zondag 11 oktober 2015

Road trip to Azincourt & Crécy-en-Ponthieu part 1


This saturday me and the misses went on a trip for the 600th anniversary of the battle of Agincourt. I know I'm early but who cares right? A three hour drive later we found ourselves in a little known place called Azincourt. Where we were greeted on the outskirts of the village by a rather wooden Henry the Vth.
Reminded me of the Mr Bean movie for some reason.
The Medieval Historical Centre is the only lively place in town apart from a restaurant a bit further. A funny detail of the converted farm-turned-museum was the entrance, as you can see in the next photo. Also many of the doors were similarly decorated.


Inside the museum you have a fair collection and informative panels about the Hundred Year War and the battle itself and three interactive films as well.

The first one was a room with two mannequins dressed as Henry V and Charles VI respectively. Each spoke and gave their reasons for the conflict however it was difficult for me to understand. The voices were in whispered French with a louder English speech over it and the narrator blabbing in between made it nigh incomprehensible. (although I'm not a native English or French speaker)

The second film was about the battle itself in a birds eye view and was much more intelligable.

The third piece was just nonsencical and gave no historical purpose. It was a shallow self-glorificating film that seemed to say that without the battle there was no English pride; and that Shakespeare, Olivier and Branagh would never had a career without it. I'm overembellishing a bit, but the film did just the same.

There was a piece of the museum were you could feel the weight and force required of pulling a longbow; and the weight of knightly arms. It allowed you to feel the weight of chainmail and of leather armour; and you could look through different types of helmets so you could see what the French knights probably saw... Absolutely nothing ;-p
English longbowman
mounted French man-at-arms
Man-at-arms on foot
No French allowed or Duke Jean of Bourbon?

French looking cutlery
Height might have contributed to the French defeat
No museum is complete without the obligatory Osprey art
And wouldn't you know, I already saw the Perry's diorama of Agincourt first and whatever they might say it's not located in England, but right here :p

The French cavalry charge on the English left flank
'Well have we done, thrice valiant countrymen:
But all's not done; yet keep the French the field.'
A view of the French left getting ready to mudwrestle
The misses cursing herself when seeing the odds turning against the French
Further there was a small room with some archeological finds in the area such a spur from the battle itself among other things, also was there the small collection on display of a private collector. All in all it is a nice small museum, kid friendly and informative for even the laymaniest of the laymen. Although I don't understand why they don't sell any books (french or English) about the battle or the war in the gift shop.


The trip continued around the battlefield which is still the same after all these years; grass and farmland.
The castle of Azincourt no longer exists, it was torn down in the 1500s and its site is now occupied by a large farm.
Beyond Maisoncelles on the crossroads to Blangny and Tramecourt you can find a small monument commemorating the battlefield. with two informative plaques. Although the metal one looks incorrect.

Rear view of the English first position

The road from Blangny to Tramecourt. The English
moved from left towards the forested area on the distant right
The English advance rightwards. Azincourt forest on the right.
Turning left at Tramecourt you come upon Rue Henry V, which passes right next to the battlefield on the right of the next picture. Stupid me thought it was on the left side so I have no photo of the site of combat itself. The photo above of the English advance I mistakenly took as the site in question. Ah well...
Rue Henry V
Near Tramecourt is also a monument commemorating the fallen French soldiers. The plaque itself was covered with plastic and seemed brand new. Probably it is to be revealed on the anniversary day itself. I didn't want to look like a jerk so no photo of the plaque with the platic torn off.

And here's a funny road sign we passed in the village of Azincourt, which I didn't want to leave out.


Continued in part 2 - Crécy.

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