Beaulieu-sur-Loire - Briare - St.Benoit-sur-Loire - Chateauneuf-sur-Loire

 Sunday 3 August

Our first stop today between sites was at le Pont-Canal de Briare.  We have been here before, but knew that Tilman and Barbara would find it interesting.  It's where the Canal de Briare crosses the River Loire and joins the Canal Lateral, over an aqueduct 662m long.  As well as being a technical feat, there are several ornamental additions - 72 lamps all along the aqueduct and stone columns on either side and each end. 

 

 A beautiful day for a stroll across

with super views of the River Loire below.  

One of the lamps. 

This was a little artisan shop at one end of the aqueduct - I bought a little hand-made shoulder bag to keep my sunglasses in.

The Church bells were ringing as we walked.

We watched these fishermen down below us on the river....
.... and they caught a fish, weighed it and threw it back in.
No boats went over while we were walking, but watched this one from the cafe where we were having lunch.

Travelling NW from Briare we came to St. Benoit-sur-Loire to visit the Fleury Abbey, originally founded around 630, the present building constructed in 11/12C.  

 

 

 

 

Quite a magnificent building inside.

 The choir stalls were made in 1413.


Around the altar the flagstones of multicoloured marble are Roman from 4/5 centuries, brought to Fleury around 1000 to decorate the previous church.

Down in the Crypt.

We then followed the Loire the short way to Chateauneuf-sur-Loire to stay at the campsite here beside the river.  To be explored tomorrow.












 

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