I guess I really did need that break.
Anyway, between sleeps I had a bit of look around a wet and overcast Royan this morning, so the best I can offer today are a few interesting piccies.
It is a lovely modern town, which by all accounts was bombed very heavily during the Second World War and was extensively rebuilt in the 1950s.
It was unusual to see a large modern church as the centre point of a French town, as I am used to seeing centuries old structures in virtually every town I pass.
I think I have worked out my route to Nantes and the Loire Valley, but will have to negotiate quite a few busy areas traffic-wise by the look of it.
The next few days should prove quite interesting as it looks like quite a diverse area I will be travelling through.
captions: Pic 1: A restaurant on the waterfront that specialises in moules (mussels). There is about 1 kilometre of restaurants side by side... how do they all make a living???????? Pic 2: Royan's modern new church. Pic 3&4: Impressive waterfront mansions. Pic 5&6: These structures fascinated me I think they must be for fishermen to lift their catches from boats at high tide. Pic 7: The towns marina
Hi looks like a rest was needed and now u can be fresh for the next leg of your journey x Cathie and Ron
ReplyDeleteGlad you had a biiiiggggg sleep. Now you are going to be extra alert and ready for the next leg. Love me! xxx
ReplyDeleteits amazing to think that the tide goes up as high as the fishermans nets, it must be a really high tide.
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting last night to read about the history of Royan, imagine having to completly rebuild a town after the war.
lots of love xx
the town, given once again its strategic position controlling the Gironde estuary, was occupied by German troops during the Second World War (one or two of the German BlockHaus gun emplacements built on the beach at La Grande Cote have been left as poignant reminders of this period). Just as the war was drawing to a close disaster struck the town. For reasons which are still not clear, the French commanders of the local liberating forces ordered an airstrike by the RAF on Royan to help drive out a 'poche' of German troops who remained dug in on the outskirts of Royan. The bombers attacked on the night of 5 January 1945 - many civilians were killed and nearly all of the town was destroyed. A matter of weeks later the war in Europe had ended. For the second time in its history Royan was in ruins.
ReplyDeletewow julie I am very impressed with your knowledge and it was really interesting.x
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