Nevers and Apremont-sur-Allier

Bastille Day - the French national day. Our plan was to leave early for Nevers and establish a parking area close to the centre of the town and then use this as a base for viewing of the city and the National Day activities. The first part of the plan worked to perfection but we hadn't anticipated that not a lot was going to happen in Nevers today!  

We took to the streets and had a good look at this town that has been around since Roman times. In the Ducal Palais there were artifacts displayed from those days of Caesar. 

The view across the Pont de Loire towards the old town with the Cathedral of Saint-Cyr-et-Sainte-Julitte dominating the landscape. 

The tower of the cathedral dominating the skyline. 

Some of the very controversial stain glass windows in the cathedral. 

In the crypt was this polychrome medieval  sculpture, "Mise au Tombeau". 

The 15th century Ducal Palace is perhaps the main game in town. The craftsmanship is exposed at every turn, with the relief sculptures on the very ornate stairwells being quite outstanding. 

Sample of the skill of the early sculptures and builders. 

Nevers is also known for its ceramics with many samples on display within the Palace. 

With this fish being the work of primary students. 

A gorgeous old timber-framed building adjacent to the Ducal Palace. 

After having been told that there was very little happening in Nevers until some fireworks later in the day we decided to leave and drive a few kms Apremont-sur-Allier - supposedly one of the "beaux" villages in France. On the way we passed the confluence of the Loire and the Allier Rivers before arriving at our destination. 

Apremont-sur-Allier is historically a village of quarries with its stone being used in the village and also in the construction of the grand cathedral in Orleans. 

A walk through the village and you could think you have arrived in a Cotswold village. Apremont-sur-Allier's appearance today is due to a couple of locals, between the two wars,  deciding to remove all unattractive buildings and replacing them with new buildings in the traditional style. And the result is impressive. 

Chateau overlooking the village. 

We later drove a few kilometres to Sancoins for our overnight by the canal. 

Loire

On the move again today after a pleasant stop at Léré by the canal. Quite a contrast to the aire we have stopped at tonight at Pougues-les-Eaux - right next door to a casino. Another five motorhomes are using this aire for their overnight as well. 

We headed south along the Loire into more prestigious vineyard country. Across the river is the very picturesque hilltop village of  Sancere - after which the white wines of the area are well known. We thought of staying in Sancere again - having spent two or three enjoyable days there about three years ago - but we wanted to be in Nevers by tomorrow - Bastille Day, France's National Day

The Loire from the bridge at La Charite-sur-Loire. 

Vineyards that produce the very special Sancere whites. 

Our first stop for the day at Conse-Cours-sur-Loire- the beautiful 1935 art-deco cinema. 

Described as "La Petite Venise"! 

Some local art!

We followed the Loire down to La Charite-sur-Loire where we ran into extensive bridge works. The old town was getting a facelift and we came up against a very narrow access across the river.

The old town of La Charite-sur-Loire. 

No margin for error across this bridge! 

We also came across workers getting the fireworks setup for the celebrations tomorrow night - Bastille Day. 

Léré

Called another rest day today!  With the rain being intermittent this morning we didn't get out for a walk until this afternoon. So the day in Léré was not very exciting - but very restful. 

We have seen a passing parade of boats going past our "lounge room" with some Aussie flags amongst the flotilla. An odd "oi" was about all we could muster at short notice. The weather not that obliging for the boaters. 

A few more pics of the village was about all we mustered today - pretty slack I know!

This left-behind turret was part of a property for sale in the village. Anyone for a place in Burgundy?

The local council house. 

Someone likes flowers! 

Day 2: Chevroches

Sunshine greeted us this morning and so a walk along the Nivernais Canal to Clamecy was planned. Google was telling us that it was 6.5 km walk and the weather app was telling us that it was cloudy but no rain. It was a good idea at the time!

It was a pleasant walk along the canal with a number of early morning canal boats cruising making good use of the waterway. In talking with a couple of English folk, who were navigating a lock,they indicated a little frustration with the system of lock operations on this canal - they had to wait for lockmen on motorbikes to arrive and manually work the locks, and being a Sunday,  there were few on the ground! 

On arriving in Clamecy the weather closed in again and it started to rain. We had a chance to have a brief look around the town. Another quaint town with half-timbered houses, a significant "flamboyant" gothic style collegiate church, ramparts and a 13th century bridge. 

Clamecy. 

An interesting feature was the log-floating tradition which stems from the timber industry of the past. For centuries these wood-trains  - they supplied Paris with wood for heating and cooking because the forests around  Paris had been chopped down. The cut logs from around Clamecy were bound together and then floated down the Yonne and Seine Rivers  to Paris. This continued from the 16th to the 19th century when the canals came into existence. 

It was on the way back from Clamecy that the rain came down more heavily - where were our umbrellas when we needed them! We found some shelter and waited for a short time until the rain passed - but it didn't completely and we arrived back a little wet and ready for a nice hot shower.

Chevroches. 

The canal boat moored here was preparing all day for something important, then at around  7 pm a van turned up with eight passengers who alighted and boarded the boat where champagne and hors-d'oeurvres were served in great style! The crew also was preparing for a dining experience later this evening. We are assuming that they have boarded for a canal tour - we'll see tomorrow. 

The guests on board and it was very cool too!