Return to France 2023

maja 2023

25-dniowa przygoda według Kate Czytaj więcej

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Podróżnik Return to France 2023
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- 19 maj 2023, 19:36
- ☁️ 17 °C
- Wysokość: 242 m
- Francja Occitania Figeac Le Pin 44.61207, 2.0446244°36’43” N 2°2’41” E
Dzień 13
Medieval meanderings
19 maja 2023, Francja ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
Packing up from the banks of the Dordogne we saw our first canoeists powering by. Looks like it's going to be a busy weekend on the river...
We had a short journey to Figeac. A place that gets a few mentions in the guidebooks. So we snuck into the campsite before lunch. Our pitch is like a meadow with wild flowers and mint growing in the grass. We had a bacon sandwich and cycled into town. Tourist office showed us a guided walking tour so we set off. 2 hours later still discovering this splendid town. We have never seen so many perfectly preserved medieval buildings in one place before.
Also, it's the birthplace of Jean- Francois Champollion. The chap who deciphered the rosetta stone in Egypt...
Pedalled back to the site for curry and wine. Listening to a battle for auditory supremacy between a cuckoo and a cockerel . Czytaj więcej
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- 20 maj 2023, 17:35
- ☁️ 19 °C
- Wysokość: 242 m
- Francja Occitania Figeac Le Pin 44.61207, 2.0446244°36’43” N 2°2’41” E
Dzień 14
Jazz in Figeac
20 maja 2023, Francja ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
We had explored the town yesterday. The tourist office told us there would be jazz in the market in the morning so we had to go and take in both. And what a great morning we had. The market was the best we have seen in France. Lots of local produce, chickens roasting with tantalising smells, and then the jazz band arrived. They were great fun, dancing and weaving through the streets. Everyone was smiling and dancing along. We both agreed it was depressing that the UK chose to separate itself from this kind of joy....
We had a coffee and freshly squeezed orange juice and soaked up the fun.
Then off we went on a ride to a nearby hilltop town Capdenac. Great spot overlooking the Lot river. Perfect for picnic lunch. The village is Gallo/ Roman and closely tied to the knights templar and the pilgrim routes to Rocamadour and Santiago de Compostela. Lots of pilgrims about including one young man lugging a big cross on his shoulder.
A great spin down afterwards back to the campsite through isolated wooded valleys.
Great day all round. We have decided to join the European movement... Czytaj więcej
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- 21 maj 2023, 19:28
- ☁️ 18 °C
- Wysokość: 113 m
- Francja Occitania Cahors Terre Rouge 44.463884, 1.4419844°27’50” N 1°26’31” E
Dzień 15
Imp on the bridge
21 maja 2023, Francja ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
Set off in the rain headed for Cahors. Another medieval / gallo/ Roman town. It was the old capital of Quercy.
We pitched up, had lunch , and then cycled into town as the rain stopped.
Picked up a walking map from the tourist office and a bird promptly did a big shit on it. Had to get another, much to amusement of tourist staff.... The big town draw is the Pont Valentré. Apparently the best preserved medieval bridge in Europe. Six gothic arches and three towers, built between 1308 and 1378. Stunning. Rumour has it the architect made a pact with the devil, selling his soul to guarantee finishing on time. Then he changed his mind and the devil made an imp climb up the middle tower every night and throw down a stone so it was never finished. The bridge was restored in 1800s and the then architect added a devil's imp to the middle tower in deference to the story.
Spent the afternoon meandering the medieval streets and visiting the cathedral. Lots of pilgrims here, one walking in flip flops.... Czytaj więcej
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- 22 maj 2023, 17:03
- ☁️ 22 °C
- Wysokość: 98 m
- Francja Nouvelle-Aquitaine Brantôme 45.35897, 0.6611745°21’32” N 0°39’40” E
Dzień 16
Another day another river
22 maja 2023, Francja ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
We left the Lot behind us this morning and started the journey north. We crossed the Dordogne along the way, and are now settled in for the evening by the Dronne. The nearest town to the campsite is Brantome, famous for its massive Benedictine abbey. The bell tower dates beck to the 11th century. The town sits on an island in the river with bridges and weeping willows all around. Very quiet- French monday syndrome. We walked back to the campsite just ahead of a thunderstorm. A few too many UK number plates here for our liking so we will move on tomorrow and try and get off the beaten track a bit. Czytaj więcej
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- 23 maj 2023, 19:25
- ⛅ 20 °C
- Wysokość: 113 m
- Francja Centre-Val-de-Loire Chemillé-sur-Indrois Le Plessis 47.156892, 1.1588647°9’25” N 1°9’32” E
Dzień 17
The long straight road north
23 maja 2023, Francja ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
Another long drive today. Some of the straightest roads we have ever driven. Miles and miles and miles of them. We figured they must be Roman. They didn't waste time on bends. Easy driving, little traffic.
Several hundred K later, we are back near the Loire, and pitched in a nice site by a lake. When we walked around it, we could see massive pike coming up to the surface and writhing about, maybe fighting. There is a beach on the lake but not sure we want to share our toes with hungry pike. Back to some history tomorrow. Difficult to avoid the chateaux round these parts!
