May 22, Civil Ceremony

This afternoon is reserved for the civil (legal) part of the three day marriage celebration for Aurélie and Simon. Since the lunch began at 1:00, we had time to visit a restored medieval castle, Château De Pierrefonds. Like many castles, this one had been rebuilt many times over the centuries. But, in the middle 1800’s, a family decided to study it and restore or replace whatever artifacts they could, aiming for a reconstruction of lordly residence of the Middle Ages. They used medieval techniques for making new statues and metal works, using the restored rooms they imagined might have been used for these purposes before.

Château De Pierrefonds, which we explored

On the initiative of Louis d’Orléans, son of King Charles V, the castle was built in the late 14th century on a rocky spur. The Chateau of Pierrefonds replaced an older fortified site built in the 11th century. Damage from centuries of conflicts and sieges caused it to be dismantled in 1617 by order of Louis XIII and left in ruins for over two hundred years.

Walking along a giant ramp around castle.

Figurines, fireplace, furniture, and stained glass

These ornaments and statues were originally on the exterior of the castle.

Carved, creepy faces in the stairwells and a medieval toilet

The empress’s bedroom is the most colorful room with Scottish influence in some of the art.

Weird creatures and a model of the castle

Lunch preceded the civil ceremony, with only the family and special friends, so about thirty people. We made menu choices a few weeks before, but few remembered what they ordered. Fortunately, Aurélie had a list.

Walking to lunch under a Belgian beer sign

The ceremony in Compiègne was at the City Hall (Hôtel de Ville), by one of the mayor’s executive officers. Being an inquisitive American, Clare asked Aurélie and Simon, each independently, how they were feeling. Both indicated that this was the easy part of their celebratory weekend, the big emotions will come on Sunday.

Château de Compiègne, where Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie met

After the ceremony, we (us, Marc and Jöelle, Joëlle’s 2 sisters and their mom, and one brother-in-law) went to the Glade of the Armistice, where WWI treaty documents were signed, in a train dining car.

This was also the place where the French surrendered part of their country in 1940, near the beginning of WWII. Hitler wanted to accept that surrender in the same place where Germany had surrendered before.