FEAST OR FAMINE

  There was a fire at the Notre-Dame-des Champs Church on the Boulevard du Montparnasse in the 6 th  arrondissement of Paris on 23 July 2025. I saw some smoke rising from the inside of the church – the doors were open and the firefighters brought the blaze under control very quickly.    The mayor of the 6 th  arrondissement, Jean-Pierre Lecoq, praised the efforts of the emergency services for rapidly extinguishing the flames using water hoses and fans to dissipate the smoke. He added that the cause was not yet known and neither was the extent of the damage. There were no casualties.    The Notre-Dame-des Champs Church, a Catholic Church, is an historic building built between 1867 and 1876. 

  Reims, in the heart of Champagne country, is also home to another refined delicacy: chocolate – specifically, chocolate crafted with monastic traditions. Among the treasures of the region, for example, is the chocolate of Chocolaterie Abbaye d’Igny, blending history, spirituality, and craftsmanship.   The origins of monastic chocolate-making in Reims are deeply tied to the traditions of the Abbaye d’Igny, a Trappist monastery located near the city. The abbey’s roots go back to the 12 th  century, but its legacy as a chocolate-making center began in the 20 th  century. The Trappist nuns, known for their self-sufficient and contemplative lifestyle, began producing chocolate as a means of sustaining their abbey. The Chocolaterie Abbaye d’Igny became famous for its pralines, truffles, and other artisanal chocolate creations, which were handcrafted using traditional recipes and high-quality ingredients. Each piece reflects the monks' and nuns' meticulous care and commit...

Notre-Dame Cathedral in Reims, France, is a Roman Catholic cathedral of gothic architecture and a major tourist attraction. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.   Thought to be founded in the 5 th  century, a fire destroyed the building in 1210 and it was reconstructed from the 13 th  to the 14 th  century. It received some damage during the French Revolution (1789-1799) and was extensively restored in the 19 th  century. After being severely damaged during the First World War (1914-1818) it was again restored in the 20 th  century.    Since the 1905 law on the separation of church and state, the cathedral has been owned by the French state, and the Catholic church has an agreement with the State for its exclusive use. The French state pays for its restoration and upkeep.   MARTINA NICOLLS MartinaNicollsWebsite    I    Rainy Day Healing    I    Martinasblogs    I   ...