DAY TWENTYTHREE
SAINT-LEONARD-DE-NOBLAT – LIMOGE
How could we discuss this and that
Without knowing that the world
Is reflected in a single pearl
Ryokan
By crossing the river Vienne on the 13th century bridge Pont de Noblat, we left the
city and came into the rural area again – a hilly contryside with fields of wheat, forests
with blooming sweet chestnut trees, mills and stonewalls overgrown with moss.
We left the town together and I continued later at my own speed – a pattern that
developed until we departed a few days later in Périgueux.
View from the 13th century bridge Pont de Noblat
Little settlement with a grape vine
Growing on the stone façade
The Way was not always a clear line to the west and twice I thought I got lost –
only to discover that I was on the right way anyway. Like so often on the Way,
I passed ancient stone crosses, a sign of the pilgrimage route in the past.
Path with Cross
I arrived Limoge on a Sunday afternoon and entered the old town of Limoge via the
oldest bridge of the whole Via Lemovicensis, the Roman bridge Saint Martial.
Limoge is known for the highly sophisticated medieval enamel production, for the
music school St. Martial founded in the 11th century and for the Limoge porcelain.
Pont Martial with 2 painters
2 people painting a window with old military figurines
The town was pretty empty at the weekend. All the people seemed to have gathered
along the river Vienne where a festival was going on.
Plaza in the old town
For the night, I stayed in the convent of the order of the Franciscan sisters, which was
a very beautiful place. I was especially intrigued by the spiral stairway leading up to
my room.
Convent “Soeurs Saint-François d’Assise”
Spiral Stairway up to the guest rooms of the Franciscan convent
Looking out from my window of the convent, I had a perfect view to the 13th century
Gothic Cathedral Saint-Etienne. Because of a heavy thunderstorm, the gargoyles
surrounding the roofline were spitting water out of their big mouths.
Cathedral Saint Etienne in the evening sun with a heavy thunderstorm approaching
Gargoyles at the north facade
When I entered the Gothic Cathedral, the huge space was filled with organ music. I
loved to just listen to these powerful tones. A row of little angles over the west portal
and a modern sculpture of the Black Madonna were especially catching my attention.
Row of angles at the western gallery
Black Madonna in the Cathedral St. Etienne
– Text and photos contributed by Gary –