Armentieres

A day for chilling and watching the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Bahrain. 

I went for a walk early this morning in a rather chilly breeze, and took some photos in the old town centre.  Most of the town was badly damaged during both the wars and although some of the landmarks were rebuilt, the town does not give a feeling of history and antiquity.

The town hall

The cathedral

This building was built in 1883, a steel and iron structure that was destoyed in WW1.  It was rebuilt in 1924 as a covered market, now is a festival hall.

The back of the festival hall and church spire

A huge monument to the fallen soldiers of Armentieres....

...with interesting relief sculptures around the bases.  This one is the soldiers leaving to go to war

...soldiers suffering during the war...

...and the soldiers returning home at the end of the war.

The chilly morning turned into a really nice warm day and we thoroughly enjoyed the exciting race.