Chateau de Pierrefonds

Tuesday, 29th August 2023

Our first French chateau. Chateau de Pierrefonds was first built in 1397 by Duke Louis of Orleans, brother of Charles VI. In 1617, the castle was dismantled and the towers ripped open under the order of King Louis XIII to prevent it from becoming a refuge for his enemies. It was a forgotten ruin until 1810 when it was bought by Napoleon I. But it wasn’t until 1857 that the Emperor Napoleon III wanted to turn Pierrefonds into an imperial residence and commissioned the architect Eugene Violet-le-Duc to restore the chateau. It was opened as a museum to the public in 1867. Restoration work ceased in 1870 at the fall of Napoleon III and the chateau became property of the state and only maintenance work has been financed since. During WWI it was used as a barracks and hospital. It was damaged during both wars and sections of the stonework and brick work shows how new it is.

We had a lovely day, the little township of Pierrefonds is just gorgeous. There are numerous small chateaus doted around the super green valley. Eateries on the edge of a small lake. We found a nice outdoor restaurant at their small square for a baguette and coffee.

Farm Stay - Champagne Boulard Bauquaire

Champagne Boulard Bauquaire

Friday 25th August, 2023

Well we thought we’d try out our first “French Passion” stay over. French Passion is a club, joining the club, give you access to their database of 2,500 small farms type stay over locations. Like the first one we’re at now, is a family owned and run winery that has been in the same family for 8 generations. Each of the French Passion sites have a spot that a Motorhome can park up at and stay over for one night. This can be as small as 1 or 2 motorhomes, some are up to 5. Quite often this is just a level grassy area in the farmer’s paddock that is easily accessible for a motorhome.

Our first one is a winery but they have them at all different types of sites on farms. I’m looking forward to one of the cheese ones. To stay for the night is free, but you get to try their homemade produce, be it cheese, vegetables, jams or wine and champagne in the Champagne region, but it is expected that you buy some amount of their product. We did a champagne tasting.

The trophy area for their current selection.

Very cute little vat. Picture makes it look big, it it’s actually only about 300mm high.

Australian War Memorial

Wednesday 23rd August, 2023

Visiting the memorial was much more emotional than I had expected. Where in my grandfathers time, Australia sent 1 in 4 or 1 in 5 of their able bodied men.

It is an impressive site with the Sir John Monash Centre built under and behind the actual Memorial Tower. The videos and displays are extremely well done. Definitely worthwhile use of 3-4 hours spent visiting the entire site.

Metz

Monday 21st August, 2023

Took the train into Metz, nice at an early before the heat of the day set in. We had time to sit under a tree in the square and watch a teacher getting about 50 “little tackers” to sing a French song. Lovely moment in time.

Then we spent the day looking around Metz, it is a beautiful city on the Moselle river.

Nancy - France

Nancy

Saturday 19th August, 2023

We walked to the train station and missed the train to Metz (where we intended to go). But there was another train heading to Nancy….say-la-vie. So off to Nancy we went. Worked out good we sorted our France SIM issue.

We’ve now seen a number of what the Japanese call “Paris Syndrome “ basically the French being rude. Once you know to expect it, it becomes quite fun…OH I must say we’ve seen lots of very helpful people as well.

Verdun - France

Tuesday, 15th August, 2023

Yes we’ve crossed into France, new road rules, language, customs, etc. Lots to see.

Citadelle Souterrone Verdun is an old fortress that they built lots of tunnel underground. In WW1 the French could house thousands of soldiers and ordnances in the tunnels. They’ve built a small gauge rail system and they have a system where 4 people get in a little rail carriage. Each person has a helmet that delivers a virtual reality experience, like you’re actually there. No photos or video was allowed, but it was very good.

The town of Verdun is small but it still has a large cathedral, the best part though is the walk along the river. The weather was 32 degrees with 98% humidity……hot!

Verdun is very proud of its WW1 and WW2 history and there are many monuments throughout the town.

I thought we’d try the single video again.

Trier - Germany

Well we thought we’d do something a little different. We made a single video of Trier. Let me know what you think….is it better?

Moselle River

Everyone has heard of the romantic road through southern Germany, if you haven’t, it’s a road that travels through a list of very beautiful small towns that have castles, etc along the way. Instead of doing this we’ve picked the Moselle River route.

The Moselle is the Rhine’s peaceful little brother, it’s about 300 miles long and starts in France. The German bit is the bit we’re interested in. Also known as the Moselle wine route. Grapes are grown on the sides of the hill at angles of 65 degrees, with stone terraces….wow beautiful. There is of course castles, fortress, etc The river also heads off into France in the Lorraine and Alsace regions, where we want to see next.

One thing I’m getting to remember all the old 70’s music, everywhere you go that’s what they’re playing. A good friend in Oz told me to expect it.

Koblenz

This is the town at the junction of the Rhine and the Moselle rivers….the starting point. We took the bus from the park into Koblenz and had a look around. There was a cable car going up to the fort and always a church.

Cologne

Cologne, Germany

7th and 8th August, 2023

We spent a couple of lovely days seeing Cologne. The cathedral is huge and majestic, also free to enter. Cologne was also flattened during WW2, there is pictures of a totally flattened city with the cathedral standing in the middle. So there is very little in the way of old buildings.

So we spent out time doing birthdays, chocolate museum and the cathedral.