Spring 2022. Andalusia. Brittany. Normandy.

It is Sunday April 10th, 2022 . The morning is still cool, but the day will be beautiful and sunny with a pleasant 16 degrees. As before every tour, I first drive in our BMWi3 at eight o'clock in thirty minutes from my home in Basel am Rhein (1) 30 kilometers south to Zullwil in the Solothurn Jura. There, directly below the ruins of Gilgenberg (2) from the 12th century, is our Bürstner Ixeo in its place in the garage (3).

At nine o'clock I start the tour with the aim of

this day the first of two parts of the way to that

driving in the Mediterranean. The chosen route leads me first

on country roads over green and yellow blooming Jura heights,

from then on on the motorway only past Montbéliard and

Besançon, then through picturesque Burgundy near Beaune,

passing Chalon-sur-Saône, Mâcon and Lyon through the

beautiful Rhône valley to La Roche-de-Glun. moderate traffic,

no traffic jams or construction sites allow me a pleasant,

stress-free and quick journey. Three times I raced a half

Hour on the most beautifully situated "Aire de ..." at the

French motorways, but refrain from sightseeing

on road. I ride a total of 545 kilometers (of which 441

kilometers of motorway) and needed seven hours for it

the breaks. Around four o'clock I reach mine as planned

Daily goal and move into the camping car park

on the outskirts of La Roche-du-Glun. I go for a walk in the evening

to the center of La Roche-de-Glun to the Mairie (1), to

Tower of Diane of Poitiers (2), through the gate after

Roussillon (3), to the dam with a small hydroelectric power station

with a view of the place (4) and along the Rhône Promenade (5)

back to the pitch (6-7). The place itself does not offer

a lot of interesting things and also has a great effect on me

extinct. As in many places today, these are small

Communities deserted on Sundays, so not a single restaurant was open. However, it was very beautiful along the

Walk along the Rhône promenade.

●●○○○ Day of transit. Safely at the destination.

I found La Roche-de-Glun as a stage destination on the Camping-Car Park website. This company calls itself " the 1st European network of stopover sites and services areas" and includes 350 pitches throughout France. The organization largely meets my needs because (a) the current occupancy is visible online in an app, (b) the pitches are mostly located close to town, are spacious and well-kept, (c) the use is very inexpensive with electricity included and ( d) the pitches are accessible at all times thanks to the access card. The fact that there are no sanitary facilities doesn't bother me, the space with a power connection is enough for me. I read about this facility in advance of the tour and immediately bought the necessary access card. It worked for me, because in the end I spent a good half of all nights on this tour at Camping-Car Park sites and I would not go to just two of these twenty sites.

Wikipedia states that La Roche-de-Glun has 3,333 inhabitants and is picturesquely situated on a river island in the Rhône

in the Drôme department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region

lies. Sights are: The dam with small

Hydroelectric power station on the Rhône, the Tower of Diane de Poitiers from the 14th century (monument historique), the gateway to Roussillon and the gate wall (relic of the city wall) from the 13th and 14th centuries.

It's Monday April 11, 2022. The night was cool,

the day is mostly cloudy and windy with a high of 13 degrees.

Today I drive the second part of the way to the Mediterranean Sea.

This only takes me further on the Autobahn

the Rhône Valley past Nîmes and then on the delightful

Languedocienne along the sea past Montpellier

and Narbonne to Port la Nouvelle. After 328 kilometers,

with moderate traffic and three and a half hours more entertaining

and pleasant driving time, I reach the shortly after noon

selected parking space from Camping-Car Park on the outskirts of

Port La Nouvelle. Later in the afternoon I'll take the

Bike a bit along the Réserve Naturelle Régionale de

Sainte-Lucie (1-2), to the beach (3), to the harbor with the casino

(4) and in the Center ville of Port la Nouvelle (4-8) and

back to the pitch (9). The place seems outside of the

Quite deserted season, especially seen on the mostly

closed shutters in the seaside resorts. 

●●○○○ Day of transit. Safely at the destination.

According to Wikipedia, Port-la-Nouvelle has 5,686 inhabitants

in the Aude department in the Occitania region. The community

is both a transshipment port for oil and grain and a

Bathing resort with 13 kilometers of sandy beaches. In addition, the

touristically significant Canal de la Robine here in the Mediterranean Sea.

Port-la Nouvelle also includes the island of Sainte-Lucie

north of the town and the island of La Nadière in the Étang de

Bages-Sigean with a former fishing village. The well-known hiking trail “Sentier cathare” also starts in the village

Port la Nouvelle to Foix. Nothing worth seeing is mentioned about the place itself. The Sainte-Lucie Regional Nature Reserve was classified in 2009, occupies an area of

825 hectares and protects the island of Sainte-Lucie as well as the

Wetlands and river beaches. The nature reserve

consists of two sectors through the Robine Canal

are separated: the western sector corresponds to the island

Sainte-Lucie, the pond of Bages-Sigean from the pond of

Ayrolle separates. The eastern sector is an area with lagoons,

Wetlands and beaches between the island and the

Mediterranean Sea. The highest elevation at 39 meters is enclosed

Roc Saint Antoine. The lock of Sainte-Lucie allows

the transition from one sector to another.

It's Tuesday, April 12, 2022. The night stayed again

cool at 9 degrees, the day is dry but unfortunately also mostly

cloudy at 14 degrees. I have a shorter route for today

planned, because the first nature park awaits at the destination

Trip. I leave at nine o'clock and need 143

Kilometers of mostly country roads two and a half hours

driving time. The path leads along the Mediterranean coast

Perpignan, Port Vendres and Roses to Sant Pere Pescador.

There is little traffic again and the journey goes quickly

through the beautiful, now very Mediterranean landscape. Both

I cross the border from the foothills of the Pyrenees to the sea

of Spain. Since the Parc Natural dels Aiguamolls de l'Empordà near Sant Pere Pescator is my destination for the day, I don't go there

on sightseeing. Meet at Las Palmeras campsite

me just before noon. The place is well chosen, it is obvious

of place and sights, has spacious parking spaces

on lawn, clean sanitary facilities, a pool, a small one

Mercado and a restaurant. I'll be with you in the afternoon

cycled the 10 kilometers north to the nature park

and went on a half-hour walk through the Parc

Natural dels Aiguamolls de l'Empordà (1-4) Insight into a

very nice nature reserve can take a real

remarkable natural landscape. With the bike I'm the one

10 kilometers back and another 15 kilometers south

drove to the Ruïnes de Empúries (5-8) and also visited the archaeological site and the harbor pier on a short walk. This visit was also worthwhile. On the way back to the campsite I stopped and shopped in Sant Pere Pescator (9-11).

●●●●○ Attractive coastal roads, beautiful nature park, interesting archaeological site and good campsite.

The municipality of Sant Pere Pescador has 2'039 inhabitants

in the Autonomous Region of Catalonia in the province of Girona and

in the comarca Alt Empordà and lives from tourism and the

Agriculture (apple cultivation). For the place mentions Wikipedia

nothing worth seeing. The Parc Natural dels Aiguamolls de

l'Empordà is located in the confluence of the rivers Muga and

Fluvià in the Bay of Roses on the Costa Brava of Catalonia. The nature park extends over the protected areas of Estanys

(Fish weirs, cattails and meadows), Llaunes (lagoons at

the coast) and the island of Caramyany (in the middle of the river Fluvià with

large bird life) and covers 4,783 hectares. The Ruïnes de Empúries are witnesses of an ancient Greek colony that dates back to a trading post in 600 BC

goes. The archaeological three-part park with museum and

Hafenmole consists of the earliest "old town", the

Greek-Iberian new town and the Roman municipal town.

