The heads of saints

For my uncle's 66th birthday today, we and two of his friends drove into the Picarie ville of Soissons for lunch and a stroll around the town to view a beautiful and old abbey and cathedral. They will likely be the first of many beautiful and old buildings I see during my time in Europe.

The Abbey of Saint Jean-des-Vignes, a 9th century gothic church, stands at the center of Soissons towering above the residential community. Both the residences and the abbey were the victims of several wars. Though settlement of Soissons dates back to prehistoric times, most of the buildings that stand today were constructed in the mid-twentieth century following the decimation of the town during World War II. The abbey was reduced to just a façade during the French Revolution when soldiers took target practice shooting off the heads of saints.

Nearby the abbey stands the Cathedral de Soissons which dates back to the 11th century. It was also a victim of war; one of its towers was destroyed in World War I. It, however, has been mostly restored. Among the artwork that line the walls is a 15th century tapestry depicting the martyrs Gervasius and Protasius, the patron saints of the cathedral. The saints are both seen in the moment before their deaths, one by clubbing and the other by beheading.