Bagnoles de l'Orne

On Monday, we went to a lovely town called Bagnoles de l'Orne.  It is famous for its hot springs/thermal baths that have been the destination of many rich and/or famous people since the days of the Romans.  Legend has it that Lancelot du Lac was from this area.  Of course, there are also legends that Sir Lancelot was from St. Fraimbault.

The town surrounds a beautiful lake.  On the lake is a casino and a great building called the Residence de Lac.  Here's the casino.

And the residence.  This must have been the height of fashion at one time.

The building faces the lake on the side we are looking at.  Note the grand staircase in front.

The main town revolves around a circle with a fountain.

As you can see from that picture, the town sits in a valley.  It could really be in the foothills of the Alps from the looks of some of the houses.

There are some really beautiful residences here.....

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But near the church, up from the fountain, there are a number of buildings that look quite old but are abandoned and look to be ready to fall down.

You just wish there was unlimited funds to take care of these places.

By the way, I am still pretty jet-lagged and when we confronted these stairs in front of the church I initially said no way.

They go on for a ways down in front as well.  But eventually we climbed them and went into the church, only to find a miniature of a different church.....who knows why.

Never did get to the actual thermal baths.  I think I'll probably go back at some point and check them out.

Unfortunately, my days are cut short by the need to work starting at about 2PM (8AM on the East Coast).  I am thinking of going to Mont St. Michele on Friday when I have the day off.

More later.......