Montfort-l’Amaury

As the time for departure looms closer–just over a week to go now!–I feel the need to share more traveling reminiscences. Two years ago, I spent a balmy July in Paris studying composition, harmony and counterpoint at L’ecole Normale de Musique. Of the relatively few field trips we took, we were fortunate enough to make a journey into the beautiful countryside west of Paris to the hometown of Maurice Ravel. As our bus scooted across the hills and fields, this is what we saw.

Is it so hard to believe one could be inspired to write such beautiful music when surrounded by God’s green earth? This particular view reminds me of Tolkien’s Shire. If you look closely, I think you can see the Party Tree off in the distance.

And here is a shot of a chateau in the distance. Er…a shot-eau?

Finally our bus arrived at the foot of the town, which is perched up on a hill. From below we could make out the main church.

As we began to walk up the winding cobbled road to the town squre, we passed by many quaint little homes…

…some with roses growing up the sides…

Ah…quintessentially European.

The church is visible from practically every part of the town. This particular photo is taken from a large hillside where there is a park and old castle ruins.

Just below the hill, facing the park sits the home of Maurice Ravel.

And this…

…is where the magic happened. Darn that camera flash!

Ravel’s garden, which sits behind the house and has a lovely view of the aforementioned “Shire”.