It is Wednesday April 13, 2022. During the night it has

at 8 degrees it started to rain, during the day it rained continuously

stopped and the temperature did not rise above 14 degrees. as

Today's goal I have chosen a nature park again,

those in the mouth of the Ebro. The way of 330

Kilometers, largely on freeways leads me past

Girona, Barcelona and Tarragona to L'Eucaliptus/Amporta.

Despite some heavy rain along the Costa Brava and Costa

Daurado, but moderate traffic, hardly any construction sites and none

I make good progress in traffic jams and need a good three and a half

hours driving time. Shortly after noon I get the last one

Pitch at Camping Ampolla Playa in L'Ampolla,

which I got when I called the day before

(fully booked due to Easter approaching). I'm a good one then

half hour on the coastal promenade (1-4) to Ampolla

walked and I was looking for a shelter due to the weather

and found what I was looking for in the Can Pinana restaurant at the port.

Their lenguado a la plancha was very good. After return on

but I decided to leave the campsite. Although I could accept that he fully

and also unkempt, but then it got extreme

noisy, the place was slowly running under water and so was the electricity

still failed. I called around and got a seat

found on the other side of the delta. And so am in the evening

30 kilometers further to the Eucaliptus campsite on the

Playa of the place of the same name L'Eucaliptus/Amporta.

The decision was right, because this campsite was indeed

also fully occupied, but was closer to the nature park and had

also have a modern but well-maintained infrastructure

with pool, mercado and restaurant and I also got one

Premium pitch with sea view. I then finish the day with a walk to the dunes behind the

campsite (5-9) and a glass of red wine in the restaurant

let it fade away. The dunes were worth seeing, but because

Floods only partially accessible.

●●●○○ Spanish-Mediterranean cuisine and ultimately beautiful

Pitch directly at the dunes.

Wikipedia. L'Ampolla is a Catalan municipality. It has 3,280 inhabitants and is located in the province of Tarragona in northeastern Spain or in the comarca of Baix Ebre at the northern end of the Ebro Delta. Nothing worth seeing is mentioned. L'E ukaliptus/Amporta is a small bathing settlement with a beautiful beach and a district of the Ebro Delta, whose main town, Amposta, with 20,738 inhabitants, mainly cultivates rice. In addition to the nature park, the suspension bridge over the Ebro and the remains of a medieval castle are also worth seeing in the Ebro Delta. The extensive Ebro delta with the lagoons of Tancada and l'Encanyissada as well as the rice fields in the canal-crossed delta landscape are ideal for hiking. The water springs and swamps are also worth seeing.

It is Wednesday April 14, 2022. It was at night

still cool with 9 degrees, but the rain let up and the

Day became sunny and warmer up to 19 degrees. the morning

I dedicated myself to taking care of the camper and myself.

In the afternoon I have a three-hour bike tour

undertaken by the Parc Natural del Delta de l'Ebre and

multiple stops and short walks at well-located viewing platforms (1-9) inserted. On the way between two of these visits I came across an inconspicuous country estate. The mariscos and the paella in the local one

Taverna La Tancada are highly recommended. I am in the evening

walked back to the dunes at the campsite (10-11).

●•••• The species-rich bird life in a lagoon landscape that is really worth seeing and for culinary enjoyment of Mediterranean specialties.

According to Wikipedia, the Parc Natural del Delta de l'Ebre

Alluvium area at its mouth in the Mediterranean Sea

and is located in the Ebro Delta in southern Catalonia. The park is

next to the national park Coto de Donana the most important

Wetland in Spain and, with 32,500 hectares , is one of the largest deltas in the world, along with those of the Rhône and Po

European Mediterranean coast. A third of the delta was

assigned to the nature park in 1983, a species-rich breeding

and resting area for many species of birds and wintering area

of migratory birds from Northern Europe. Around 300 different ones

native bird species, migratory birds and flamingos are here too

see. Today the ecosystem is threatened by blue crab and

Louisiana Cancer.

It's Good Friday, April 15, 2022. The nights stay

unchanged cool at 10 degrees, the days are sunny again and

are slowly getting warmer up to 20 degrees. I originally

with Futura in the hinterland of Murcia the next stopover

chosen. I had to give up this goal because the two places

occupied at the thermal baths in Fortuna because of Easter or

were no longer in operation. Since I have the only alternative, the

Campsite in the Sierra Espuña cannot be reached by phone

I decided to skip the goal

and straight to the next destination, the Parque Natural de Cabo de

to drive Gata-Níjar. I'm whole that day

Drove 638 kilometers (555 kilometers on motorways) past Valencia and Alicante to Camping Cabo de Gata

outside the coastal town of the same name, Cabo de Gata.

The drive over the last 250 was particularly impressive

kilometers. I felt like I was almost alone for two hours

to be on the road on a freeway, also past one of the

most impressive landscapes I have seen so far,

Mediterranean shaped full of Colinas, Ramblas and Barrancos (1-3). Since I'm quite fast again with only moderate traffic

progressed, no visits planned on the way

and only turned on three short stops, I am

after a good eight hours of driving in the late afternoon

Place arrived (I reserved in the morning as a precaution).

The place was then about two-thirds occupied. I have on

Evening walk around the camp

along the countless white greenhouses (4-5).

Taken tomato and the day with a glass of wine

Round off the camp restaurant by the pool.

●●●●○ The last two hours of driving "almost alone on the road through an impressive landscape".

According to Wikivoyage, Cabo de Gata is a place in the province of Almeria in the Cabo de Gata Natural Park. Mentioned as sights are: Faro de Gata lighthouse with views of the Arrecife de las Sirenas rock formations, Iglesia de las Salinas, Torre de San Miguel and the Salinas de Cabo de Gata with vantage points for bird watching.

It's Easter Saturday, April 16th, 2022. The weather is going to be

noticeably to be further south now. The night was with

13 degrees a bit warmer, the day sunny and despite the wind until April 22

Degrees warm. I explore the west side of the cape in the morning

of the nature park. I first cycle to the center of

Cabo de Gata with the Torreón de San Miguel (1) and then

further along the infinitely long beach in the bay of

Almeria (2) to Faro de Cabo Gata (3) at the southernmost

point of the natural park. On the initially same way back

I stop in the small seaside resort of La Fabriquilla and enjoy it

Restaurante Angelita a bocadillo di tonno marocchino con

olive and the views across the bay and to the cape. From there I take the route on the

other side of the big lagoon and drive along the

Salinas de Cabo de gata (4-6) and stop several times at the viewing platforms for observing the diverse

bird life were established. The rest of the afternoon and on

In the evening it's "Dolce far niente" and I let my soul go

simply dangle in a Mediterranean atmosphere on the surprisingly quiet campsite (7).

●●●●○ Natural park worth seeing.

According to Wikipedia, the Parque Natural de Cabo de Gata-Níjar begins immediately after the retort town of Retamar, stretches across the actual Cabo de Gata (Cape of Agate) and ends in front of the port of Carboneras. The coastline is rugged and bounded inland by mountains, the Sierra del Cabo de Gata and the Sierra de la Higuera. The geological origin lies in a strong volcanic activity in the Tertiary, when the Betic Cordillera unfolded. All volcanoes are extinct, but the region is still affected by earthquakes.

It's Easter Sunday, April 17, 2022. The weather is staying the same

unchanged from the day before, up to 12 degrees at night, sunny during the day

up to 22 degrees. I intend to do the east side today, in the morning

of the Natural Park of Cabo de Gata and then

my next goal, to drive to the Sierra Nevada. First leads

me my way to San José and a viewpoint that allows the view of the cape and its beaches (1). At the

later in the morning I'll drive on, but make a note of it

the area for another visit. I take it very much

beautifully landscaped A92 motorway through the Sierra Nevada (2-3)

via Guadix and Grenada to my destination for the day, the campsite

Las Lomas on the Carretera Güéjar-Sierra. For the 246 kilo

meters I need a pure driving time of three hours.

