Part 3 - The rest of France
After visiting the WW1 sites we continued south a few miles to Gerberoy. A beau village.
I always take these villages with a pinch of salt as the Tres Beau Village set up is that the village pays to join and is therefore guarenteed some visitors. They are usually dead. All the same most are quite pretty.
We only stopped for lunch and a quick look around. After a half hour it started to rain so we got back to the van sharpish.
Lyons la Foret (Aug 30th 2024)
So we then head for another "Beau village" a few miles away called Lyons la Foret. I told Angela thats this translates to Lions in the Forest and there are still wild packs of Lions around the village but only a few tourists are attacked each year. I got the look that an angry tiger would have been proud of.
There is a Camping Car Aire next to a campsite just outside the village. The Campsite has a bar that serves food and beer.
We had a walk into town and arrived by chance on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the place. There was a little service going on with the mayor and towns folk which we felt like we was interupting. We went back to the center for a mooch while everyone was at the ceremony.
Lovely town square which is not a square but a triangle. Had a beer cos it's rude not to. Even if it is expensive.
Apparently Henry I of England died here after eating at a local establishment even though tripadviser told him not to. We decided to eat in the van.
Beaulieu-sur-Loire (Sep 1st 2024)
I had pencilled in the aire near the worlds biggest aqua duct (in 2003) at Briare built by the Eiffel company who made the tower in Blackpool, but couldn't find a route to it so we went on to another CCP that's taken over a municipal. Beaulieu-sur-Loire is just a few miles down and on the canal.
St Pierre (Sep 2nd 2024)
The next day we had a short drive down to St Pierre after filling up with diesel and groceries at Leclerc. Yet another municipal taken over by the CCP, again on the edge of town. Nice little town but dead. Not one shop or bar open. The town was liberated in 1429 by Joan of Arc. She must be wondering why she bothered.
La Couvertoirade (Sep 3rd 2024)
The medieval village of La Couvertoirade was founded in the 14th century by the Knights Templar. Yet another Beau village but which is actually open and worth visiting. Car park is 5 euro but you can park overnight. You can buy a tickey on the way to the village after you park up. You then use this at the barrier when leaving.
I enjoyed this village, you can tell the locals are proud of it. There is a museum where you get an information film about the place and then go and visit the places they describe. You can also walk around the walls, even though its only a few yards you get a good view over the rooftops, all for 3 euro.
This was our last stop in France on the way down to Spain.
I always take these villages with a pinch of salt as the Tres Beau Village set up is that the village pays to join and is therefore guarenteed some visitors. They are usually dead. All the same most are quite pretty.
We only stopped for lunch and a quick look around. After a half hour it started to rain so we got back to the van sharpish.
Lyons la Foret (Aug 30th 2024)
So we then head for another "Beau village" a few miles away called Lyons la Foret. I told Angela thats this translates to Lions in the Forest and there are still wild packs of Lions around the village but only a few tourists are attacked each year. I got the look that an angry tiger would have been proud of.
There is a Camping Car Aire next to a campsite just outside the village. The Campsite has a bar that serves food and beer.
We had a walk into town and arrived by chance on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the place. There was a little service going on with the mayor and towns folk which we felt like we was interupting. We went back to the center for a mooch while everyone was at the ceremony.
Lovely town square which is not a square but a triangle. Had a beer cos it's rude not to. Even if it is expensive.
Apparently Henry I of England died here after eating at a local establishment even though tripadviser told him not to. We decided to eat in the van.
Beaulieu-sur-Loire (Sep 1st 2024)
I had pencilled in the aire near the worlds biggest aqua duct (in 2003) at Briare built by the Eiffel company who made the tower in Blackpool, but couldn't find a route to it so we went on to another CCP that's taken over a municipal. Beaulieu-sur-Loire is just a few miles down and on the canal.
St Pierre (Sep 2nd 2024)
The next day we had a short drive down to St Pierre after filling up with diesel and groceries at Leclerc. Yet another municipal taken over by the CCP, again on the edge of town. Nice little town but dead. Not one shop or bar open. The town was liberated in 1429 by Joan of Arc. She must be wondering why she bothered.
La Couvertoirade (Sep 3rd 2024)
The medieval village of La Couvertoirade was founded in the 14th century by the Knights Templar. Yet another Beau village but which is actually open and worth visiting. Car park is 5 euro but you can park overnight. You can buy a tickey on the way to the village after you park up. You then use this at the barrier when leaving.
I enjoyed this village, you can tell the locals are proud of it. There is a museum where you get an information film about the place and then go and visit the places they describe. You can also walk around the walls, even though its only a few yards you get a good view over the rooftops, all for 3 euro.
This was our last stop in France on the way down to Spain.
- Next page: Part 4 - Spain pt 1 Offal and Churches
- Previous page: Part two: War, what is it good for.
