Despite modern Ibis hotel, with parking underneath, we discovered old town next to the river Loire which is charming. Impressive cathedral was outshone by gleaming new tram system. A shame the riverside live music venues only open at weekends. A great meal at La Ruche.
After various wrong turnings and beautiful drives through forests, we stopped at Brive-la-Gaillarde, to stay in l’Hotel la Truffe Noire. Couldn’t resist. Had a delightful Prix Fixe meal in a square outside a lovely restaurant, thinking this is the southern European meal thing we love.
Not in the Truffe, though, which was very expensive and, as we discovered at breakfast time, full of black paint and figures, with a barred staircase to the basement – Marquis de Sade / new Goth feel about it. We left.
Via a bit of a detour, and a couple of promises to Indoors, we ventured forth to the amazing architectural statement known as the Millau viaduct.
This has the Norman Foster design stamp, the highest bridge in the world, completed in just three years, for a £400m cost. It is just ….. simple, clean, elegant and, of course, functional. Inspired architecture.
Drove on to stay the night in Beziers. Not on the normal tourist trail, it is a ‘real city’, unlike some of the touristic hubs we’ve visited. Gritty and characterfull, with some big open space squares, fringed by restaurants, cafes and bars, but mostly by big houses and unused offices / shops / homes; it sings of wealth and poverty like so many deprived bits of France.
And it has an old bridge, due to be refurbished, dating from the 16th century.
Chris & Kath's Travel Time 