Verdun

7.05

A two hour drive back to France and Amiens , only it took five hours as we cleaned the van in a wash world and stopped in a huge Carrefour hypermarket which was so interesting we stayed for 2 hours!!!  Everything you can imagine under one roof.

Purchased a small blow heater to help us on the chilly nights although pleased to say it has warmed up.  Found a camp 5k from town called Parc des Cygnes.

Have to park on the hard as the ground is still very boggy, watched a Frenchman get his van stuck up to it’s axel.  We are far too experienced to let that happen!!!


8.05

Walked a beautiful path along the River Somme for 5k into the center of Amiens.

Visited the magnificent Gothic Notre Dame Cathedral of Amiens built in 1220 to house the skull of Saint John the Baptist, which we saw!  He didn’t look so good! 

The interior houses a 17^th Century statue known as the “Ange Pleureur” or Weeping Angel. She is crying for the dead whilst leaning on a skull. The soldiers of the Somme took solice from this statue in a world that was full of turmoil.

Continued through Saint-Leu, the little Venice of the North, had a picnic in the park and then continued passed Lafleur, the famous marionette theatre (which we had never heard of).  Back the 5k home.  Buggered!

9.05


Visited Beaumont-Hamel Memorial which preserves part of the Western Front in the state it was in at fightings end. The zig zag trench patterns are clearly visible, as are the countless shell craters and the remains of barbed wire barriers.


It was here in 1916 the volunteer Royal New Foundland regiment stormed the German defences and were slaughtered.  A Caribou statue marks the place most of the men died.

We had a guided tour of the site and waked through the trenches as the soldiers had.

Had a long drive in the afternoon towards Verdun and ended in a great “Aire” in Senay about 40k from Verdun. It sits on the banks of the Meuse River.  Sausages for tea and a glass of our 2 euro bottle of wine!!!

An “Aire” is a local discounted or free facility to camp at low cost eg. this one is 7 Euro as compared to 15-20 for camps. Some, as this one provide all facilities.

10.05


Only a 50k run into Verdun and a lovely camp called “Les Breuils” only 2k from the Centre Ville.  Got a lovely pitch overlooking a large pond so got out all the furniture, put up the awning and made ourselves at home. Had a picnic and enjoyed the warm sun for the afternoon.  Strolled into town for the evening and enjoyed the atmosphere of a  pretty town on the river Meuse.  Invited for drinks by an English couple trying out their new 2012 camper van, very flash but Lefty measures up!!.



11.05

Up early as a busy day planned.  Got on the bikes and rode to the battlefields.  A 25k ride was planned but thanks to Col’s map reading it ended up at 42k!!



  The “hell of Verdun” as it’s called lasted for 10 months in 1916, 300 days and 300 nights of fighting at a total cost of 378,777 French and 333,000 German troops killed, wounded or missing.  We visited the various monuments and a park where a village called  Fleury-devant Douaumont once stood. It was taken and retaken 16 times during the conflict and was totally destroyed.  Home for lunch then back into town to ride the unmanned carriage in the tunnels of “ La Citadelle Souterraine”,  an underground bunker built by the French to house 10,000 soldiers.  For 6 euros we were enlightened with a 3D audio visual play of the war and every life in the Citadelle.  Informative in a fun way and well recommended Don and Val!

A walk around the various monuments in town, a trip to Le Clerc supermarket to be entertained by the huge selection of everything ( who thought going to a supermarket could be fun!) and back to camp for spag bol.