DAY 17 19 June Tournus - Mâcon

We experienced the Château de Cormatin today. Along the way we saw a couple of Neolithic stones that had some spiritual significance but were Christianised during the Middle Ages; having crosses placed on them.

Keeping pigeons was the preserve of nobility and the clergy. After the revolution ordinary citizens had these small square towers built to house them.

The chateau has been restored since the early 1980s and the people who own it must have poured endless money into it.

Storks migrate here from Africa but now they don't want to leave. The nests can weigh hundreds of kilos.

There is also an aviary that has a selection of mutant chickens.

The view from the aviary over the labyrinth gardens,

Church architecture was influenced by Italy and this is the juncture between the architecture of the north with steep roofs and that of the south which are much flatter. Tournus is also the juncture between good and very slow internet.

This afternoon we took a walk around the town and settled back as we cruised down the river, where we saw groups of Charolais cattle by the banks. They are white in colour and bred for meat, whereas light brown ones are Limousin and are bred for milk.

If this was Africa, there would be some crocodiles around.