We got there early before the crowds of pilgrims.
And climbed up to the abbey.
After parting with 9 € each, we were in!
This is the abbey.
And we found this Black Madonna hidden in a crypt Sue!
At first I thought this huge wheel might have been used to consign a few heretics to the fires of hell, but it's not that sort of a wheel. It was used to pull a sled presumably carrying building materials up for all additions they built over the centuries.
This is the ramp the sled was pulled up using the giant wheel / rope system.
We did get joined by many more pilgrims as the day wore on.
And we looked in the regular church:
The museums sounded very interesting promising glimpses of knights and dungeons so we shelled out 36 € to do all four of them. What a waste of money if you don't speak French. We were expecting real museums with real artefacts - what we got were a few videos in French and a 'guided' tour in French showing off a few trinkets. We would recommend that unless you speak French don't bother with the museums - and even if you do, not recommended. Buy a book on the place or some other memento - but not a visit to the museums.
Otherwise, a good day had by all. We found a little cafe for lunch and while we were waiting for our meals the number of pilgrims making their way to the abbey increased so that walking traffic was almost at a stand still.
Till tomorrow.
Another beautiful castle and a gorgeous little shopping village. I so want to be there with you. That giant wheel / rope system was quite amazing. Everything in the olden days was such an effort wasn't it? Another reason not to stay there when we go back in time to visit. LOL. Sorry to hear about the museum. Usually they have headsets that you can put on to hear the speal in your own language. That was a lot to pay not to even be able to understand what they were saying. Note to self 'Do not visit museums if I ever go there.'
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