Persistently little traffic but allow a speedy again

Ride, the many stops along the way leave me alone

Reach destination in the early afternoon. I have precautions for

Reserved three nights and put the mobile home on one

nice shady place (4). The campsite is well occupied.

Then I cycle the three kilometers

to Güéjar Sierra. The beautifully situated mountain village (5-9) with

a few old buildings and casas that are worth seeing

bustling with many families at this afternoon

Sunday brunch in the restaurants on the market square. On the

On the way back I enjoy the beautiful views of the nearby

Mountain Landscape (10-11). When I come back, I visit first

the camp's restaurant. It's busy and I have to

waited half an hour for my seat. The filet de

Ternera (12) Tastes great and justifies the wait.

At the beginning of the evening I sit on the camp's own

Mirador with again a beautiful view of the reservoir and the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada (13-14).

●•••• The views of unique landscapes on the Cabo

de Gata and in the Sierra Sierra Nevada.

At Wikipedia, San José is a village in the municipality of Níjar in the

Spanish province of Almería in southern Andalusia. The popular holiday resort is located in the Cabo-de-Gata-Níjar Nature Park on the extreme south-east coast of Spain and has 1,012 inhabitants,

up to 20,000 visitors at times in the summer months. Of the

San José Beach is located on a shallow bay on the Costa de Almería, near the marina. South from

San José is Playa de los Genoveses, a bathing beach

with rocky headlands at each end and the Playa de

Mónsul covered with gray volcanic sand and huge dark boulders of volcanic rock. Both beaches are among the most beautiful in Spain. Portions of numerous films have been shot on both beaches, including Pirates of the Caribbean (2003) and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989). Above all, nature is still pure here, which also means that in summer you are not allowed to drive your own car to the beach. You can either walk or use the San Jóse shuttle bus to get to the two beaches. In winter, the beaches and numerous bays can again be accessed by car. The municipality of Güéjar-Sierra with 2,820 inhabitants in the province of Granada lies at the foot of the Sierra Nevada at the source of the river Genil. The castle El Castillejo (ruins above the village) as a historical witness was first built by the Romans, then settled by the Moors around 711 and occupied by the Christians in 1491.

It's Easter Monday, April 18th, 2022. The weather is staying the same today

very, constant on a clear night with 12 degrees and lots of sun

Day with up to 22 degrees. I want to use the day today to

to explore the magnificent mountains around Güéjar-Sierra. the

However, the recommendations received on site and on the Internet were not

all three or more hour hikes, which I like

would have walked, but currently due to current foot problems

are too long for me. So based on the card I have a good

One and a half hour round trip. am around noon

I then also started at the campsite and as the first

walked up the opposite slope (1). I came

past blossoming fruit trees (2) and had again and again

a look back at the beautifully situated campsite (3).

After crossing the slope, the path led me back down through the forest (4) in the direction of Güéjar-Sierra. had before me

I always have views of the beautiful mountains of the Sierra

Nevada (5). Just before the village, found himself back on the road

a contemporary witness, a restored relic for the water supply

earlier time (6) to marvel at. Then after another

At the turn I suddenly saw about 300 goats and sheep

towards their alpine ascension (7-8). Soon I was in the village of Güéjar-Sierra and it was now going down steeply (9) towards the market square,

from which, after a short rest, I tackled the road back to the campsite. Towards evening it was heart-

liable self-sufficiency (10) announced before it me because of

the special view (11) again for part of the evening

moved to the Mirador. I will for sure come back to this place

drive, then especially in the hope of at least one of the

to be able to go on hikes.

●●●●● Close to nature and eventful day.

Opened in 1999, the Parque Nacional de Sierra Nevada protects part of the Sierra Nevada, covers an area of 86,208 hectares and is representative of the medium and high mountain ranges of the Mediterranean Sea. With Mulhacén 3480 m and the Veleta peak 3396 m, the highest mountains of the Iberian Peninsula are here. Winters are cold and summers are warm and dry. The Sierra Nevada National Park is known for its rich flora with numerous endemic species and the Iberian ibex. Wikipedia.

It is Tuesday April 19, 2022. The weather remains today

still constant, during the day the sun shows itself with 23 degrees. A change in the weather is then predicted for the following days. For this

me the actually planned hikes in the national park

are not possible, I intend to go to Granada as an alternative

to visit. Shortly before ten o'clock I take the 390 bus, which runs every hour and stops right at the campsite, and that

takes me to Granada in forty minutes. From Paseo de

los Basilios I walk first to the old town of Granada (1-8) and

admire the squares and the architecture. I continue to stroll through the pedestrian zones before I leave shortly after noon

Way up take to Mirador San Nicolás. The view of the

opposite Alhambra (9), but also down to the

The city of Granada (10) is unique and definitely worth the

short but steep ascent to the Mirador. In the restaurant

I sweep Estrellas de San Nicolás near Plaza San Nicolás

and spontaneously select "Huevos revueltos con

gambas", a Spanish speciality. I have no regrets.

The walk now leads me through the picturesque quarter

Albaicin (11-13) back down to the new town of Granada.

At one of the busy plazas (14) there are still people around in the evening

an aperitif before heading to the bus stop that will take me

then brings him back to the campsite around eight in the evening.

●●●●● The uniquely beautiful view from the Mirador San Nicolás and the historic district of Albaicin, which is well worth seeing.

According to Wikipedia, Granada is the capital of the city of the same name

Province, located in a metropolitan area of the Vega de Granada

and counts 232'462 inhabitants, mostly in processing

agricultural products or work in tourism.

Granada is one of the largest educational institutions in Spain

w ith 60,000 students . Albaicin is the oldest part of the city

and goes back in its origin to late antiquity,

pre-Moorish settlement of Illiberis, with remains of walls on a

Settlement already closed in Iberian and Roman times

to let. The district is located on one of the three ridges

on which the city of Granada was built, overlooking the

Alhambra. Not only because of this well-known view, but

also because of the many alleys between the predominantly

white houses, Albaicín is one of the sights

of the city and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994.

It's Wednesday. April 20, 2022. The weather in the mountains

has turned over. Sleet falls at night at 3 degrees, early in the morning it is wet and cold, the campsite is overcast, full of fog (1). So I decided not to go on the planned trip

through the hinterland of Andalusia to the Parque Nacional

Sierra de las Nieves and alternatively drive back to the Mediterranean Sea

to Motril and then when the weather is sunny again along the

Much described coastal road N340 (2) to El Rincon de

la Victoria near Malaga. Arrived there around noon

I get it at Camper Area El Rincon (3) in the district of Torre

de Benagalbón one of the last pitches. It is a

small, narrow but functional pitch of the Aeras group

Autocaravanes Andalucia with electricity, small sanitary facilities

and small Mercado. In the evening the place is fully occupied.

I drove 165 kilometers. of which 62 kilometers to Motril,

then 103 kilometers on the mentioned coastal road. I was

with short stops at some vantage points

A good four hours along the coast road. on

I refrained from viewings, because my goal was now

Visit Málaga in the afternoon. And so am shortly after

Arrive at the campsite about a kilometer to

Walked to the bus stop 163, which then took me to 40

minutes to the port of Málaga. I have only with the

Hip on Hip off Zweistöcker (4) made a tour,

which also took me to the Mirador near the castle

Brought Gibralfaro from which I had the wonderful view of the

city (5) and the harbor (6). Afterward

I'm strolling through the old town of Málaga (7-10), to

Alcazaba (11) and to the Cathedral of Sanata Iglesia (12-14).

