A last look around the Monastery before we walk back down - yes, we walked up so we've got to walk down - and, anyway, there are one or two more good things to see.
Today - a stained glass window in the chapel - a sign outside the monastery shop and below, a view of the monastery from below - you can see the stained glass windows of the chapel on the left.
Along the walls of the crypt we saw yesterday are ten bas-reliefs (you see one here) by Alain Bousquet. They represent the life of Mary.
Note: I've updated yesterday's commentary on the history of this crypt.
The smaller photo on the left shows the main chapel. I have a feeling it might not be used much as you'll see a pile of stuff piled up at the back on the right hand side.
Below the chapel is a simply beautiful room - main photo and below. It's the ancient restored crypt - a room for contemplation and prayer. You'll see modern work displayed in this room.
This crypt was originally the oratory of the Capucins of Genoa (1867-1887) and was restored in 1967 by the Capucins of Lyon and then in 2000 by the Soeurs Annonciade.
The gilded relief of the Annonciation was given to the Monastery in 1641 by Jérome de Monléon. Bas-reliefs that line the walls and we'll see one in detail tomorrow.
The history of l'Annonciade goes back centuries but the more recent history shows it was sold to a union of apostolic sisters in 2000. There are now 6 nuns in residence. Since then much renovation has taken place, including this renovated crypt, the chapel and the inauguration of a gallery.
We are standing on the Esplanade of the Monastery and looking at the view. In the main photo, we look towards Roquebrune-cap-Martin - that's Cap Martin you see jutting out to sea. Monaco is beyond.
The smaller photograph shows a part of the Esplanade that has fallen away and is dangerous - the wall has gone and a good part of the land itself.
The photo below is looking straight ahead to the centre of Menton. The Old Town and its beautiful steeples are out of shot to the left of the photo.
I promised a view of the sea today but changed my mind (!) and thought it would be nice to see the surroundings of the monastery. You can see how idyllic it is - mountains, a vineyard below and beyond that, Menton and the Mediterranean.
Tomorrow - we turn around and see the sea.
Our first view of the Monastery with the entrance to the chapel facing us.
We've climbed 225 metres to the top of this hill known as Le Berceau. It's dominated by the monastery which was founded in the XIV century but in the XI century it was the site of a small fortified city called Puypin (Podium Pinum, the hill of the pines).
There are several stories of how the name Menton came about. One is that the inheritor of Puypin was Seigneur Othon V who build a castle on the neighbouring hill, but lower hill and called it Mont Othon, which gives the contraction Menton.
This place is peaceful, the view stunning and we can only imagine how it was in the eleventh century, looking down and seeing Menton slowly grow around it.
Subsequently the old castle of Puypin was abandoned and tomorrow we'll learn more about the monastery that, three centuries later, took its place.
We've walked up the steps that are by the iron cross you see in the background and are on the Esplanade of the Monastery. Tomorrow we'll turn and face the other way and see the Monastery itself.
An old wine press outside the gate of the vineyard.
As we saw yesterday, there is a small vineyard below the monastery.
The Confrérie de l'Etiquette de Menton has its own blog. Click to take a look at this year's vendange.
Copyright 2009 Menton Daily Photo. All rights reserved
The smaller photo is a slightly different view of the final part of the walk. You saw it the other day - HERE.
We turn the bend at the top - et voila! - we see the Monastery and below it the vines.
Tomorrow, we'll look at the vineyard.
Copyright 2009 Menton Daily Photo. All rights reserved
Most of the shrines were restored during the 20th century... but obviously some weren't.
Copyright 2009 Menton Daily Photo. All rights reserved
The older ladies who live on this Chemin du Rosaire are pretty tough. Remember the old lady who fed the cats a couple of days ago?
Now meet the lady who sweeps the road. She's sweeping the steps below the shrine you see on the right, which is doubtless near the entrance to her house.
Copyright 2009 Menton Daily Photo. All rights reserved.
You can see the walk was worth it. The sea is in sight and on the left we pass another shrine. Not far now...
Copyright 2009 Menton Daily Photo. All rights reserved.
At first glance it appears this old lady, this exceedingly old lady, is praying at the shrine or tending flowers, albeit false ones. Not so.
There is a large hole in the corner of the wire netting and she is filling bowls with food and water for the wild cats in this area.
On the wall above her head, two of them are waiting...
Copyright 2009 Menton Daily Photo. All rights reserved.
Today we'll take a look inside three of the shrines. With iron bars and wire netting protecting the frescoes, they are not easy to photograph.
There are 15 shrines, all numbered. I assumed they represent the Stations of the Cross but was corrected by the nun I met in the monastery who told me they are the Stations of the Rosary.
The shrines were restored in the last century - the work done by well known artists of the region.
Copyright 2009 Menton Daily Photo. All rights reserved.
We keep on walking. As you see, it's a fair old hike ever upwards but we stop and look at each of the shrines (there's one on the right).
Copyright 2009 Menton Daily Photo. All rights reserved.
It's Theme Day again with the theme being 'doorways.' We are in Rue Longue in Menton. This building is being renovated and so the rubble is put into bags to await collection. No room in this narrow medieval street for a skip.
To see how at least 100 City Daily Photo bloggers from around the world have interpreted today's Theme, do click on the link to be delighted and intrigued. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.
Copyright 2009 Menton Daily Photo. All rights reserved
We turn the corner from yesterday's shrine and on the right find a house with this beautiful frieze. (In the smaller photo, we are looking back at the house, so you can see we are only a little way above sea-level - long way to go yet).
The friezes of Menton, Monaco and the hill villages are celebrated, some so beautiful you want to jump up and down with delight.
Don't you love that a real dove, or perhaps a pigeon, has left its calling card on the top of the shutter...
This is for Virginia of Birmingham, Alabama DP who has posted pigeons (take a look) on Paris Through My Lens today. Even tho it's not Paris, here's a little bit of France for you, Virginia.
Copyright 2009 Menton Daily Photo. All rights reserved.
We've started the walk. Bottles of water in our rucksacks.
Here we see one of the 15 shrines built in the 17th century and restored in the 20th. They represent the 15 Mysteries of the Rosary.
In 1660, Isabelle of Monaco, sister of Prince Louis 1, was cured of leprosy after a pilgrimage to Our Lady of Peypin and so she built these fifteen station of the Rosary along this road leading to the chapel.
The Monastery of l'Annonciade sits way above Menton - and tomorrow we start the walk, which is really a sort of pilgrimage as we climb the Chemin du Rosaire and pass what I thought were the Stations of the Cross but are in fact the Stations of the Rosary. All will be revealed...
This photograph was taken from sea level at a distance of 1.4 kilometres, as the seagull flies, so that explains the grainy look to the photo. And yes, those are vines below the monastery - and vines mean wine!
