St Blaise Switzerland

Day 72/73 Wednesday/Thursday 15/16 July 2026

We had an interesting and picturesque drive from Basel to St.Blaise.

The gps seems to come up with a different routes every time and I chose the one that came over the Col de Chasseral (1502 alt.) The 117km it took us nearly 3 hours!  The tower further on is the highest point in the north Swiss Juras. It is barren and can be seen from dozens of miles away. 

Unfortunately due to the stormy weather it was a touch hazy for the great views of the lakes far below, as well as the distant Alps.

We arrived at my uncle’s mid afternoon and after a lovely chat we headed over to my cousin’s for a delicious dinner with family.

After a nice morning catching up, we went to a bar/restaurant on the shore of Lake Neuchatel, that my cousin’s son manages. We enjoyed a yummy pizza with beautiful views and more chatting. What a wonderful time it has been.

Unfortunately with only 2 weeks to go, we said our farewells later in the afternoon.

Then we drove 58km along a new route out of Switzerland and back into France…

to La Cluse et Mijoux where we found a spot in the Chateau de Joux parking area.

It was constructed from the 10th century, as a fortress and the residence of the Sires of Joux. It occupied a hill dominating the gorge traversed by the Pontarlier road towards Switzerland. The Duke of Burgundy Philippe le Bon bought it in 1454 but the castle was besieged in 1475 by the French under Louis XI. In the 16th century, it was renovated and modernised by the Swiss and the German sovereigns. Besieged four times in the course of the 17th century and taken by the French in 1674. Vauban further fortified the castle in 1690. With more works being undertaken during the 1880’s. Now it is classed as a historical monument and open to visit. It was closed when we arrived,and the other one (fort du Malher ) on a neighbouring cliff has been abandoned.

Later in the evening the cool change came through along with another motorhome.. it’s nice not to be completely on our own.

Mulhouse France

Day 71 Tuesday 14 July 2026

We spent the morning in France, visiting Mulhouse then watching boats on the Rhine before crossing the boarder into Germany then Switzerland to visit my godfather and his family in Basel.

We awoke this morning with a summer storm.. thunder, lightning and rain. After it had passed we hit the road once again. We stopped to use the dump point  in Eguisheim and then made our way to Mulhouse as we hadn’t been there before. 

It is situated between the Rhine River and the Vosges mountains, at the heart of three European countries - France, Germany and Switzerland and became a major industrial center, exporting its products, the richly printed fabrics so coveted in many European capitals. “The French Manchester”: some factories reached enormous proportions, requiring supply by railways and canals. The nicknames “French Manchester” and “City of a Hundred Chimneys” were well deserved. Its industrial sites  of the past have been skillfully rehabilitated — the city boasts museums that stand as tributes to the genius of past engineers and the skill of the workers. Unfortunately its is the French National Day and EVERYTHING is closed… so we mange to find a parking place close to the historic centre and go for a walk towards The Reunion square. Here we find some interesting architecture. The  Rhenish Renaissance town hall with its different shades of pink, period houses, fountain and Neo-Gothic Saint-Etienne temple with 14th-century stained glass windows. Leading off this square are also numerous pedestrian shopping streets with some more historic buildings but it is predominantly modern… rebuilt after the bombings in WWII. We peeked in to a couple of churches that are open.

Then make our way back to Bluey. We go in search of a washing machine in Saint Louis.

Then stop for the last time on the Rhine River and watch the boats for a bit.

Now it’s time to venture into Basel to visit my godfather, Gilbert and Gaby along with their daughter and partner Claudine and Urs. We enjoy their kind hospitality.. delicious cakes, refreshing beers, yummy dinner and laughter, most of all it’s been lovely to see each other again..  the next morning we say our good byes.