JL Loisirs, Digoin & Cluny

Travelled:100km

Stay: Cluny - free parking for CampingCars  46.43396, 4.6626 

Started the day at JL Loisirs to see if the fly wire door could be fitted. Unfortunately, after some trying, it became evident that it was going to be a major job. So we left with no fly wire door, oh well worse things could happen. We drove through rain to our next destination  Digoin. However, upon arriving in town the rain stopped  So we took the opportunity to go and see the canal bridge, which was built in 1836 and is the only structure made by hand-cut stone work over the Loire river. It looks unusual to watch a boat pass over a river on a bridge! As it still wasn't raining we walked through town and visited ist Notre-Dame. Another surprise package with some lovely stain-glass windows. Back in Bluey and the rain started with vengeance. Headed to Cluny through hail and heavy set rain and planned to sit out, but as we drove into town the clouds parted and the sun started to shine. Wow lucky. So off we went to see the famous Abbey built in 910, which was the largest religious building in the world before Rome's St.Peter's Basilica was built. We were a little disappointed that 90% of the buildings have been demolished. Napoleon I used some of the stone to build his horse stud, which still exists today. However the visit to the Abbey is worthwhile. There is also an engineering college on site and we visited its museum that exhibits large wooden keys. We asked a student what these signified, he said that the graduation class of every year designs and makes the key to present to the college. Two keys are also on the towns coat of arms. We then walked around the village and visited another church, a museum with relics of the Abbey and admired Romanesque built houses. Not a bad day at all and still no rain.