Summer in the Alps - 2005 - Friday 5 August - Montreuil to Verdun

Friday 5 August - Montreuil to Verdun (by Sue) 

A very wet start. Left the site at 8:45 after a shower, and drove east in heavy rain towards Arras. Missed the town centre, so continued to Cambrai for coffee. The rain had stopped but it was cool and windy. The church was rather nicer inside than its exterior suggested.

We continued on pleasant roads, frequented by tractors, lunching in the car in a lay-by. A typical French picnic of bread, pate, cheese and nectarines. It was slow going around Charleville-Mezieres, due to roadworks. Slowly, the country is becoming more undulating and forest replaces the continuous arable fields. Buzzards were a feature of today. 

At Montmedy, over a cup of tea, we decided to continue to Verdun to camp. 

Montmedy (and below)

Verdun lies on the Meuse river. Rain threatened again as we arrived around 4:45 pm, checking in to the 'Les Breuils' campsite. After setting up, and a brew, we walked into the town, passing the interesting Citadelle Souterraine and walking alongside the river.

The cathedral was large and imposing with fine windows and cloisters. We ate at Restaurant Taste d'Alsace - good salads, fish / steak and puddings. The town centre, even alongside the river, was quiet. Headed back to a campsite lively with tennis, badminton and chatting.

Other features of today's 234 mile journey:

Lots of WWI graveyards around this route.
Meadow cranesbill in the hedgerows; fields of sweetcorn, trees blowing silvery in the wind, looking as if in blossom.
Increasingly undulating terrain.
Many flowery roundabouts.
Verdun - monument with waterfall below, and vast Cathedral Notre Dame

Next day