Cherries falling from the trees on the pitches here might keep us awake tonight bouncing off the roof... Czytaj więcej
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- 24 maj 2023, 20:21
- ⛅ 17 °C
- Wysokość: 113 m
- Francja Centre-Val-de-Loire Chemillé-sur-Indrois Le Plessis 47.156907, 1.1588847°9’25” N 1°9’32” E
Dzień 18
Lovely Loches
24 maja 2023, Francja ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Up early to ride to Loches. The market was on this morning, and we know from experience these markets pack up and go without trace on the strike of 12. We had a great ride through rolling farmland and forests. Arrived in plenty of time and had a mosey round the market before climbing the medieval streets to the fortress again well restored with loads of information in French and English.there was a statue of a unicorn in the gardens. Apparently they were popular in the 1400s as it was thought they could tell a virgin from her scent.... The ticket got us entry to the Royal lodgings too and that was on a fantastic site high above the town with splendid views . We had promised ourselves a treat so menu du jour it was, sitting watching the market stalls pack up . Then, pedalled back through the sunny back lanes and a nice rest by the van. Great day Czytaj więcej
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- 25 maj 2023, 18:08
- ⛅ 21 °C
- Wysokość: 105 m
- Francja Centre-Val-de-Loire Chemillé-sur-Indrois Le Plessis 47.15757, 1.1595347°9’27” N 1°9’34” E
Dzień 19
Headwinds to Montresor
25 maja 2023, Francja ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
Set off today on the bikes to visit a chateau about 3 miles away but, just to make it interesting, Ian added in a 20 mile extra loop. The first half was like riding through the prairies of the mid West into the teeth of a strong headwind, so it quite pooped us. After a coffee stop we finally got a tail wind and got to our destination. Interesting visit, not least for the urn that contains a human heart! There was a sizeable display of taxidermy, too. The Chateau at Montresor dates back to 1050 but was restored by a Polish chap in the 1800s. He brought water to the village and built schools and a hospital so everybody loved him and all the streets in the (one of the most beautiful in France) village are called after him.
Back to the campsite to find some sort of school triathlon going on round and in the lake. Wonder if they know about those big pike..... Czytaj więcej
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- 26 maj 2023, 21:41
- 🌙 19 °C
- Wysokość: 68 m
- Francja Centre-Val-de-Loire Chenonceaux 47.32787, 1.0774747°19’40” N 1°4’39” E
Dzień 20
Back to the Cher
26 maja 2023, Francja ⋅ 🌙 19 °C
A short hop this morning , with a quick shop and arrived at a site next to Chenonceau. Everyone here would be visiting the chateau, but we have both seen it. We have other destinations on our list. We landed a prime pitch spot next to the river by chance. Quick lunch and then off along a cycle path to Montrichard. A village ( one of the plus belle...) with a Fort dating to 1014. Was closed today but the village was lovely. Nice cycle back, dinner outside watching returning canoeists go upstream.
And watching the sun set over the weeping willows. Czytaj więcej
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- 27 maj 2023, 21:37
- 🌙 21 °C
- Wysokość: 61 m
- Francja Centre-Val-de-Loire Chisseaux 47.32719, 1.0811647°19’38” N 1°4’52” E
Dzień 21
Good year for the roses
27 maja 2023, Francja ⋅ 🌙 21 °C
Up and away on the bikes to a village about 10 miles away. Chédigny. We had spotted they were having an annual rose festival. And what an event. People marching about with 6 ft roses on their shoulders, masses of blooms everywhere. We cycled in on a backroad and saw no one. Then everyone in the whole of the Loire was there buying huge roses. The village was lovely. We had a picnic and explored some of the gardens. There was music and food and art and good humour . Back to base for a BBQ and watched hot air balloons drifting over Chenonceaux .
Lovely evening to watch the river in the sunset. Czytaj więcej
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- 28 maj 2023, 16:53
- ☀️ 27 °C
- Wysokość: 56 m
- Francja Centre-Val-de-Loire Chisseaux 47.327741, 1.08899347°19’40” N 1°5’20” E
Dzień 22
Back to the lovely Loire
28 maja 2023, Francja ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Picnic made. Off on the bikes again. Amboise is on the banks of the Loire so we left the Cher behind and headed there for the Sunday market. Seems everyone in the district turned out for this one. It was huge and packed. The air heavy with roasting chickens again. Veg, meat, fish, clothes, and you could even buy your mattress at this one, although I predict a challenge to get it home through the crowds.
Then we headed for the Chateau Royal d'Amboise, perched high above the town on a rocky outcrop. Packed with history, beautifully restored and stunning gardens where we ate lunch.
Rerkable not least for a helix shaped cavalry ramp inside the chateau tower so the horses could gallop up to the terraces from the town below. A bit like the ramps into a multistorey car park- maybe where the idea came from....
We pedalled home along a very good cycleway through forests and back alongside the Cher.
Another lovely day between two lovely rivers. Czytaj więcej
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