Dijon - France

Dijon - Bourgogne - Côte-d'Or - France

Famed for it's mustard, Dijon has more to offer thanks to it's medieval sites. This province was home to the Dukes of Burgundy from the early 11th until the late 15th centuries. Dijon was a place of tremendous wealth and power and one of the great European centers of art, learning and science. The Duchy of Burgundy was a key in the transformation of medieval times toward early modern Europe. 

The Palais des ducs de Bourgogne (Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy) now houses city hall and a museum of medieval art.


There is a new tramway network in progress due to be up and running in August.

DFDS Ferry Terminal Dunkirk

Terminal Roulier du Port Ouest, F-59279 Loon-Plage (Dunkirk).
 GPS coordinates: 51º01.261N 002º11.868E.

•  Directions: From A25 Lille: Join the A16, direction Calais. 
• From A16 Dunkerque/Belgium: Take exit 53 (24). 
• Follow signs ‘Port Rapide/Car Ferry’. 
• From St Omer: The D600 crosses the A16 direct to the Terminal. 
• From Dunkerque Centre: Follow signs for Calais - either A16 to exit 53 (24) or on RN1 follow signs to ‘Loon Plage/Car Ferry’

Plan to eat or get refreshments before you get here, unless you like vending machine items.
There is a lift available if you go through the doors just to the right of the staircase that takes you up the reception area.

You can tell you are going back to the UK.

Masseret - France

This is the Repunsels Tower

Built as a cross between a water tower and a folley
Free to enter, amazingly you collect the large key from the reception at  Hotel de la Tour. The is plenty of free parking.
The spiral staircase is wide and solid. Whilst you can look out the windows they cannot open.
The panoramic view from the top allows you to see for miles. As far as the motorway.
If your passing and have time for a break then give it a visit, oh and don't forget to give the key back.


Info spot - English

A modest family name appears in the twelfth century Masseret, and the presence of a castle atop the hill of the village is attested in the thirteenth Century, it is indeed in the late Middle Ages as a show Masseret replaces as chief - instead of a chatellenie controlled by the Viscount of Limoges.
The castle included a tower and main building, protected by a septic system.
The position of this fortress, commanding the passage between Upper and Lower Limousin, was essential during the Hundred Years War.

Info spot - French

Une modeste famille du nom de Masseret apparait au XIIe siecle, et la presence d’un chateau au sommet de la colline du bourg est attestee des le XIIIe Siecle; c’est en effet au bas Moyen age que Masseret se substitue a Salon comme chef-lieu d’une chatellenie controlee par le Vicomte de Limoges.
Le chateau incluait une tour quadrangulaire et un corps de logis, proteges par un systeme de fosses.
La position de cette forteresse, commandant le passage entre  Haut et Bas Limousin, fut essentielle au moment de la Guerre de Cent Ans.

Mirepoix - France

This is a town steeped im history. A town while not built around a town square as such or a bastide like a lot of historic French towns,it does follow the same principles. The other difference being the central houses are arranged lengthways so that each may a frontage onto the square.

Before the existance of the buildings on each side of the corn exchangethis was a vast space covered with covered arcades. 

There are a number of plaques located around the town to help you with it's facts

The cathedral of St Maurice whose foundation stone was laid in 1298 was not completed as it seen today until the 19th centuary. The one span knave of 22 metres is believed one of the biggest in Europe.

Objat, Corrèze, Limousin - France

The town has a Sunday market from. 09:30 - 12:30 for which the main road through the town is closed. However there are plenty of places to park. Around the town hall and if you come in on the road with big wine bottle outside, there is parking on the right. The market itself has all the usual fresh fruit,veg,cheese and flowers. Along with clothes gifts and food stuffs. Make sure you go to the indoor area as well. 

Around the back of the town is a square and a lake. A nice place where you can have a picnic There a few cafes/bars to pop in for a drink.

Brive-la-Gaillard, Corrèze, Limousin - France

Brive-la-Gaillard, Corrèze, Limousin

This is a walled town with many examples of medieval architecture, such as the Collégiale Saint Martin (built in 1180), the Chapelle Saint-Libéral (XIV and XVc) and the fourteenth century Quartier des Doctrinaires.  Brive-la-Gaillard is a market town, and in addition to the large weekly market, it hosts a flower market (place Latrelle), an annual onion market during the summer and truffle markets in winter.  One of the towns key events is a large book fair held in autumn.  Key museums in the town are the Labenche Museum of Arts and History, sited in a Renaissance building, Maison Edmond Michelet (a WWII museum), and the Denoix Distillery, a nineteenth century distillery famed for the local walnut liqueur.  The town has an 18 hole golf course, and not far away at Lissac is the Lac du Causse, a 100 hectare leisure lake with all kinds of water sports available.

DFDS Eastern dock Dover

DFDS Seaways Eastern dock Dover

All ready for the mass exodus to Dunkirk -
France