I am reminded, by Mr J, that today is Friday the 13th.
Caution required!
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The road to Besancon was good. Cycling through some little town in the middle of nowhere, I happened to take note of a road name - Rue de Jean Grigitte. No idea who he is/was. A 'nobody' in the grand scheme of things but he'd done something locally to warrant having a road named after him! That's more than me or any of my friends have done. M Grigitte's mother must've been so proud.
But imagine how proud Victor Hugo's mother must've been then - every town and village in France has a Rue Victor Hugo. Here in Besancon is where he was born. So I've now seen the original street. The house still stands here - No. 1 Rue Victor Hugo. Besancon. The original! (Jackie reckons that he was big too somewhere in South America or Asia. I don't know.)
Louis Pasteur also comes from here. Without him wine would've tasted awful. I guess the wine the Romans drank was more like vinegar. I'd like to know.
The sun came out! It feels like summer again.
We spent much of the day visiting the enormous citadel which dominates the cities southern skyline. A very impressive place.
It is one of the military architect Vauban's masterpieces. The Citadel occupies a large area on Mount Saint-Etienne, one of the hills that protect Besancon. Mount Saint-Etienne occupies the neck of an ox-bow formed by the river Doubs, giving the site a strategic importance that Julius Caesar utilised. The Citadel overlooks the old quarter of the city, which is located within the ox-bow, and offers a magnificent view of the entire city/surroundings.
The walkway of its ramparts was spectacular. I've walked many a rampart but none like this. The drop on one side was alarming, particularly because the wall was below my centre of gravity! I'm normally good with heights but at one point I looked to the left and my legs went to jelly. (I'd never get my mum up here!)
Then we went to the Musee du Temps de Besancon: the museum of horology. Clocks. Some amazing specimens there. Of particular interest was the 'Curiosity' section. There were clocks as big as sideboards (remember them?) where different doors opened to signify all sorts of things, like Christmas Day and autumn. Some of the pendulum-based machines were also good as were the 'innards' of early pocket watches. Jackie commented, (in a moment if rare insight), "I wonder if the saying "have you got the time?", was more an enquiry into the person's social class. Could well be.
Nancy was brilliant. I think Besancon is even better. A stunning place!
We are in the midst of the Besancon music festival. Tonight we will find some music to enjoy. In one square there's a recital by the Strasbourg Philharmonic. There's also jazz, retro and modern to choose from.
But, I'm afraid, it's time to pump up the tyres, ready for tomorrow and get a shift on. Methinks we've lingered here long enough.
But which way? Lausanne/Geneva or Lyon???