Givet

Our journey today took us from Belgium to France. The temperatures, though, were of a similar kind - not surprising, as we only travelled 20km! Again, the Belgium roads left a lot to be desired.  

Leaving Dinant we passed the Rocher Bayard but not through the narrow side on this occasion - much to the relief of the onboard navigator! 

We followed the Meuse River towards Givet, which is just across the border in France. Some of the views across the water at this time of day were well worth photographing.

A scenic lookout over the Meuse Valley gave us a good view of Château de Freÿr on the other side of the river.  A beautiful renaissance Château on a forested  bend in the Meuse with narrow cliffs jutting from the river.  The Château has been in the one family for the past 20 generations- since 1410! Over time some very important treaties have been negotiated here - including the boundary treaty when France took over the administration in 1772. A very impressive Château and garden. 

Harvest was well underway giving us a picturesque view of rural Belgium. 

And we passed the first of the Napoleon tree-lined roads we knew we crossed into France - just to give his soldiers shade while marching off to war (so the story goes!). 

Our arrival in Givet coincided with the dramatic increase in the temperature. The town immediately struck us as a “beau village” with the ancient Charlemont Citadel dominating the river and the town... 

... and Hilton! The building of the citadel was commenced in 1555 and altered consistently over the next 450 years until its bombardment in 1914. The Germans occupied the town in 1940 until the Americans retook the town in September 1944, accommodating 11,000 troops in the citadel before the Battle of the Ardennes in that year. 

Many motorhomes were parked up along the Meuse in full sunshine- this wasn’t going to be our plan at this stage so a shaded area was found around the corner! From here we could explore the surrounds. 

Later we did move position to be on the banks of the Meuse with the other vans 21 of them - and a slight breeze off the water helped to keep things cool...ish -  34deg.

We delayed our town walk until after our evening meal when the sun had set behind the old town. Many others had left it to this time of the day to stretch their legs too.

Our neighbours!

Centre Ville

Being another town stretched along the riverfront every sound travels its full length- the incessant trail bikes buzzed the town well into the night.  Where were the Gendarme when you need them! 

As the sun set the lights of the town were switched on and made quite a picture from our position from across the river. I can understand now why this is a very popular town for motorhomers to visit. The sight across the river is quite mesmerising. We sat out well after sunset to see the changing colours of the town opposite.