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St.Didier-sur-Chalaronne
Leaving our accommodation. The day looks much better this morning as we wake to the sounds of the rural countryside. Birds and tractors but no animals. The fields all around are full of maize and wheat. The pool looks inviting but the temperature hasn’t quite got there yet, maybe later in the week. Unfortunately we won’t be here. Our accommodation has only coffee making facilities so a fresh fruit breakfast is all we need after last night’s fantastic meal. Our hosts go off to work leaving us to lock up. Trusting.
Our first stop today is the historic town of Cluny. Yesterday our brief visit confirmed it was a “must see” town. We didn’t realize its importance in history until now. The abbey that once filled much of the town in the 11th century was the largest in Europe at the time, larger than St Peters in Rome. What is left is just a small reminder of its former glory. You get a sense of how big it was from the bases of the columns that have been uncovered. Inside part of the transept you get an idea of how high the structure was. The abbey must have been incredible with all the
Cluny
Brunch stop. other related buildings around it. Unfortunately much of the abbey was destroyed during the French Revolution when locals could take the stone from the abbey to build their houses.
Climbing to the top of the Fromage Tower there are wonderful views across the town and surrounding countryside. A truly picturesque setting on this hot sunny day. In the distance there is a steady stream of fast trains heading either to Paris or Lyon. Has this town lived up to expectations? Definitely. We enjoyed a quiet Monday. What it must be like during a busy summer weekend we’re not sure. The cost of parking was a surprise. The meter said one euro twenty for the hour. Pick your time and you get four and half hours for one euro. No fee is taken during the early afternoon.
Our time in Cluny is ending and we need to head to our destination, a small village 8 kilometres south-east of Beaune. Two years ago we made the decision to return. Today we return, this time for a week. A week might not be long enough. Perhaps next time it will be two weeks and that might not be long enough. Maybe
Cluny
A view from the Fromages Tower. we need to buy a nice rural house surrounded by pinot noir grapes.
We arrive in this small rural village and follow the instructions on how to get into our apartment, one of three, in this delightful house. The afternoon is heating up. We worry because the house does not have air conditioning. We need not worry. Inside it is quite cool, some need to put on an extra layer. This renovated building was once a farmhouse with utility buildings, yet to be restored, attached to the back. Across the driveway is a working farm. We hope the rural odours don’t filter through to our house. The owners have made a great job with a mix of French and English furniture, even a modern four-poster bed.
Parked in the car park is another car with a red number plate, not a Peugeot. We wonder who our neighbours are. Soon after settling in Ivan and Cathy from Santa Monica introduce themselves. They are finishing their three month holiday in their daughter’s apartment next to ours. The area must be filled with ex-pats living it up in Burgundy.
After a quick visit to a supermarket in Beaune we settle
Cluny
Part of the transept of the abbey. down for our first night in our new surroundings. We plan our week and prepare to soak up the atmosphere of this famous and much loved part of France.
Tomorrow is a special day.
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