To finish I'm still beautiful by the one along the bay

located Parque de Málaga (15) walked back to the port,

from where the bus will pick me up again in forty minutes

brought back to the campsite at eight o'clock.

●●●●○ The view of Málaga from Mirador Gibralfaro.

I read on Wikipedia that Malaga is the second largest city in

Andalusia is and sixth largest city in Spain, it ranks

594,654 inhabitants and has one of the largest Spanish

Airports, a commercial port and a university. Malaga is

one of the most important holiday destinations in Spain because of its climate on the Costa del Sol and also a city of art and culture

countless museums. Also worth seeing are the Catedral de la

Encarnación, the Bishop's Palace, the Moorish Fortress

Alcazaba, the Castle of Gibralfaro, the Paseo

del Parque de Málaga, a botanical garden on the promenade

nade with 30,000 square meters and more parks and

Investments. Picasso's birthplace is also in Málaga .

It's Thursday April 21, 2022. The night was pleasant

at 10 degrees, the day will be partly cloudy, partly sunny with up to

16 degrees. I already had problems with the hub the night before

bed and sometimes had to lower it manually to sleep

be able. In the morning the motor system failed completely and I laboriously raised the pull-down bed manually.

I then tried unsuccessfully to go to an authorized dealer

von Bürstner in Málaga to rectify the problem on site

organize and finally decided to break off the tour and drive back home to the home workshop. Around

In order not to have to take the same route as on the way there recently, I chose the slightly longer route via Cordoba, Madrid and Bordeaux and so I am around ten o'clock

departed from Malaga. I still have for the first stretch

no specific destination planned, I wanted to ride as long as I felt comfortable. I have short breaks every two hours-

placed. The ride was also unproblematic with rather moderate

Traffic. So I was progressing briskly and I never felt either

unwell or tired. And so I reached after 1'017 kilometers

(996 kilometers of motorway) and a driving time of almost eleven

Hours around half past nine the French border. I have

then didn't think twice and drove to the first parking lot after crossing the border in Urrugne and I did

there also found a place to stay (1) between

many trucks and next to a Spanish camper. To the

That night, in an emergency, I also used the seat

bank (the manual process was simply too tedious for me). It

Surprisingly, it went quite well and I didn't sleep too badly on the bench. The route right through

Spain itself, despite the moderate mood, was very

nice to drive. Again and again near or far the

Highway interesting landscapes to linger on

invite and I have noted for another time.

●○○○○ Annoying interruption of the trip, but a good, nice trip.

It's Friday April 22, 2022. The night was pleasant

warm at 13 degrees, the day stayed mostly sunny up to 18 degrees.

Surprisingly, it was still fairly quiet until four o'clock

the many trucks, then began in the parking lot

relatively noisy everyday life and every few minutes one of these boomed

vice of his way. Sleeping was out of the question

and I went to mine shortly before six o'clock

Removed. Already after 20 kilometers the first rest

place and I fell in love with Grande Café and Croissant

cares. I called the shop and they said I

could the camper be delivered the next day at ten o'clock

submit repair. I then considered going to the workshop

nearest camping car park one last intermediate

stop and drive straight to the workshop from there. So

the way led me past Bordeaux, Clemant-Ferrand

and Macon to the beautifully situated camp of Seurre (1).

Driving on the Autobahn was brisk for a long time and became

only on the last 150 kilometers of country roads through it

Burgundy to Macon still quite ponderous. And so I was relieved after having driven 816 kilometers

(of which 645 kilometers of motorway) and nine and a half hours

Driving time around four o'clock in the afternoon to be on the pitch. I'm also glad I didn't arrive too late. So I still had some time, the coarsest dirt from the mobile home

to wash off. I slept on the bench again.

●○○○○ Completed two long journeys without damage.

It is Saturday, April 23, 2022. During the night it starts to close

rain at 10 degrees, in the morning the continuous rain stays at 13

Degree. I get up early again and drive off at seven o'clock on the autobahn to the next service area and my Grand Café

with croissant. The journey to the workshop takes me first through Burgundy, then via Besançon, Montbéliard and Delsberg

to Duggingen. Despite heavy rain, some construction sites and

upcoming heavy traffic I need for the route

of 228 kilometers (152 kilometers of motorway) exactly the

planned three hours driving time. I'm at the workshop at ten o'clock sharp and can solve the problem with the service manager

discuss. He quickly confirms that one of the two electric motors and also the electronic control of the pull-down bed is defective and that you have to order spare parts for the repair. I have to reckon with one to three weeks until the execution and handover of the mobile home. I then walked to the Duggingen train station and took the S-Bahn to our apartment in Basel.

●●●●● Decided to go home. I gave it a lot of thought,

but it was the right decision. We wanted this special

model without fixed beds, but large living room and bathroom.

Now if the only bed doesn't work anymore, that's it

Of course very, very annoying, but not the end of the world either. But it must be professionally repaired immediately

because the manual alternative is simply not justifiable for the time being and can really only be used in an emergency.

Wednesday. May 18, 2022. Sunny to 28 degrees.

waited The electric motors of the pull-down bed had to be replaced. I have the model without fixed beds with a fold-down bed above the living area, so continuing the trip was not an option. There was - as in many places today - a delay in the delivery of the replacement engines. In all, I had to wait 24 days for the journey to resume.

Driven. 251 km. 146 km of highway. 3h10 driving time. Via Montbéliard and Besançon to Seurre. Problem-free, speedy journey through the well-known lovely landscapes in the Jura and Burgundy. Two short stops at Montbéliard and at a motorway car park. Moderate heavy traffic, few construction sites, no traffic jams.

seen on the way. Château and old town Montbéliard within a short walk. Montbéliard is a town of 25,806 inhabitants in the Doubs department of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region. In addition to the 13th-century Montbéliard Castle, France's first Lutheran church, Temple Saint-Martin, from 1607 is worth seeing. Wikipedia.

seen on the way. Citadelle and old town of Besançon on a motorhome tour. Not recommended due to the sometimes very narrow streets and alleys in the old town and on the hill of the Citadelle. Besançon is a town of 117,912 inhabitants, administrative center of the Doubs department and seat of the Archdiocese of Besançon. In France's greenest city lies the citadel of Besançon, a masterpiece by Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban (1633-1707), military engineer of King Louis XIV. The fortification is a historic monument by decree of 1942/1944 and counts together with eleven other constructions by Vauban since 2008 a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Other sights include: Fort Griffon and Fort of Bregille, the birthplace of Victor Hugo. Wikipedia.

See campsite. Bike tour to the open-air museum, to the old town and along the Sâone. Seurre owes its idyll to the local lock and a small, elongated island in the middle of the Sâone, which allows for the quiet, natural marina and the waterfront promenade. Seurre is a small town with 2,326 inhabitants in the Côte-d'Or department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region. A small marina is idyllically situated on the Saône. Despite an eventful history with destruction, there are still several buildings worth seeing in the old town. The Church of St. Martin is notable for its architecture, organ and carillon. On the outskirts of town there is an open-air museum L'étang rouge with reconstructed old village houses of the Saône valley. Wikipedia.

slept. Camping Car Park, Rue de la Perche a l'Oiseau, Seurre. Well located, close to the motorway and the center of Seurre. Beautiful complex with old trees, spacious parking spaces. One tenth occupied. Sanitary facilities closed.

rated. ●●●●○ for resuming the journey and some interesting visits.

Thursday, April 19, 2022. Sunny to 27 degrees.

