Driving to Burgundy

For the Carnival Week break, we spent a couple of days around Auxerre in the Burgundy region of France. Driving was interesting, as there had been a quite heavy snowfall and some of the roads had not been cleared well. On the way we stopped in Neufchateau in the western Vosges for lunch of the standard steak and chips at a corner brasserie. This being a PMU (i.e. TAB) bar we had the horse racing showing on the flat screen. It reminded us to check exactly what sort of steak we had ordered.

Place Jeanne d'Arc, Neufchateau, Western Vosges

Rue Neuve, Neufchateau, Western Vosges

We took a small detour via Grand to visit a Gallo-Roman amphitheatre for the sheer novelty of seeing one in the snow. As often happens when travelling in winter, despite the guide book indication, it was closed. I went for a long walk in up to knee deep snow around the perimeter fence.

Gallo-Roman Amphitheatre, Grand, Western Vosges

Village of Grand, Western Vosges

Chapelle Saint Libaire, Grand, Western Vosges

One of the nice things about travelling  back roads is the unexpected delights which appear so often, unannounced and unexpected. Fortunately, neither of us is becoming blasé, although we inevitably find ourselves describing things as “ …… so French.”

Chateau Reynel, Haute Marne