Let's Travel Europe: Wheels and water

Sunday 1st June

Our first visit for the day was to l'Abbaye d'Hautecombe. We aimed to be there at 10 am when it opened so we would have plenty of time to see the abbey and be at our next destination in plenty of time. We were there pretty much right on time and were able to park only 5 cars from the entrance (next to the car with the howling puppy - You left me in the car Dad!). As we walked in the gate, the cars were rolling in behind us.

Lac de Bourget - was a hazy day so not a fantastic photo.

This abbey is in a spectacular location, right on the shore of Lac de Bourget which is a beautiful blue green colour. The abbey dates back to 1125 and was a Cistercian abbey. For many centuries the counts and dukes of Savoy were buried here. One story that took my fancy was one lady buried here gave birth to 4 daughters (in the 1200s), and each one became a queen - one in France, one in England, one in Germany and one in Sicily (not all by fair means, some political dealings, and bribes). The inside of the abbey is no longer plain and simple as cistercians would have it, but was extensively renovated and decorated during the 18th century. Over 300 amazing statues and many frescoes - so much to look at and absorb. Just beautiful! It is still in use as an abbey with 30 monks and nuns and 50 or so young people training in the catholic faith.

Entrance to the abbey.

Beautiful Gothic ceilings.

This statue is carved out of one piece of marble
and took 8 years to complete. It was so detailed.
The lady is wearing a silk gown with very detailed lace work,
the artist is wearing a linen smock
and the beggar boy on the far side is dressed in rags.
It is an amazing piece of work.

Just one of the many frescoes - mostly on the ceilings.

The stained glass was beautiful
and different from many others we have seen.

The organ.

More of the stained-glass.

We headed next to Chanaz, a further 10k along the Lac de Bourget. That was an interesting drive. There was a push bikes race happening on the same road as the cars. Plenty of flag marshals about but the pushbikes were giving us a run for our money, catching and passing many cars. When we arrived in Chanaz there was a traffic hold up - a motorbike race through the town. The road was only to be closed for another 10 minutes so we waited - and someone took photos.

We picked a good day for our outing to Chanaz. Lots of bikes - and side cars.
This was at 11am and they were still going in and out of the village at 4pm.

We parked outside the village and walked 1k in to catch our cruise on the lake, the canal, and the Rhone River. First enjoyed a fish and chip meal at one of the restaurants in the village. Very nice meal, followed by a sorbet, mine without chantilly cream (you know, the pssshhhh cream in a can). It was a lovely day and a very enjoyable cruise. First we travelled down the canal and into the lake, then back along the canal, through a lock, and into the Rhone River. The water level in the lock raised 4 metres in 4 minutes (dropped 4 metres in 3 minutes). There wasn't a lot of wiggle room in the lock for our boat - only inches either side. It had clouded over towards the end of the cruise and when we docked there was a light sprinkle of rain which thankfully didn't last.