France 2.0: Monday, April 11, 2011

This morning the students went with their host. Some of them had classes early, while some had classes later. Nogent students have a schedule similar to our college. They don't have the same classes every day, and if they do not have a class, then they can leave the school grounds. The same is true for the teachers. The French and American chaperones met with the Nogent School Superintendent to discuss American and French education systems and the long range plans for the exchange program.

Today we are traveling with both ant American and French students together. The French host students have been excused from school early to travel with us to Le Mans. At 11:00 we all board the tour bus. The day was warm and sunny again. We arrived in Le Mans about 1:00. After a picnic lunch we gathered at the fountain at the base of the street leading to la Cathedrale Saint-Julien.


The construction of the cathedral started about 1056. The building was basically finished in 1430. Roman architecture was evident in the early construction phase, but by the end, Gothic architecture was prevalent. So, one wing of the building is very Roman looking, and the other is very Gothic in appearance. The Roman influence is shown by the high rounded arches while the Gothic look has pointed arches. The photo below shows the rounded arches in the foreground and the pointed Gothic look in the background.


Here is a good view of the cathedral from the newer Gothic style. A feature called "flying buttresses" were built to help strengthen the thinner walls used on the more modern construction techniques.


The old city of Le Mans sits high on a hill and surrounds the cathedral. The streets are stone and narrow.


You can find evidence of the original stone work dating back to the Roman times of Julius Cesar. The red stone below is the handiwork of the Romans.


The modern city sprawls out below the hill in all directions.


Le Mans is famous for the race track, and most notable is the 24 hour race. After touring the old town, we had time for shopping, cafe sitting and people watching.


We ended the day back in Nogent with a huge pot luck dinner put on by the French host families. Again, we ate really well. That seems to be a trend here.






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