Thursday 23rd July 2026

Dateline: Chalon-sur-Saône.

A few weeks back we chose a whole series of hotels, with dates back to back to take us through to the eclipse, an a route so that we would have two or three hours each day to travel.

As I aid yesterday, that failed as we got this and the next hotel the wrong way round, so on Friday morning we head back north for 90 miles for our next stay, just south of Troyes.

But for Wednesday and Thursday, we will be in Burgundy.

I know the Duke of Burgundy. Or one of them. Several of them.

We woke up at seven in our "mean" hotel room. We got up, washed and dressed, then went down for breakfast. Al this stretched the time to quarter to nine.

Somehow.

For the day we thought we would explore the town of Chalon-sur-Saône, so set course for the city centre, and went to find a parking garage.

There were parking garages at several locations, but the signs vanished as you drew close, until we stumbled on the entrance for Le Hotel de Ville, through an arch, round two 90 degree bends and down a steep slope.

Made it.

Up in the lift to the level below ground level, that last level you have to climb the steps, not the first time this trip we have found this.

And out into the main square, where behind us was the impressive frontage of the Catholic church.

I programmed Maps for the cathedral, and we set off down the mediaeval alleyways, where cafes, bars and restaurants were setting up for the day.

We would not go short for ice cream, it seemed.

A ten minute walk and we came to the square with the cathedral rising on the other side, and to my left, an oompah trio struck up an impossibly French tune.

I would post the video I took, but I double hit the start button so have 0.5 of a second.

Shame.

Inside the cathedral it was cool and calm. Other than the major renovation work going on, but there was enough to see that wasn't off limits.

The cathedral cat come to say "bonjour", and we rubbed his chin.

I took shots, then we left.

It seems there was an arts festival on, with street theatre on almost every street and certainly in every square. That explained why folks were carrying folding chairs, and the oompah band.

It was going to get hot. And crowded.

Two of our less favourite things.

In the middle of the river, there is an island, all huge civic buildings and a street of more bars, brasseries and restaurants, just about to open.

We walked back down the street, bought cans of cold drink and walked back over the bridge, where there was double the amount of people, and more arriving.

We decided to leave after visiting the Catholic church. I went in, took shots, and was back out in ten minutes.

Shall we?

We shall.

Down the steps and into the lift, we paid our €2.40, went back to the car and drove the heck out of Dodge.

The plan was to visit a forest, a 12km drive out along the river, but when we arrived, it was most like a woody park, so we didn't stop.

After half an hour of aimless driving, I checked out the tourist map and saw a vineyard near the village of Boxy, which is how we came to be sitting on the pavement beside a fairly busy road, drinking local beer and enjoying the menu de jour.

On the other side of the road was a tower, wine has to be defended, of course.

Lunch was:

A selection of cold meats and fresh bread.

Duck breast with jus, and vegetables including noyal de brocolis. Broccoli made into a kind of jelly. It was delicious.

Strawberry flan.

It was only €17, and was delcious.

We drove back to the hotel to escape the heat of the afternoon and for me to watch the last 105km of Le Tour, though with commentary in French, which was a bit confusing.

Once that ended, we went to the supermarche for some snacks, then back to the hotel for an ice cold beer.