Driven. 395 km. 341 km of highway. 4h30 driving time. Via Auxerre and Orléans to Vailly-en-Val, past Chablis, my favorite white wine. Speedy journey through Burgundy and the Loire Valley. Moderate traffic but some road works, no congestion but tiring nonetheless. Therefore several short stops at service areas and parking lots.

seen on the way. Due to the countless sights on the route from Seurre to Vailly-En-Val, I have noted the route as a to-do for an autumn trip (vintage). Including Orléans, which I only drove through but couldn't find an adequate parking space. Orléans is a municipality with 116,269 inhabitants in the Center-Val de Loire region, is a university and bishopric with an impressive Sainte-Croix cathedral and an interesting history. You can also see: the old town with the Place du Martroi and the equestrian statue of Joan of Arc , the house in which she lived in 1429, as well as buildings and monuments. Wikipedia.

seen on the way. Basilica of Notre Dame de Cléry-Saint-André, accidentally looking for the right way from Orléans to Château Meung. Notre-Dame de Cléry is a former collegiate church, a minor basilica since 1894 and is considered one of the most important religious buildings with windows in the Flamboyant style. Wikipedia.

seen on the way. Château and old town of Meung-sur-Loire. The "Loire Castle" is located in the center of Meung-sur-Loire on a small hill 20 km west of Orléans. Originally a medieval castle, the château served as the residence of the Bishops of Orléans from the 12th to the 18th centuries. Occupied by the English during the Hundred Years' War and liberated by Joan of Arc in 1429. Today, furniture from different stylistic eras can be seen in the 21 differently furnished rooms. The commune of Meung-sur-Loirei has 6,540 and is located in the Loiret department of the Centre-Val de Loire region. Wikipedia.

See campsite. Center of Beaugency and Lailly-en-Val and along the Loire riverside promenades on a 2-hour bike ride with short walks. Beaugency is worth seeing thanks to its medieval flair. Beaugency is a neighboring commune of Lailly-en-Valle with 7,339 inhabitants and has some historic monuments around the Place d Saint-Firmin (Wikipedia). Lailly-en-Val is a commune in France with 3,104 inhabitants in the Loiret department in the Centre-Val de Loire region. The municipality belongs to the arrondissement of Orléans and the canton of Beaugency. To see: Saint-Sulpice church from the 16th century, Fonpertuis castle from the 15th century and three other castles (Wikipedia).

See campsite. Idyllic fish pond in one

half-hour evening walk.

slept. Camping Car Park, Place de l'Eglise, Lailly-en-Val. Beautiful, small complex between the Saint-Sulpice church and a fishpond. About a third full.

rated. ●●●●○ for an eventful day with many impressions gained.

Friday 20 May 2022. Partly sunny, partly cloudy. Up to 23 degrees.

Driven. 224 km. 43 km highway. 3h10. Via Chambord, Bois, Tours and Le Mans to Saint-Suzanne. A brisk journey along the Loire, moderate traffic to Tours, then almost alone on the road. Few construction sites.

seen on the way. Round trip through the forest belonging to the chateau (10 km drive through the hunting area alone) and a short walk to Château Chambord and its park. Impressive contemporary witness to the French period of splendor, but also the wealth and excessiveness of the nobility from this era. Château Chambord is the largest castle in the Loire Valley, is located near Blois in an extensive former hunting ground, was built in the first half of the 16th century under King Francis I as a stately hunting lodge and is considered the most magnificent of all Loire castles. Wikipedia.

seen on the way. A short stop and walk along the banks of the Loire near Blois as an example of many idyllic places in the Loire Valley.

seen on the way. Brief stop at Le Mans Cathedral. Le Mans is a city with 143,847 inhabitants and is located at the confluence of the Sarthe and Huisne, is the capital of the Sarthe department in the Pays de la Loire region and is known for its 24-hour race. You can see: historic old town, Gothic Saint-Julien Cathedral and Roman city walls.

See campsite. Evening walk to the château and old town Sainte-Suzanne. The visit is worthwhile. Built on a hill, today it has a well-preserved medieval village and castle character and is rightly considered one of the most beautiful villages in France. The commune of Sainte-Suzanne with 1,282 inhabitants is located in the Mayenne department of the Pays de la Loire region, the château is an 11th century fortified castle, the medieval walled city has been classified as a historic monument since 1862 and that of Guillaume Fouquet de la Varenne dwelling house built in 1613 has been classified. Next to it stands the ruins of Le Donjon de Hubert II de Beaumont, another historic sight. Wikipedia.

slept. Camping Car Park, 15 rue du Camp des Anglais, Sainte Suzanne et Chammes. Well located, right next to the sights. Simple pitches, half occupied.

rated. ●●●●● for a milestone that is really worth seeing.

Today I enter my first between Laval and Vitré

Destination, Brittany . Wikipedia says that the

Brittany region as a peninsula in northwestern France

is surrounded by 2,700 kilometers of coastline. This coast draws

stand out because of their diversity: The Côte de Granit Rose

is located in the north of Brittany in the Côtes-

d'Armor and extends over 30 kilometers from Plestin-les-

Greves to Louannec. The pink granite is very rare

and only found in three other places on earth: Ontario in

Canada, Corsica and China. One of the most characteristic and

The most famous headland in Brittany is the wild Pointe du

Raz in the southwest, rising 70 meters above the sea.

The panorama over the wild Atlantic has always been an inspiration

the French authors Victor Hugo and Gustave Flaubert.

In the distance you can see the small island of Sein amidst numerous

richer lighthouses, including the famous Ar Men. To the rough

The landscape of the Pointe du Raz is formed by the white sandy beaches

and green islands of the Gulf of Morbihan contrast.

The Gulf of Morbihan is one connected to the Atlantic

Inland sea with 42 green islands in southern Brittany

Department of Morbihan. The coast is as diverse as it is

the more than 800 small and large islands that make up Brittany

surround. Some of them are: Île-de-Bréhat (Island of Flowers);

Île de Batz (tropical garden); Ouessant (most western island of the

mainland France); Île-Molène (Archipelago of Molène,

wild paradise with beaches of white sand and reefs);

Glénan Islands (archipelago with paradisiacal landscapes like

in tropical countries); Belle-Île (natural harbours, beautiful small coves, fine sand beaches, dunes and cliffs with numerous coastal caves); Ile aux Moines; Sept Îles (page

1912 Nature Reserve for Rare Bird Species). The "villes et

pays d'Art et d'Histoire” were awarded by the French Ministry of

sterium for its cultural and historical heritage. In a joint charter, they are committed to preserving and promoting this heritage, including Brittany's cities: Dinan,

Nantes, Rennes, Concarneau, Fougeres, Quimper, Vannes,

Vitré (Ille et Vilaine) and Saint Malo. In Brittany are over

There are 6,000 megaliths and 1,000 dolmens to be found, the largest concentration of 3,000 stones is in Carnac. the

Brittany is a western French region. It exists today

from the departments of Côtes-d'Armor, Finistère, Ille-et-Vilaine

and Morbihan. The region measures 27'208 square kilometers and 3'354'854 inhabitants (Bretons) lived here in 2019. Rennes is

Capital city. The department of Loire-Atlantique, part of the historic

ric Brittany, but not equal to the administrative region

Naming counts was used in the creation of the regions in the

Sixties together with the original Breton

Capital Nantes split off from the rest of Brittany. the

Brittany is the largest peninsula in France and the westernmost foothills of mainland Europe north of the Iberian

Peninsula. The Gauls called it Aremorica, "land by the sea".

Saturday. May 21, 2022. Sunny to 27 degrees.

