However, after overnighting in Turin we returned to France through the Italian and then the French Alps. The weather started off overcast, but by the time we arrived back in France it was pouring with rain.
A castle on a mountaintop where the road from Turin enters the Alps
Two views of Mountains as we neared the French border
The entry to the Frejus Tunnel which connects Italy to France. It is 12.87 Kilometres long and the French border is approximately two thirds of that distance from the Italian side.
Inside the tunnel
According to Al's GPS we reached the high point of our trip in this tunnel (1295 meters) as it passes under the Col du Frejus in the Cottian Alps
As you can see the weather worsened whilst we were in the tunnel
But as we got lower and further into France it started to improve
And by the time we got to Chambery, where we refuelled both the car and ourselves, it was positively summery!
We overnighted at a town called Chalon Sur Soane in Burgundy. This is a statue of Nicéphore Niépce who was one of the inventors of photography. There is a museum in the town devoted to him and photography.
Pictures of the Cathedral and Mairie (local government offices/town hall)
The Saone is a river which rises in the Alps and flows to the Rhone which it joins near Lyon. This island in the river contains the old hospital.
Two luxury River Cruise vessels operated by Viking River Cruises
Another river cruise vessel arrived whilst we were there
Another interesting boat moored at Chalon Sur Soane
A marina on the other side of the island. Chalon is on a popular route taken by yachtsmen who wish to travel by River and Canal between Honfleur at the mouth of the River Seine and Marseilles at the mouth of the Rhone, thus getting to the Mediterranean avoiding the long trip across the Bay of Biscay and around Spain.
The next day we headed off towards Blois in the Loire Valley Region. This is a football match being played within the remains of a Roman Amphitheatre at Autun
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autun
Bibracte is an Iron Age fort on Mont Bouvray not far from Autun. Apparently Autun was founded when the Romans moved to the new town between 64BC to 14AD
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibracte
The reconstructed wall at the entry gate to the fort
Excavating the remains of a monastery built on the site during the medieval period
The view across Burgundy
The road leading down from the fort
Mount Bouvray
The first view of the River Loire in the Sancerre Winery area
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loire_%28river%29
Vauvise Canal Lateral which bypasses the Loire at this point
Wineries in the Sancerre Wine Region
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sancerre_%28wine%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autun
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibracte
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loire_%28river%29
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