Via Geneva and over the Jura mountains

Travelled:183km
Visited:Royal Monastery of Brou (Bourg en Bresse)
Stay: Bourg en Bresse: free parking, no services GPS N46.19854 E5.23766

Our end destination today was Bourg en Bresse to pick up Mark's visa tomorrow morning. We decided to take a non direct route and so began by travelling into Switzerland, through Geneva. As expected with a large city we suffered some traffic congestion, but as time is not a critical factor we saw it as an opportunity to take in the sights. 

After glimpsing the lake we headed into France again and went over Mont Jura via the Col de la Faucille. We then decended via Mijoux and had a look at the aire before driving through the surprising large valley town of Saint Claude.

 We did do a pit stop at the aire here before navigating our way to the L'Ain River, following the D936 and then the D91 through the Gorges de l'Ain. 

A very pretty drive. Unfortunately on our travels we managed to hit a rock that had tumbled down on to the road. We couldn't serve as a car was coming the other way, so after the loud BANG, we were nervous to get out to view the damage.....luckily it was only a slight scratch and a broken side light. Now we need to search for a replacement! (Tomorrows drama). We are relieved it was not worse. With our new Camperstop Book we have found another camping car parking area in Bourg en Bresse. This is a parking area at the Royal Monastery of Brou. It has shown us a different side of BB, as so far it has just  been a place for Mark to obtain his visa. We enjoyed our visit of this 16th century beautifully constructed building. It houses the tombs of Margaret of Austria, who ordered the construction to commemerate her love for her 3rd husband Philibert the Fair, Duke of Savoy. He is also buried here, along with his mother Margaret of Bourbon. It is sad that she never got to see it completed before her death. The site is unique in France as it has three cloisters, two chapter houses and 4000m2 of common rooms for just twelve monks. In the church we admired the beautiful choir and the tombs. In the other rooms we gazed upon some amazing paintings mainly from the 19th century, depicting life and historical moments from that time. Later we enjoyed  BBQ lamb chops cooked on the cadac and a stroll in the garden.