Driven. 224 km. 82 km of highway. 3h20. Via Laval, Rennes, Monteneuf to Rochefort-en-Terre. Trouble-free, speedy driving on country roads, some of which are alternatives to the motorway, and in beautifully situated locations, past a few charming villages with the charm of Brittany. Lots of traffic up to Rennes, from Rennes almost alone on the road.

seen on the way. Old town Laval during a walk along the banks of the Mayenne. The town of Laval has 49,733 inhabitants and is the seat of the prefecture of the Mayenne department. You can see: Sainte Trinité Cathedral and Laval Castle. Wikipedia.

seen on the way. Menhirs from Monteneuf on a half-hour walk through the forest. The contemporary witnesses and the reconstructive drawings are impressive and worth seeing. The Monteneuf menhirs in the Paimpont forest in the Morbihan department are made of reddish slate and were probably destroyed in the year 1000 and only discovered in 1989 as a result of forest fires. 420 menhirs on seven hectares were uncovered, 42 of which were re-erected in their original location. The stone row is a monument historique. Menhir is a prehistoric, towering block of stone (Menhir) that served as a landmark, hearthstone, memorial stone, or road marking. A dolmen is a tomb built of blocks of stone (megaliths).

See campsite. Château Rochefort-en-Terre and Rochefort-en-Terre old town in an evening walk with many places to stop. The visit is only recommended. The village in particular looks like an intact open-air museum with its very well-preserved and restored half-timbered and half-timbered buildings. Rochefort-en-Terre is a commune with 641 inhabitants in the Morbihan department in the Brittany region and is one of the most beautiful villages in France. You can see: Grand Rue with some medieval houses, Notre-Dame de la Tronchaye collegiate church from the 12th century and Rochefort castle ruins from the 13th century. Wikipedia.

slept. Camping Sites & Paysages au Gre des Vents, Chemin de Bogeais 2, Rochefort en Terre. Nice well located deposit with pool and clean sanitary facilities. Spacious pitches, half occupied.

rated. ●●●●● for the many impressions on another well-chosen travel day.

Sunday. 22 May 2022. Cloudy to sunny. Up to 26 degrees.

Groomed. The front of the mobile home was cleaned and washed from insects in the morning. Stubborn and labor intensive.

See campsite. Bike tour in the afternoon around the campsite via Questembert, Pluherlin, the Etang Moulin neuf and back via Rochefort-en Terre to the campsite with many stops and visits. Little traffic, country roads that are easy to drive on, but in some towns they are in a questionable condition. It's a pity that the market hall in Questembert was closed because of a small comptoir and the Etang Moulin neuf pond is now a much-visited "leisure park". The municipality of Questembert (Breton: Kistreberzh) with 7,862 inhabitants in the Morbihan department of Brittany, where in 888 King Alain the Great together with the Count of Rennes Judicael defeated the Normans in battle. To see: the Saint-Pierre church and the market hall, 56 meters long, 16 meters wide and built in 1675 in oak. The hall consists of a single nave with 17 cross braces. The Saint-Gentien Church (1902) and the 15th-century Château de Talhouët are located in the municipality of Pluherlin with 1,532 inhabitants in the Morbihan department. Wikipedia.

slept. Camping Sites & Paysages au Gré des Vents as the day before

rated. ●●●○○ for a good impression of the villages and fields in Brittany.

Monday. May 23, 2022. Cloudy and windy. Up to 23 degrees.

Driven. 86 km. On country roads. 1h30 driving time. Via Vannes and Auray to Carnac. Relatively brisk journey with sometimes heavy traffic, characterized by the typical landscapes of Brittany.

seen on the way. Old town of Vannes on a 3 hour walk with many sightseeing stops. An absolute must when visiting Brittany. The old town and the preserved city wall are worth seeing as described. With 53,719 inhabitants, Vannes is the capital of the Morbihan department in the Brittany region. The city is part of the Golfe du Morbihan Regional Nature Park. The entire cityscape is worth seeing, but especially the city wall and the wash house. Also worth seeing: the cathedral, Château de l'Hermine, town hall on Place Maurice-Marchais. Wikipedia.

seen on the way. Old town of Auray on a 2 hour walk with many sightseeing stops and lunch at Bistrot des Halles. Very touristy, but worth seeing for me was the area around the Pont de Saint-Goustan with its alleys. Auray is a commune with 14,141 inhabitants in the Morbihan department of the Brittany region and a popular tourist destination. Worth seeing in town is the triangular Place de la République in the upper town with half-timbered houses and the town hall built in 1882. The Saint-Gildas church from 1641 is a monument historique. Wikipedia.

See campsite. Old town and port of Carnac on a one-hour bike tour. You can feel the flair of a more exclusive tourist resort on the Atlantic near the Gulf of Morbihan. Carnac is a commune with 4,236 inhabitants in the Morbihan department in the Brittany region. It is located on the Côte des Mégalithes and is famous for its more than 3,000 menhirs grouped into rows of stones. The climatically stable southern coast of Brittany, with its many bays and sandy beaches, has been popular with the French since the 1920s, and since the 1960s other Europeans have also come to visit the many prehistoric sites. Wikipedia.

slept. Camping les Druides, 55 Chemin de Beaumer, Carnac. Nice complex with pool and clean sanitary facilities. Slightly more expensive due to the great location. Spacious pitches, about half occupied.

rated. ●●●●● for historically impressive images.

Tuesday. 24 May 2022. Mostly sunny, cool wind. Up to 20 degrees.

See campsite. The Grand Menhir Brisé, the fishing village of Locmariaquer on the Gulf of Morbihan and the Carnac stone series on an extended bike tour with many stops and walks for many individual visits. A small but fine complex shows the originally 20 meter high Grand Menhir Brisé, a single grave Tumulus d'Er and a mass grave Dolmen de la Table des Marchand, including a visitor center and video with everything worth knowing about the cult of megaliths. The layout impressed me almost even more than the three-kilometre drive along the Carnac stone ridges. In my opinion, the latter are most impressive in the middle part of Kermario. Culinary: No visit to Brittany without Huîtres (Entrée) et Moules au Roquefort (Principal), enjoyed in L'Escale right on the sea in the idyllic port of Locmariaquer. The Grand Menhir Brisé near Locmariaquer is the largest known menhir in the world. The municipality of Locmariaquer with 1,552 inhabitants is best known for its impressive monuments from the megalithic period. Composed of three groups, Kerlescan, Kermario and Le Menec, the Carnac stone series are over three kilometers long and originally contained over 3000 stones ranging in height from 0.5 to 4.0 m. The largest stones are at the west end. The original length was probably eight kilometers and included the monuments of Le Petit Menec, St. Barbe and Kerzerho and stretched from Crac'h to Plouharnel. Wikipedia.

slept. Camping les Druides, like the day before.

rated. ●●●●● for a simply great eventful day.

Wednesday. May 25, 2022. Cloudy, partly drizzle. Up to 18 degrees.

See campsite. The Cote Sauvage, dune parks and the port district of Port-Haliguen on an extended bike tour across the long Quiberon peninsula with several walks along the coast and at individual vantage points in the wide dune landscape. Worth seeing is the small nature park at Pointe de Goulvars and along Port-Haliguen with its lighthouse. I did without Quiberon and the Belle-Île-en-Mer (too many people and too stormy sea). Culinary: Very good John Dory in L'Atlantic right on the harbor in Port-Haliguen. On the way home, we briefly visited the Benedictine Abbey of Saint-Anne de Kergonan and the Eglise Saint-Cornély in Carnac. Quiberon with its port city of the same name and 4,658 inhabitants is a peninsula in the Morbihan department and lives from fishing and tourism. You can see: Château Turpault and the harbor with a view of the Côte Sauvage and the offshore Belle-Île-en-Mer. Wikipedia.

slept. Camping les Druides, like the day before.

rated. ●●●●○ for beautiful walks in impressive coastal and dune landscapes of a special promontory.

Driveway. 26 May 2022. Cloudy, partly sunny. Up to 17 degrees.

