I was struck by the variety of balconies displayed, especially in the town of Cauterets, where the Tour de France will go through today, towards the end of the stage. Most of them were made from wrought iron, known in Europe as ferro-battuto, with very elaborate designs. There must have been a factory that manufactures them, because every single house had a different design, and shown here are just 2 samples. Moreover two churches that I visited stood out for the magnificent ornate pulpit, which are probably not used anymore, as most churches nowadays opt for a simple podium.
These were made probably from oak, and are respectively in the towns of Cauterets and St. Jean de Luz, which the Tour visited two days ago. Many of these churches need restoration and some others were completely closed just because they are undergoing a massive restoration project, including the main Cathedral of Lourdes, not connected to the apparition churches, which are all open to the public. This will be my last post on my photogenic trip to Lourdes.
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