French Caravan Tour 2015 A six week tour towing our caravan starting on Sunday 16th August and ending on Sunday 27th September using ACSI card or Camping Cheques where possible. ( both offer off peak site discounts) Total Mileage 1655-- (plus 567 miles touring from campsites= 2071 miles grand total) This year we started by driving direct from Calais to Chartres. Our planned route was Chartres -Chateauroux- Beaulieu sur Dordogne, Beaulieu su Dordogne- Cahors -Cordes su Ciel- Palau del Vidre and returning via Issoire - Nevers & Chartres before heading for Calais and home. We reserved site at Palau del Vidre to ensure that we got our preferred pitches
The link to a Google Photo Album for this tour is available on request A summary chart giving details of mileages travelled and campsites follows the photographs Please e mail your comments and suggestions about this site to :- info@jj99.co.uk |
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Home to Chartres 276 miles |
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Coffee stop on D90 en route to Chartres via Rouen - a damp start but it did get better |
Before we left home we picked a plentiful supply of tomatoes which lasted for several weeks
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St Adrien at Belbeuf just south of Rouen where a chapelle is built into the face of the chalk cliff - we had lunch here - the car park is large and there is usually plenty of space |
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Chartres to Chateauroux 131 miles - Lunch at Aire des Gite de Loups and tea at Aire du Grande Meaulnes |
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Coffee at Lamotte Beuvron
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Chateauroux to Beaulieu sur Dordogne 160 miles |
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Beaulieu sur Dordogne to Cordes sur Ciel 84
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Cordes sur Ciel to Palau del Vidre - 211 miles - |
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Sunday is Market Day in Collioure
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The pool and new reception building at Le Haras, Palau del Vidre |
New Decorative Steel / Glass artwork on site at Le Haras, Palau del Vidre |
Le Haras, Palau del Vidre
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Mobile wine press -on site at Le Haras |
More Decorative Steel / Glass artwork on site at Le Haras, Palau del Vidre |
Old horse drawn plough -on site at Le Haras
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Palau del Vidre following major prunning to the trees in the square |
Palau del Vidre |
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At Palau del Vidre Locally sourced fresh figs |
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Shrine to Sant Galdric |
The road back to Le Haras from Palau del Vidre |
Facade retained but shop closed years ago |
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Port Argeles |
ND Consolation at Port Argeles |
Port Argeles
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The Promenade at Argeles sur Mer |
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Palau del Vidre to Issoire - 265 miles |
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Heading north up the A75 tea stop at the Aire de Garabit overlooking the Viaduct The Garabit Viaduct (Viaduc de Garabit in French) is a railway arch bridge spanning the River Truyère near Ruynes-en-Margeride |
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Issoire just off the A75 -cross this roudabout to get to the Municipal Campsite |
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Issoire to Nevers - 127 miles
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Hotel de Ville, Dampierre |
Dampierre sur Loire |
Just after Gien, Dampierre was a convenient and pretty place to stop for coffee |
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The entrance to the campsite at Nevers |
The campsite is situated on the River Loire next to the old stone bridge leading to the town |
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Nevers - Echaugette tower with the tower of Cathedral Saint-Cyr et Saint-Julitte behind there is a blue tourist route marked on the pavement guiding you around the historic town |
Nevers - this tower in next to the Faience Earthenware Museun |
The ancient 12th century church of Saint Genest has been restored during the past couple of years
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Pont canal du Guetin takes the Canal Lateral across the River Loire 15km from Nevers |
at the Bec d'allier' -the confluence of the Loire and Allier |
Apremont sur allier -a 'Plus Beau' Village a short drive from Nevers - the gardens here are well worth a visit |
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The path to the green route is well marked |
Walking back from the 'green' path |
the green route - a path alongside the river |
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Nevers to Chartres - 162 miles
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Chartres cathedral from the big wheel |
Notre Dame de la Belle Verrière ... It is a blue Virgin against a red background and is described as “the most beautiful stained-glass window in existence.
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Chartes - just friends |
Enjoying a Grimbergen by Chartres Cathedral |
Chartres Vegetable Market |
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Chartres to Home -285 miles
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l and a shady spot back at home |
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Summary of route and campsites
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At Palau del Vidre Locally sourced fresh figs |
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