angelab Posted 7 April , 2011 Share Posted 7 April , 2011 I mentioned this in a recent post - but as the subject of that thread was "Ieper" I thought it might get overlooked by people going to the Somme. I happened to be looking at the website for Albert tourist office the other day, and noticed that last year, once a week during July and August, you could buy a ticket to go up the tower of the Albert basilica church for a view over the battlefields. Don't know if any of you has done this, but it sounds as if it might be interesting. In 2010 the details were: July and August, Tuesday, 3pm. Tickets 3 euros from Albert tourist office. Here's their email if anyone needs to check opening details, or to book: officedetourisme@paysducoquelicot.com/ Angela Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frajohn Posted 7 April , 2011 Share Posted 7 April , 2011 Thanks for that Angela Will make sure we try and take advantage of that. As you can see the basilica from so many places around the battlefields it should mean that you can see a great deal of the battlefields Kind regards John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Bennitt Posted 7 April , 2011 Share Posted 7 April , 2011 Don't lean over! cheers Martin B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsms Posted 8 April , 2011 Share Posted 8 April , 2011 Oh I dont know - leaning over can be fun Not Albert - from top at Villers-Bretonneux - may give an indication of possibilites Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-ted Posted 15 April , 2011 Share Posted 15 April , 2011 Just a bit of trivia for you. As"leaning over" on the top of the basilica is mentioned in this thread. Who was Fanny Durack, & why should I post her name here? Regards John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Bennitt Posted 15 April , 2011 Share Posted 15 April , 2011 just a guess, and w/o googling. Was sher the model for the leaning virgin? cheers Martin B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Gray Posted 15 April , 2011 Share Posted 15 April , 2011 Don't lean over! cheers Martin B I'm on my way with the wire rope..!! Rob. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herekawe Posted 16 April , 2011 Share Posted 16 April , 2011 W/O Googling I thought she was a swimmer or diver? James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Posted 16 April , 2011 Share Posted 16 April , 2011 Gents, "Fanny" Durack was a famous Ausralian swimmer in the early part of the 20th Century. Her link with Albert derives from her fame among the Diggers: the statue of the Virgin Mary on top of the steeple of the Albert Basilica had been damaged by German shell-fire and was leaning forward towards the square below. Australian soldiers passing through Albert on their way to the front lines nick-named the statue after Fanny because it resembled someone taking a dive into the pool. Some dry Digger humour there! I also believe there was some other "legend" associated with the leaning statue in that the war would end when it finally fell off the steeple, but soemone else may have a better interpertation of that part of the story. A swimming pool in Marrickville, in Sydney NSW was named after her. Below is a link that explains a bit more about her life, sporting achievements and her support of the women's suffragette movement: http://www.marrickvi...nny_durack.html Regards, Black Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Dunlop Posted 16 April , 2011 Share Posted 16 April , 2011 Black, the 'legend' is correct. IIRC, the statue finally fell during the German offensives of 1918. Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Bennitt Posted 16 April , 2011 Share Posted 16 April , 2011 I thought it was taken down by British engineers rather than actually falling of its own accord cheers Martin B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-ted Posted 18 April , 2011 Share Posted 18 April , 2011 Well done BLACK, your spot on. The statue came down in 1918 when the British were forcing the Germans back out of the town following their gains during the spring offensive. Regards John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MACRAE Posted 18 April , 2011 Share Posted 18 April , 2011 Was up at the top of the basilica a few years back, there was scafolding and it was shaky as was myself, but the view is great well worth the the climb. Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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