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RHH12: Switzerland, France

This enriching 12 day tour goes from Geneva, Switzerland to Paris and covers all the top Huguenot sites.We start with Reformation sites in Geneva, including the International Museum of Protestantism, which tells the story of the Huguenots. We’ll then tour the adjacent Cathédrale St. Pierre and L’Auditoire de Calvin. Next is Le Chambon, whose pastors led area villagers and farmers to hide and save, at great risk to themselves, 5,000 refugees (up to 3,500 Jews), from the Nazis during World War II. We tour the Musée du Désert, “Museum of the Desert,” in Mialet, which tells the remarkable story of the Huguenots during their worst time of persecution, 1685-1789. We go to Aigues-Mortes, embarkation point for medieval crusaders and, from 1575 to 1622, one of France’s eight “safe havens” for Protestants. Les Baux-de-Provence & La Rochelle where we join the local Protestant congregation for Sunday worship (in French) in their historic temple. We tour Chateau d’Angers, Caen, Normandy WW2 Battle fields and Rouen, on the Seine. We end this great tour with top Huguenot and Calvin sites in Paris. With leisure time, we are free to savor Paris as we please.
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  • Here's a photo of a plaque that I came across, again in St. Pierre's, Geneva, commemorating the first ecumenical service of worship to be organized after World War II between church leaders of various nations, including Germany, France, Britain, etc., that had fought one another so bitterly. A great attempt at reconciliation and healing. (It seems that, for centuries, peace-making for the world has been a special calling of the people of Geneva, who gave us the Red Cross/Red Crescent. I am sure that even now diplomats are meeting in the city to try to end the terrible civil war in Syria.)

    Here's a photo of a plaque that I came across, again in St. Pierre's, Geneva, commemorating the first ecumenical service of worship to be organized after World War II between church leaders of various nations, including Germany, France, Britain, etc., that had fought one another so bitterly. A great attempt at reconciliation and healing. (It seems that, for centuries, peace-making for the world has been a special calling of the people of Geneva, who gave us the Red Cross/Red Crescent. I am sure that even now diplomats are meeting in the city to try to end the terrible civil war in Syria.)

  • The Temple de la Fusterie, built by the Genevois especially for Huguenot refugees from France after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes (1685). It was modeled after the very famous and huge Temple de Charenton (suburban Paris), among the hundreds of Protestant church buildings that Louis XIV ordered destroyed.

    The Temple de la Fusterie, built by the Genevois especially for Huguenot refugees from France after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes (1685). It was modeled after the very famous and huge Temple de Charenton (suburban Paris), among the hundreds of Protestant church buildings that Louis XIV ordered destroyed.

  • This plaque explains the history of Temple de la Fusterie. The building was open, so I went inside and met two women on the staff. Today the parish not only has services of worship but assistance to the many foreigners in the city, including immigrants and the poor, with a daily meal; plus Taize prayers; art exhibits; musical concerts, etc. with a special outreach to the bohemian, counter-culture in the city and canton. The weekly market was in full swing in front of the church building, despite the rainy weather.

    This plaque explains the history of Temple de la Fusterie. The building was open, so I went inside and met two women on the staff. Today the parish not only has services of worship but assistance to the many foreigners in the city, including immigrants and the poor, with a daily meal; plus Taize prayers; art exhibits; musical concerts, etc. with a special outreach to the bohemian, counter-culture in the city and canton. The weekly market was in full swing in front of the church building, despite the rainy weather.

  • Joan of Arc Memorial in Rouen; plaque on former archbishop's palace, where Joan of Arc was tried before being burned at the stake.

    Joan of Arc Memorial in Rouen; plaque on former archbishop's palace, where Joan of Arc was tried before being burned at the stake.

  • Street scene, Rouen. We saw the Cathédrale Notre Dame, much painted by Monet, with France’s tallest spire. We strolled along the cobbled Rue du Gros-Horloge leading to Place du Vieux-Marche, and saw where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in 1431. In the afternoon we continued to Paris.

    Street scene, Rouen. We saw the Cathédrale Notre Dame, much painted by Monet, with France’s tallest spire. We strolled along the cobbled Rue du Gros-Horloge leading to Place du Vieux-Marche, and saw where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in 1431. In the afternoon we continued to Paris.

  • M. Philippe Marty, who met our train, escorted us to our hotel, and took us on our tour of the one-time Huguenot stronghold and seaport fortress, La Rochelle, with its Protestant "Temple" and Musee du Protestantisme Rochellais. La Rochelle is a picturesque Atlantic seaport was, until conquered by troops of Cardinal Richelieu in 1628, a great Huguenot stronghold.

    M. Philippe Marty, who met our train, escorted us to our hotel, and took us on our tour of the one-time Huguenot stronghold and seaport fortress, La Rochelle, with its Protestant "Temple" and Musee du Protestantisme Rochellais. La Rochelle is a picturesque Atlantic seaport was, until conquered by troops of Cardinal Richelieu in 1628, a great Huguenot stronghold.

  • Parade of workers/socialists/students/families, Paris, Latin Quarter, May Day, 2012.

    Parade of workers/socialists/students/families, Paris, Latin Quarter, May Day, 2012.

  • 16th-century Huguenot Psalm book, Musuem of Protestantism, La Rochelle.

    16th-century Huguenot Psalm book, Musuem of Protestantism, La Rochelle.

