Re: Tour de France 2019
Posted: 21 Jul 2019, 08:35
As if by magic (in fact by team coaches) the riders have been transferred eastwards through the Pyrenees to Limoux, home of Blanquette de Limoux, not a girl but a sparkling wine that dates back to 1531 and the abbey of Saint Hilaire (a century before méthode champenoise was invented by the Englishman Christopher Merret). Limoux's arms are a depiction of Saint Martin of Tours sharing his cloak with a beggar. Why St Martin I cannot say.
The destination is Foix Prat d'Albis in the mountains South of the city of Foix. The arms of Foix are those of the Counts of Foix, and may be mistaken for those of the Counts of Barcelona, but contain three rather than four pallets gules. The Counts of Foix were once closely allied with the Counts of Barcelona, which may explain the similarity. Since 1278 the Counts of Foix and their legal successors (now the Presidents of France) have been co-Princes of Andorra (with the Bishops of Urgell).
The destination is Foix Prat d'Albis in the mountains South of the city of Foix. The arms of Foix are those of the Counts of Foix, and may be mistaken for those of the Counts of Barcelona, but contain three rather than four pallets gules. The Counts of Foix were once closely allied with the Counts of Barcelona, which may explain the similarity. Since 1278 the Counts of Foix and their legal successors (now the Presidents of France) have been co-Princes of Andorra (with the Bishops of Urgell).