😀
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It looks like it could have been use as a set in the film Metropolís.
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It does doesn’t it! 😦 😦
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What splendid architecture! I really am going to have to come and meet you and go photographing in your neck of the woods! By the way, you have made the brutalist cement works look less ugly by using the POV through the trees, and monochrome!
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Hiya Sue! Yes there really are some beautiful buildings around here, I should have made the cement works look uglier but didn’t have anything close enough to show it at its best worst! 🙂
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Really lovely. Too bad about the cement works.
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Hi Sherry Lynn – real shame isn’t it! I believe however that the cement works are obliged to protect the abbey ruins as they own part of it now, so at least that is a good thing!
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Beautiful selection of photos, Jane. You are so right about that cement works. If I was an alien and had landed there for my first visit to earth, I would think the abbey was the modern building and the cement works was from a less advanced era. Surely such a huge monstrosity could have been built to blend in a little with the surrounding architecture? It only takes a bit of imagination and forethought.
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Absolutely Jean, some-one described it as ‘brutalist’ and that pretty much sums it up for me. So little of architectural beauty from recent years to pass on to future generations! Only good thing is the cement works are obliged to protect the abbey ruins as they own part of it, crying shame though!
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Good description. Brutalis architecture.
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🙂
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Lovely shots as usual Jane. I always wonder when I see industrial plants go up next to historical treasures: Was anybody thinking, before they decided to put that beast there?! Arghh!
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Cheers Norm, I reckon these buildings belong to a time of ‘town planning’ when no-one cared a knot as long as it made money – Arghh indeed!
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Ghastly is a good word to describe that being so close to such a beautiful building. The iron work is truly amazing and a real work of art. Lovely. 🙂
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Cheers Judy! It is definitely a case of the good the bad and the ugly ! 🙂
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Beautiful, Jane. The ironwork is stunning too.
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Thank you Chris!
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So beautiful! From an other era.
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Thank you Josee, They were rather better at architecture in those days than now I think!
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Beautiful, as always!
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Thank you so much facetfully!
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Oh my – that cement works is truly hideous! What a shame that it’s right next to such a beautiful structure. Thank you for sharing such wonderful pictures of the abbey.
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It really is frightful Deb but at least the abbey and buildings are still standing, glad you like them!
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Yes, whenever I see horrible new buildings next to the old, I’m always grateful that the old are still there.
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Quite so Deb!
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Hi Jane. The cement works looks a bit like a brutalist castle. You give it a very sympathetic treatment. I bet it’s a lot worse looking in the flesh. How strange that it was built on top of a hill so all around could see it.
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HI Miles, yes I’m afraid I couldn’t resist toning it down a little! It is very large and sprawling and totally hideous, heaven knows how it was allowed to be constructed where it is, France can be strange sometimes!
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