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.

DAY 16 18 June Chalon-sur-Saône-Tournus The

This morning we explored Beaune including a visit to Les Hospices de Beaune. This is in the heart of the Burgundy region.

The roof design is unique to Burgundy.

They have recreated the hospice, showing many aspects of medieval medicine, including using a bedpan.

 Here they move across this polyptyche of The Last Judgement with a magnifying device so you can see the details more clearly.

 The local Notre Dame Basilica. Notre Dame is like Starbucks for Catholicism.

DAY 15 17 June Chalon-sur-Saône

We traversed the Île de France countryside on the TGV train to Dijon, known for its famous mustard exports. We had to rush off the double decker train ASAP as our coach was packed and the poor passengers trying to get on. The train may have been a little late leaving. We enjoyed a tour of Dijon which is a most attractive city. We visited the cathedral, the Rude Museum (named after the artist not the content) and the town’s museum of fine arts that had some excellent artefacts and paintings from the 15^th century. 

 Above - a young Marshal Ney.

We then transferred to Chalon-sur-Saône where the Scenic Sapphire awaited us.

DAY 14 16 June Paris

Slept in until 7 AM today and we did see three of our tour buddies and we left the hotel to walk the 9 minutes to our hotel. A lot of our new tour buddies turned up at the same time. We toured the Opera Garnier and visited poor old Notre Dame for a few photos. 

 The interior was quite spectatcular and they a museum and a display of the most important and earliest ballet costumes. One was from the 1830s which introduced the first tutus. (Tutus is French  for too too short).

Check-in at our hotel was at 3 PM but our room was not ready. Our tour leader must have seen us sitting forlornly in the lobby and expedited our room. It was very good with a chandelier and even had a view which is most unusual for Paris. We met our tour group for a reception, the good, the bad and the infirm.

DAY 13 15 June Laval – Chartres – Paris

The Cathedral of Chartres is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is a beautifully preserved example of Gothic architecture. It appears it has been partly restored inside and also outside. 

There was a mural to Jean Moulin who was a high profile resistance fighter who was executed by the Gestapo in 1943. No doubt a very brave man.

We had a final lunch with some of our tour group.  Our bus continued on to Paris and we bade a final farewell to our bus buddies.

For Paris, our room was very large and we had like a waiting room for guests. In the past we have experienced quite small rooms.

DAY 12 14 June Saint-Malo – Fougeres – Sainte-Suzanne – Laval

We leave Saint-Malo Claimed to be one of Europe’s biggest fortresses, it didn’t seem that large unless they are referring to a particular time period - Château de Fougères, there were lots of little school kids - ahh excursions...the alternative to teaching. I am not sure they did a risk assessment - and we did see a lot of little kids at Mont Michel - braver teachers than me.

Moving on to Sainte-Suzanne, one of France’s most beautiful villages. Stopping in Laval, we had our farewell group dinner somewhat ironically in a German themed restaurant. I think the schnauzer was off. Elizabeth took these photos after dinner.