Esteemed Readers, mile by mile we are approaching Luxembourg. The weather is fine, it is summer & the borders are already at our sight:
“On the 19th (of the given month) we passed four lieues & have arrived to Estain to dinner & to spend a night as it is still a long way to Longvvy (the last stop before Luxembourg). Mr. Mathieu de Castelus who governs it has arrived to Estain to welcome the King & to recieve His Majesty’s orders. Estain is a huge walled town of the Diocese of Verdun. It is the last Jurisdiction near Luxembourg. Once this Diocese has been a little fortress & had a moat around however…it is not so obvious at present. Mr de Verdun followed the King to Estain. The Court had a wonderful time passing by villages, huge & fertile Plains. The majority found this place very uncomfortable, while the King, who was glad & enjoyed any thing around, was too content to be in need of something. His Majesty spent the afternoon hunting.
Estain is a Forest Region joined with beautiful Plains & well-cultivated Valleys. The Houses are big & cozy here. There are at least four Chambers to stay. The King, Monsieur & the Princesses arranged their Appartments in the biggest one, while each military unit of the Officers shared the other ones. The place itself seems to have been rather considerable; the Wars have destroyed it as it has not been fortified enough to protect the borders…” To be continued.
The previous parts if you have missed them:
PS. Painting by Claude Lorrain.
Vive le Roy! Close to Luxembourg! 😊
Maria KethuProfumo
What does it mean to spend the afternoon chasing? Is this hunting? Thanks for this report, Maria.
Ah! Indeed hunting! Thanks, dear John! I will correct now.
Dear John, I have looked through the dictionary. Chasing is a synonym of hunting. 😁😁😁
I thought so. Thank you, Maria.
😁😁😁 Thank you!
🤗
We are coming to the end of this solemn journey, my dear John! I even feel sad that soon it is over. 😥
All good things must come to a conclusion. When one door closes another opens. 😊
You are so right, my dear John! I’m preparing a new entrance rather soon! 🙂
Good for you. 😁
Indeed, dear John! 😏🙄
Bello!
Grazie, carissima Fulvialuna! Buona Epifania!
Buona Epifania a te.