High up overlooking the countryside we wake and realize all walking today is optional. It is a great feeling. The site packs up around us and by 9.00 many have gone, mostly camper vans heading south like the swifts flying low over our heads will do in 3months time.
50m away there is is an artillery tower with long gargoyles a reminder if we needed it that this land has been fought over for many many years. Many military names are around the place.The town has at least one famous son. The philosopher Diderot of Encyclopaedia persuasion. But possibly more important to forthcoming events is Jean de Montmirel a son of a mercer he became a chief advisor to the Pope of the day in 1475. So was able to use his influence to get a general indulgence for the town and area, creating a religious celebration at 6,5,6,and 11year intervals on John the Baptist day the last was in 2007 there are no masses in the cathedral on 25th June they are too busy being pardoned.
While the cathedral is not as impressive as Laon or Rhiems the walls and fortifications especially the round artillery tower next to out tent are very extensive and date from 14th C onwards.
We visit the tower that was built as one of the last serious town defences before artillery made it impractical
It was not quite tall enough and cost a lot more to get right. Nothing much changes in defence spending. Unusually for a military building it has decorations one of them maybe quite apposite for those looking after a powder magazine which it was converted to in the 18thC and roofed over, the gargoyles had drained the firing platform prior to this
A quite impressive roof. Tims’ type of carpentry put it together bodge it right, take it apart and put it in place. No plans.
Much washing and drying is done and charging of devices. A good useful rest day.