furniture that was to be sold by the Prior of an old
Abbey: though how so much that was luxurious and worldly had ever
entered an abbey seemed a mystery.
We were soon en route for Landerneau, our destination as far as the
train was concerned. The line, picturesque and diversified, passed
through a narrow wooded valley where ran the river Elorn. On the left
was the extensive forest of Brezal; and in the small wood of
_Pont-Christ_, an interesting sixteenth century chapel faced an ancient
and romantic windmill. Close to this was a large pond, surrounded by
rugged rocks and firs; altogether a wild and beautiful scene. Soon
after, through the trees, we discerned the graceful open spire of the
Church of La Roche, and then, upon rugged height above the railway, the
ruins of the ancient Castle of la Roche-Maurice, called by the Breton
peasants round about, in their broad dialect, "la Ro'ch Morvan." It was
founded by Maurice, King of the Bretons, about the year 800, and was
demolished about 1490, during the war Charles VIII. waged against Anne
of Brittany. Very little of the ruin remains, excepting a square donjon
and a portion of the exterior walls and the four towers.
Finally came Landerneau, and the train continued its way towards Brest
without us.
We found the old town well worth exploring. It is situated on the Elorn,
or the river of Landerneau, as it is more often called. The stream is
fairly broad here, and divides the town into two parts.
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