And still we find interesting villages

Friday 22^nd July

Our last full day in France today and we didn’t waste it. We have both been feeling very tired today but I think it is a bit of let down/sadness that this part of our holiday is coming to an end.

Before we left Autun we had to go and check out these pizza 'machines'. We've seen them a few times. You pick your pizza from the limited menu, pay your money and it is cooked in 3 minutes. Can't vouch for what they are like because we didn't have one. Maybe next time.

We moved northwards from Autun to Melun which is about 60k from Charles de Gaulle airport. Along the way we stopped at three recommended villages. First Avallon – we stopped there last time we were here but for some reason we didn’t go right into the old part of the village and missed seeing the medieval part of the town and the old remparts. Pretty amazing.

The clock tower in Avallon. This is as far as we saw last time. This time we actually entered the historical part of the town and wandered around.

The walking trail denoted by the frogs in the footpath.

Part of the remparts.I should have put in some photos of the church - it had a downhill slope in it as you entered and walked down the aisle. 

Next town was Joigny. This too was a fortified medieval village and on our drive through the village we found some really interesting buildings, streets and laneways.

One of the interesting laneways in Joigny.

...and some fabulous buildings.

One of the old entry gates that used to be part of the remparts.

Finally Moret sur Loing. This was also an old fortified medieval village. Three things of note here – they have a barley sugar factory where the same recipe has been used since 1638 and was originally made by the nuns. Secondly, in the church is the oldest wooden organ in Europe which has been reconditioned and is still working, and finally Alfred Sisely did a lot of his painting here.

The northeren entry gate in the village of Moret sur Loing.

The old wooden organ.

Part of the old mill on the river Loing.

A very satisfying day to end our France tour. Tomorrow we clean the car, do the washing and head for the airport. We fly out at 6pm – next stop Africa. Hopefully we will have wifi from time to time and will be able to keep the blog updated. Au revoir from France.