Leisurely start to our last day of the Back Roads tour of Normandy and Brittany. Everyone is a little somber this morning. It is amazing how much people can be drawn together in these circumstances.
We left our digs for the night, heading for Chartres to look at the fabulous museum that was built in 1194 and later additions made, including a gothic type tower. It has a large number of stained glass windows, particularly noted for the large amount of blue glass, unique in its time. Nick advised that the windows were removed during WW2 for protection. There was a plan to bomb the building during the war as it was thought that it was being used as an observation point, but an operation to put a couple of people behind enemy lines confirmed that the Germans had pulled back, so there was no need to damage part of France’s national heritage. Some if the carvings are damaged but there is ongoing work to restore them.
We had lunch and was back on the bus headed for Paris at 12:30. Traffic was heavy coming in to city and it was also raining. We got back to the Ceramic Hotel at around 4pm.
Tonight we are off to meet some friends from Brissie at the Arc de Triumph. It has now stopped raining so it should be a good evening.
6weeksinfrance 