Thursday 7 July 2011

The Charterhouse at Melan, France


Day 10 of the Tour de France 2010 was a rest day.

On day 11, Stage 9 of the 2010 Tour de France was a testing 204.5 km (127 miles) mountain stage with a Category 2, two Category 1, and one Category H climbs followed by a steep descent to the finishing point. The stage was won by Sandy Casar and Andy Schleck took over the yellow jersey (the race leadership) from Cadel Evans while simultaneously retaining the white jersey as the best young rider. Thor Hushovd continued to lead the points classification (green jersey) while Anthony Charteau took over the polka jersey for the mountain classification.

The route from Morzine Avariaz to St Jean de Maurienne took the cyclists past the the Melan Charterhouse. This charterhouse was founded in 1285 by Beatrice of Faucigny (later of Savoy) who wanted to be buried in it with her son John the First of Burgundy. But the nuns and priests of the monastery were forced out of it during the French Revolution in 1793. The charterhouse changed hands before becoming an orphanage in 1914. It was partly destroyed by fire in 1967, but is now the Centre of Contemporary Art of the department, hosting concerts and exhibitions.

As usual this sketch is also about 12 cm x 9.5 cm (though a considerable part of the 9.5 cm is just the sky).

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