Driven. 97 km. 1h30 driving time. Via Hennebont, past Lorient to Port-Aven. Beautiful route on coastal roads through villages and fields. Heavy holiday traffic, but no heavy traffic and no construction sites. Brief stop in Hennebont at the abbey, but full because of the market and drove on. Lorient left out.

See campsite. Extended walk through the artists' village, the harbor and through the parks along the canal. Pont-Aven is rightly ranked among the most beautiful villages in France and is always worth a visit. The Bois d'Armour park is recommended, with information boards at the places where Paul Gauguin painted. I'm not an art connoisseur, but in the countless galleries today you see little that compares to the masters of their craft. Pont -Aven is a municipality with 2,821 inhabitants in the FinisPont-tère department of the Brittany region and is located in Cornouaille at the beginning of the Aven estuary in the Atlantic. Worth seeing in the well-known and idyllic artists' village are the Musée de Pont-Aven and the surrounding menhirs of Kerangosquer, the Allée couverte of Coat Luzuen, the Allée couverte of Moulin René and the rock tombs Tombeaux des Geants. Wikipedia.

slept. Camping Car Park, Rue Louis Lomenech, Pont Aven. Simple, practical parking space. Well located walking distance to the center. Fully occupied (driveway).

rated. ●●●●○ for a "picturesque" tour of the village despite the slowly beginning tourist crowds.

Friday. May 27, 2022. Cloudy. Up to 19 degrees.

See campsite. Many landscape pictures of Brittany on the bike tour from Pont-Aven via Nervez to Concarneau and back again, partly on country roads, partly on cycle paths. The old town "Ville close", the fortress walls, the harbour, the small but fine market "des Halles" and the Friday market of the traveling traders on a long walk. The well-preserved fortress with the shops and restaurants in the old houses is worth seeing, even if it naturally attracts masses of tourists. Concarneau is a commune in the arrondissement of Quimper and in the department of Finistère, belongs to the historical region of Cornouaille and has 19,816 inhabitants. A tour of the city wall offers beautiful insights into the streets and views of the harbors and the new town. The Ville close is situated on an island in the harbor bay and is completely surrounded by fortress walls. Within the walls there are souvenir shops, small restaurants and a fishing museum. If you move away from the battlements and alleys, then new treasures are revealed in the fishing port or on the beaches. Wikipedia.

slept. Camping Car Park, Pont Aven. Like yesterday.

rated. ●●●●○ for the historical landmark.

Saturday. 28 May 2022. Sunny. Up to 20 degrees.

Driven. 141 km. 3h30 driving time. On country and coastal roads via Loctudy, Guilvinec and Audiene to Cap Sizun to the Pointe du Raz and Pointe du Van views and along the coast to Douarnenez. Moderate traffic, some detours due to construction sites, some narrow roads at the viewpoints.

seen on the way. Harbor with views of Île Tudy and the lighthouse at Loctudy within a short walk at the first stop. Café with croissant in the Café du Port. The municipality of Loctudy with 4,013 inhabitants in the Finistère department is a well-known port and bathing resort. You can also see: Saint-Rudy church from the 11th century; Manoir de Kerazan with a spacious park and tall, old trees; Le Domaine du Dourdy with chateau from 1913; Manoir de Kervéréguen from 1242; Chapelle Notre Dame du Croaziou; Menhir de Penglaouic; Phare La Perdrix; Phare de Langoz; Ile-Tudy. Wikipedia.

seen on the way. The Pointe du Raz and the Pointe du Van on extended walks at intermediate stops on the Cap Sizun circuit. The Pointe du Raz is better known and therefore often overcrowded with tourists, while the Pointe du Van is less frequented and, in my opinion, is no less interesting. The Point du Raz is a rocky cape that forms the top of Cap Sizun and is located in western Finistère. The sheer cliff that juts out into the sea with a height difference of 72 meters is one of the most characteristic places on the Brittany coast. Numerous legends surround Pointe du Raz. The Hell of Plogoff, a tunnel dug through the sea into the cape, is said to be the place to which the drowned are brought back, whose groans can be heard. A tourist center and car park have been built at some distance and are connected to the Pointe by a shuttle bus. Wikipedia.

See campsite. Port and old town of Douarnenez on a bike tour in the evening. Offers little special. Douarnenez is the administrative center with 18,227 inhabitants and is located in the west of the historical region of Cornouaille at the mouth of the Pouldavid estuary on the south bank of the Bay of Douarnenez. In front of Douarnenez is the rocky island of Ile de Tristan. You can see the built church of Saint-Herlé with a Gothic tower from the 16th century, the chapels of Saint-Michel, Sainte-Hélène and Sainte-Croix from the 17th century. Wikipedia.

slept. Camping Car Park, 14 route de Trezulien, Douarnenez. Easiest place in the group that I've approached so far. Accordingly also hardly occupied.

rated. ●●●●○ for the beautiful natural landscapes on Cap Sizun.

Sunday. 29 May 2022. Sunny. Up to 21 degrees.

Driven. 146 km. 4h30 driving time. On country and coastal roads first made a detour to Quimper and via Crozon on the peninsula of the same name to the three sightseeing points Cap de la Chèvre, Camaret-sur-Mer with Tour Vauvan and the Pointe de Espagnols and back to Crozon. Little traffic like the day before, but partly very narrow coastal roads to the vantage points.

seen on the way. Cathedral and Odet Quai in Quimper on a morning walk. Everything overslept, so no problem with a central parking lot. Quimper is the capital of the historical region of Cornoalle and seat of the prefecture of the department of Finistère and has 63,283 inhabitants. The city name means confluence because it was built at the confluence of the Jet, the Steir and the Frout with the Odet. The city is famous for its porcelain manufacture. Quimper has a picturesque old town, some of whose houses date back to the Middle Ages and is therefore a popular tourist destination. Visible from afar, the pointed towers of the Cathédrale Saint Corentin tower over the city. The Benedictine Priory Church of Notre-Dame from the 11th century is located in the district of Locmaria. Wikipedia.

seen on the way. The Crozon peninsula on a round trip to the three striking vantage points. Both scenically worth seeing and historically interesting impressions were gained. The view of Brest from Pointe des Espagnols across the bay is also beautiful. Located in the extreme west of the Finistière department, the Crozon Peninsula is part of the Armorique Regional Natural Park, the only natural park in Brittany . You can see: the Cap de la Chèvre with the large heath areas, the Pointe Penhir, the Vauban tower at Camaret-sur-Mer from 1683 (like the Besançon Citadel Unesco World Heritage Site) and the Pointe des Espagnols.

See campsite. Bike tour through center ville Crozon and to the seaside resort of Morgat with its well-known caves. Crozon is insignificant (everything is closed on Sundays), Morgat, on the other hand, is very busy with tourists and is beautifully situated on a bay with a wide beach. With 7,386 inhabitants, the municipality of Crozon is the main town on the Crozon peninsula in the Finistère department and is gradually growing together with the port and bathing resort of Morgat. You can see the stone rows of Lagatjar and Lostmarch, in Morgat the rock grottoes that are only accessible from the sea. Otherwise no sights mentioned. Wikipedia.

slept. Camping Car Park, Rue de Poulpatré, Crozon.

rated. ●●●●○ for an eventful round trip through an area of scenic and historical interest.

Monday. 30 May 2022. Sunny. Up to 20 degrees.

