France in Slo-Motion: Châteaux and Chablis

Ancy-le-Franc

On the whole it's been a relaxing drift down the Bourgogne. After Ravières and the classic cars we moved onto Ancy-le-Franc. A delightful village and an amazing Renaissance château. €9 each but worth it. Interesting too because a visit from the King was expected. The Clermont-Tonnerre owner virtually bankrupted himself building special rooms and decorating in preparation, only problem was, the king didn't turn up. To save face, he commissioned paintings showing the king at the château and maintained the visit had taken place. How history can be re-written (or painted).

Pyramid - Ancy-le-Franc Château

It's all very low key here, not like the UK stately homes - but we do miss the NT tea rooms!

...not the château - just the gatehouse!

Then moved on to Tanlay and another château - this was guided tour only - and although informative, rather rushed and we weren't really given time to just wander and absorb the atmosphere. But the exterior is quite amazing - you think you're approaching the château only to find it's the gate house - talk about one-upmanship.

Tanlay Château

Onwards to Tonnerre and catching up on painting.

Monday last week was eventful. Pete had returned by train to Montbard to pick up the car and we decided to visit Chablis. It was very hot but we enjoyed exploring the town - then onto Auxerre to return some shoes Glen had bought from Decathlon. However just as we pulled into the car park there was an ominous (expensive) noise from the back wheel. Fortunately Feu Vert was just 500m away and we were able to book in for disk and pad replacement - unfortunately they couldn't do it until 5.30pm. A big shopping mall nearby was air conditioned so we were able to spend 5 hours in the cool - unfortunately the shops had had a power cut and were closed (or maybe that was fortunate - the wallet was going to take a hammering because of the brakes).

La Fosse-Dionne, Tonnerre

Back to Tonnerre in the evening - a wonderful drive through the vineyards - only to be hit by an horrendous storm. It bought down trees by the port and caused considerable damage throughout the region.

Next day hot again and this time police cars were circulating using loud speakers to warn everybody that we were on orange alert and further storms would be coming through. They did. But as Les told us, "Tonnerre" is French for 'thunder'

Two days later the papers warned that the region was on orange alert again, this time because the hot weather and heavy rain meant swarms of mosquitoes would be descending on us. Fire - floods - plague …. all sounds a bit biblical.