Mortain. Summer in Normandy, 2016. +33º

Lunch in Mortain. I didn't know why they planted a yucca tree and erected a water sculpture in the centre of town, right in front of the cathedral. Today I discovered why.
+33 in our parts.
Hoorah!

Déjeuner à Mortain. Je ne sais pas pourquoi ils ont planté un arbre de yucca et érigé une sculpture d'eau dans le centre de la ville, juste en face de la cathédrale. Aujourd'hui, je découvré pourquoi.

+33 dans notre localité!

Running in Normandy: St.Hilaire-Mortain.

Last Sunday I ran a 15.7 km road race from St Hilaire du Harcouët to Mortain. It was a beautiful sunny cold day, perfect conditions for an enjoyable run. The course mostly followed the chemin vert — green path — a leisure course laid over the old railway. Read more about the race on my Running with Dogs blog.

In this photo by Jonathan Bostock my running buddy Francesca and I are near the 7 km point.

The photo below is from last year's St Hilaire-Mortain race shows the majestic plane tree alley at the entrance to Mortain. The town sits on top of a high hill and the finishing stretch is a real test of endurance for runners. Photo by Francesca Bostock.

Our Lady Shot Through the Neck. (Mortain.)

At the entrance to the beautiful tree-lined alley leading up into Mortain there is a crucifix. The Madonna there is pock-marked with what is, probably, second world war shrapnel. One hole is right on her neck.

The town of Mortain was the site of the nazis last desperate counter-offensive in the battle for Normandy in August 1944. The heroic resistance of American soldiers on the hill above Mortain lead to the failure of the attack. After the battle of Mortain the German front in Normandy collapsed and they swiftly withdrew, narrowly avoiding a complete rout.

And the general view (the date is 1835):

The Mortain Waterfall

The grand cascade - big waterfall in Mortain, Manche, a favourite spot for artists, photographers, walkers and picnickers.