  • Street scene, early morning, medieval Bayeux, Normandy.

    Street scene, early morning, medieval Bayeux, Normandy.

  • The massive concrete cliff-top gun emplacement at Pointe du Hoc was the target of the 2nd Ranger Battalion, commanded by James Earl Rudder. The task was to scale the 100 ft cliffs under the cover of night, approximately at 5:30, one hour prior to the landings with ropes and ladders, and then attack and destroy the German 15.5 cm coastal defense guns, which were thought to command the Omaha and Utah landing areas.

    The massive concrete cliff-top gun emplacement at Pointe du Hoc was the target of the 2nd Ranger Battalion, commanded by James Earl Rudder. The task was to scale the 100 ft cliffs under the cover of night, approximately at 5:30, one hour prior to the landings with ropes and ladders, and then attack and destroy the German 15.5 cm coastal defense guns, which were thought to command the Omaha and Utah landing areas.

  • Musee du Desert, which tells the remarkable story of the Huguenots during their worst time of persecution, 1685-1789. This is by Le Chambon, on a French plateau so remote that many Protestants there were able to survive their intense persecution of the 17th and 18th centuries. Nearby is Le Chambon's “temple” (Protestant church), whose pastors led area villagers and farmers to hide and save, at great risk to themselves, 5,000 refugees (up to 3,500 Jews), from the Nazis during World War II.

    Musee du Desert, which tells the remarkable story of the Huguenots during their worst time of persecution, 1685-1789. This is by Le Chambon, on a French plateau so remote that many Protestants there were able to survive their intense persecution of the 17th and 18th centuries. Nearby is Le Chambon's “temple” (Protestant church), whose pastors led area villagers and farmers to hide and save, at great risk to themselves, 5,000 refugees (up to 3,500 Jews), from the Nazis during World War II.

  • Modern representation of "breaking on the wheel," fate of many Huguenot pastors and men who refused to recant their faith, especially after the Revocation and during the "War of the Camisards," Musee du Desert, Mialet.

    Modern representation of "breaking on the wheel," fate of many Huguenot pastors and men who refused to recant their faith, especially after the Revocation and during the "War of the Camisards," Musee du Desert, Mialet.

  • Tour de Constance, Aigues-Mortes.

    Tour de Constance, Aigues-Mortes.

  • Plaque outside Tour de Constance (notice barred window of women's cell inside tower; Huguenot Cross; and galley-slave ship upon which Huguenot men, refusing to recant, were worked to death).

    Plaque outside Tour de Constance (notice barred window of women's cell inside tower; Huguenot Cross; and galley-slave ship upon which Huguenot men, refusing to recant, were worked to death).

  • Plaque at le Musee du Desert, Mialet.

    Plaque at le Musee du Desert, Mialet.

  • Courtyard of our 17th-century mansion/hotel in Nimes.

    Courtyard of our 17th-century mansion/hotel in Nimes.

  • Attached is one of our group standing before the Reformation Wall, Geneva.

    Attached is one of our group standing before the Reformation Wall, Geneva.

  • Tower dating from 1394 (surrounded by modern Parisian apartment house) down which 24-year-old student John Calvin, with a price on his head (for writing a very Protestant speech delivered by new rector of le Sorbonne Nicolas Cop), scrambled to safety and eventual exile from France.

    Tower dating from 1394 (surrounded by modern Parisian apartment house) down which 24-year-old student John Calvin, with a price on his head (for writing a very Protestant speech delivered by new rector of le Sorbonne Nicolas Cop), scrambled to safety and eventual exile from France.

  • Grave of Blaise Pascal, 17th-century Roman Catholic Jansenist (a movemenet soon suppressed by the alarmed Jesuits and church hierarchy), mathematical genius, and philosopher/theologian, in St. Genevieve's Church (university church), Paris, just up the hill from our hotel.

    Grave of Blaise Pascal, 17th-century Roman Catholic Jansenist (a movemenet soon suppressed by the alarmed Jesuits and church hierarchy), mathematical genius, and philosopher/theologian, in St. Genevieve's Church (university church), Paris, just up the hill from our hotel.

  • Statue of Admiral Gaspard de Coligny, devoutly Huguenot nobleman, with connections to the court of hostile but smart Catherine de Medici; slain with thousands of other Protestants, St. Bartholomew's Eve, August, 1572. The 19th-century statue is beside the Louvre, on the grounds of l'Eglise Reformee Oratoire du Louvre, Paris.

    Statue of Admiral Gaspard de Coligny, devoutly Huguenot nobleman, with connections to the court of hostile but smart Catherine de Medici; slain with thousands of other Protestants, St. Bartholomew's Eve, August, 1572. The 19th-century statue is beside the Louvre, on the grounds of l'Eglise Reformee Oratoire du Louvre, Paris.

  • Equestrian statue of the Huguenot King Henri IV, beside his bridge, the most beautiful over the Seine, Le Pont Neuf Bridge.

    Equestrian statue of the Huguenot King Henri IV, beside his bridge, the most beautiful over the Seine, Le Pont Neuf Bridge.

  • My favorite quotation/exhibit, Memorial de Caen, Normandy.

    My favorite quotation/exhibit, Memorial de Caen, Normandy.

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    Plaque at le Musee du Desert, Mialet.
    Courtyard of our 17th-century mansion/hotel in Nimes.
    Attached is one of our group standing before the Reformation Wall, Geneva.