 Lisieux
is a small town in the Calvados department of Normandy in N France.
Lisieux is one of the oldest towns in Normandy. The shrine
of St. Theresa there attracts many pilgrims. St. Therese of Lisieux,
known also as the Little Flower of Jesus, was declared a Doctor
of the Church in 1997, the third woman to be so honored in the
Roman Catholic Church. Her writings often centered around themes
of suffering, and she often used images of flowers and gardens.
Lisieux has some small industries. Two thirds of the town
was destroyed in the war, but several beautiful old churches
remain. Nearby places of interest include the chateau of Saint-Germain-de-Livet
and the Cerze leisure centre at Hermival-les-Vaux. |
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Normandy gets its name from the Viking Norsemen who
sailed up the River Seine in the 9th century and colonized the
area, making Rouen their capital. Normandy has large ports with
important transatlantic trade, whilst inland it is overwhelmingly
agricultural. The image of Normandy is one of a lush, tranquil,
pastoral region of apple orchards, contented cattle, Calvados
and Camembert. There are ancient picturesque ports such as Honfleur
to visit, seaside resorts with elegant promenades, splendid centuries-old
half-timbered manor houses lining quiet countryside lanes and
extrordinary Romanesque and Gothic architectural treasures. |
