Compiegne FR 9-12 July 2022 We had a total of 6 nights in Compiegne and there was still plenty to see. On the Saturday (the day after our trip to Pierrefonds), we did the city tour on our bikes. This took us around the main points of inteest in the town and we found a few interesting places that we would never have found ourselves. We skipped number 5 and 6 in the route meaning to come back - but we never did. We stopped at the city square so that Howard could go in search of a replacement canister for our soda stream and to have a drink at one of the many cafe/bars. There was also a market going on and a cute carousel. On the way home I stopped to get this photo of a commercial boat heading for the lock. Moondance is moored on the left of the photo. In the afternoon I went out for a cycle on my own. In the evening we attended a "concert" of French pop music. It was in the courtyard of the library, a very informal setting, and we were able to have a meal there. We had seen a brochure advertising the anniversary of the Cité des Bateliers, a museum about 9 kms away back up the river. It sounded like fun and we were interested in the museum, so we cycled there on Sunday morning. We arrived in time to view the museum and then buy lunch there. In the dining tent there was a singer, with accordian accompaniment, singing traditional french songs and everyone (except us) joining in on the choruses. They also had traditional games and other activities. On Monday we visited the Chateau Compiegne. This was originally built by Louis V and used by subsequent kings and emperors. We were told that Compiègne was one of three seats of royal government, the others being Versailles and Fontainebleau. We only visited the historical apartments as the Museum of the Car and the Museum of the Second Empire were only open Thursday to Sunday. Howevere there was still plenty to see there. After the chateau visit, we went into the park for a short walk. On our last full day in Compiegne we cycled to the Memorial to the Armistice. In 1918, in a railway carriage in the forest outside of Compiegne, the Allies and Germans (who also arrived by train) agreed on an Armistice which marked the end of the first world war. In 1940, Adolf Hitler insisted on using the same carriage in the same place for the signing of the armistice with France. This museum explains the wars and the armistices, and shows the carriage (actually not exactly the same carriage but one exactly the same built at the same time) that was used for the signings. Outside the museum is the clearing and monuments to various groups and events including of course, the railway tracks and locations of the carriages (adjusted for artistic reasons.) Quite an interesting day.
1 Comment
Johanna Hersey
21/7/2022 09:59:06 pm
Vous me rendez nostagique! Vos vacances semblent vraiment fantastiques.
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