Les fètes medieval.





 May 13: We dawdled a bit in Bouillion this morning, biked into town again, then headed on southward to Abbaye Orvan. It is an active Benedictine monastery which means good biere and fromage so we planned it right for lunch time. 


There is virtually nothing left of the 11thC monastery, some picturesque ruins of the 18th C reconstruction, but mostly early 20th C. Still a very worthwhile stop with some amazing modern artwork galleries. Oops, the photos loaded at the top. 

For the night we are in one of the best campsites ever, a parking area alongside a park of fishing ponds and nature trails. Amongst the delights were 3 families of swans. Oh, and the cost? Zilch. 


May 14: We got the days wrong on the two fairs this weekend, so had to backtrack an hour drive to go to the Sedan medieval fair instead of the one at Avennes as planned, that will be tomorrow. Luckily it is a beautiful drive through rolling farm country, and this van sips fuel. We would use about 8 litres of diesel for the100 km round trip. 
We have been to similar medieval fairs before, and they are such fun. This one was set at the huge Sedan fortress. At such events there are dozens and dozens of booths selling leather goods, medieval costumes, traditional foods and condiments, and beverages. There were 3 or 4 encampments of medieval tents and campfires with costumes inhabitants cooking, smithing, weaving and playing.  Nearby would be games for kids like jousting, pole climbing and such. Hard to describe but these photos can attest:


 
And back to our lovely free campsite for the night with the swans happy to see us. 


May15: Vieux Metiers fete at Axennes today. That is “Old  ways” fair, a 14 acre exposition of the lives and methods of France in the 19th and early 20th C. It was similar to the Heritage Village in Burnaby but much larger, and because it is only 6 or 7 days per season it is hugely attended and all of the machines and crafts were in operation, including horse powered threshers, steam powered bailing machines, water mills, early gas and diesel tractors, along with your usual blacksmiths, woodworkers and weavers. For us, it was fun, but not quite as interesting as the medieval fair because this one was not that different from BC heritage. 
We were done at Axennes by about one, so drove 25 minutes south to Verdun where we are settled in to a full service campground complete with laundry and showers! Oh, and you BC people don’t really want to know that the swimming pool here was much needed on a hot sunny day. 
In the late afternoon we cycled into the centre of Verdun for a look around. The infamous battle fields are north of the city, but still some 85% of the city was destroyed in WW 1. So much is quite modern, but still some interesting sights. 
Tomorrow we will go to the battlefield site, and then westward to Reims. 





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