Driven. 274 km. 5h20 driving time. Through the nature park via Pleyben and Mont d'Arrée to La Faou, further past Brest around the peninsula via Le Conquet, Ploudalmézeau and Plouescat to Cléder. Largely on country and coastal roads, some of which are narrow again and have many detours. Moderate traffic, no heavy traffic, only slow traffic at the Brest bypass.

seen on the way. Circular drive through the nature park via Pleyben (important walled parish) and over the Mont d'Arrée (ancient mountain range of the Armorican massif consisting of moorland as in Ireland and Wales) and on to La Faou with short walks through Pleyben, the moorland in the park and through La Faou. Everything worth seeing. Created in 1969, the d'Armorique Natural Park covers an area of 112,000 hectares (of which 60,000 hectares are marine). 39 communes make up the park, which consists of the islands of the Iroise Sea with the megaliths of the Molene archipelago, the Crozon peninsula, the Aulne-Maritime and the Monts-d'Arrée mountains. The park administration is in Le Faou, a commune in the Finistère department with 1,744 inhabitants and once classified as one of the most beautiful villages in France. Sights in the old town include the 16th-century slate-roofed granite houses, the 16th-century Church of St. Sauveur and the 17th-century Sanctuary of Notre-Dame-de-Rumengol. Wikipedia.

seen on the way. Short bike ride to the port, the old town and the forts of Le Conquet. In my opinion, there is nothing special about driving around this peninsula. The scenery is beautiful and charming, but the roads are too far from the coasts. Brest is a port city with 139,926 inhabitants, sheltered in a deep inland bay of the Atlantic with a natural harbor in the mouth of the Penfeld river. Brest is an important naval port in France, has no mentioned sights apart from the fortress and remains of Vauban fortifications, the Tour Tanguy tower, the Pont de Recouvrance lift bridge from 1954, an Océanopolis adventure park, a church and a museum. Le Conquet is a small fishing and ferry port with 2,750 inhabitants. In addition to a few churches and chapels from the last few centuries, the small harbor and the lighthouse that characterizes the townscape, the two Forts Saint-Louis and l'Îlette de Kermorvan, which date from the middle of the 19th century, are worth seeing. Wikipedia.

Seen campsite . Dunes and covered market at Plouescat, beaches and church at Cléder. Maison de Garde des Amiets and Cam-Louis Menhir on a 2-hour evening bike tour. The variety of scenic and cultural impressions of the area is impressive. Cléder is a commune with 3,683 inhabitants in the Finitère department and is known for its beaches. Also worth seeing are three old noble residences: Tronjoly Castle from the 16th century, ruins of Kergournadeac'h Castle intentionally destroyed in 1760 and Kermenguy Castle from 1632. Wikipedia.

slept. Camping Car Park, Le Poulennou, Cléder. Well located near the sea. Half occupied.

rated . ●●●●○ for the morning in the nature park.

Tuesday. 31 May 2022. Sunny. Up to 19 degrees.

Driven. 44 km. 1h00 driving time. On country roads via Roscoff to Henvic. Little traffic, fast journey.

seen on the way. Château de Kérouzéré on a short walk. Remote and rarely visited, but the detour was worth it for me, historically worth seeing. The Château de Kérouzéré is a 15th-century Breton castle in the commune of Sibiril in the French department of Finistère. Wikipedia.

seen on the way. Old town and port of Roscoff on a long morning walk. In my opinion one of the most historically interesting places of the trip so far. Lots of nice impressions. Breton three-course lunch with Merluc at Café au Port. Recommended. Roscoff is a commune with 3,489 inhabitants, has a historic town center and was a first center for thalassotherapy in the 19th century because of its mild sea climate. Important ferry port for travelers to Great Britain and the Île de Batz. Wikipedia.

See campsite. Carantec old town, Château Taureau and the white beach of Carantec on an extended bike tour in the afternoon. Carantec is a popular seaside resort with 3,189 inhabitants. The 16th-century Château Taureau is a fortress built on a cliff to protect the town of Morlaix from English attacks. Wikipedia.

slept. Camping Car Park, Rue du Pont, Henvic. Beautiful facility, laid out in a circle with spacious parking spaces. Barely occupied.

rated. ●●●●● for historically valuable Roscoff.

Wednesday. 1 June 2022. Sunny. Up to 17 degrees.

Driven. 118 km. 2h30 driving time. On country and coastal roads via Morlaix, Lannion and from Trébeurden to Paimbol along the Côte de Granit Rose. Pleasantly quiet ride with moderate traffic.

seen on the way. The beginning of the Côte de Granit Rose at Trébeurden with a short walk at the port. The Côte de Granit Rose is a stretch of coast in northern Brittany between Trébeurden and Paimbol. Because of its bizarre rock formations made of reddish granite, especially around Perros-Guirec, it is considered a tourist attraction. The pink-colored granite formed 300 million years ago in the Upper Carboniferous during the Variscan Orggenesis, a phase of mountain building as a result of the collision of the supercontinents Gondwana and Laurussia and several microplates. These can best be seen on the old customs officers' path from Perros-Guirec to Ploumanac'h. The granite owes its characteristic coloring to its content of hematite and alkaline feldspar. Wikipedia.

seen on the way. The aforementioned customs officer's path on a good one-hour walk across the Phare de Mean Ruz and the old customs officer's house next to it. Absolutely worth seeing. One of the best visits of my trip so far. The rock formations are uniquely interesting and impressively embedded in the coast. They remind me of the granite fields in the Seychelles. The Phare de Ploumanac'h, officially Phare de Mean Ruz, is a lighthouse built in 1945 on the Channel coast of Brittany. Wikipedia..

See campsite. The l'Abbaye de Beauport, the port and the old town of Paimpol. The abbey was once again a good example for me that ruins are just as interesting historically as restored cultural assets. In the harbor observed the beginning of the tide between five and seven. In Brittany, the tide reaches its highest level (with a rise of 9 metres) around midnight. Beauport Abbey was founded in 1202 with the support of Alain I, Count of Penthièvre. He made land available between the mouth of the Correc and a swamp area, the "Pré aux oies" (goose pasture), where monks from the Premonstratensian Abbey of La Lucerne near Avenches settled. Equipped with papal privileges, they began building the monastery in 1203. Beauport thrived mainly in the 13th and 14th centuries and flourished again in the first half of the 18th century. The decline from 1750 was followed by closure in 1790. The abbey was not classified as a monument historique until 1862. The restoration work started in 1992 made Beauport one of the most important tourist destinations in Brittany. The municipality of Paimbol with 7,179 inhabitants in the department of Côtes-d'Armor is the administrative center and its name means "at the extreme end of the water surface"Wikipedia.

slept. Camping de Cruckin, Rue de Cruckin, Paimpol. Beautiful campsite almost directly on the sea with clean sanitary facilities. Inexpensive. Two-thirds full.

rated. ●•••• for the unique Côte de Granit Rose.

Thursday. June 2, 2022.

felt. Weather mostly cloudy with 11 to 18 degrees.

Driven. 168 km. 3h40 driving time. Mainly on rural and coastal roads Pléneuf-Val-André, Saint-Malo and Cancale to Hirel. Despite heavy traffic and a few detours, the journey was relatively quick. First seen a traffic jam near Saint-Brieuc, a good five kilometers, but on the opposite lane.

seen on the way. Megalithic cairn de la Ville-Pichard at Pléneuf-Val-André, the natural part of the port of Dahouët on short stops and walks and the seaside resort of Pléneuf-Val-André when passing through. Typical French seaside resort, partly showing its age. I'm probably too critical here, but once you've seen Biarritz, you've seen them all. The heavily overgrown Cairn de Ville-Pichard sits on a cliff overlooking the tidal island of Île du Verdelet. On a small hill lie the remains of three round dolmens from the Middle Neolithic. The complex was excavated in 1887 and placed under protection in 1965. A megalith (here a dolmen heap) is a Neolithic drystone monument, circular or square, completely covering one or more passage dolmens. The rooms of these dolmens can be made of dry stone or corbelled vaults, the most common case at the beginning of the 5th millennium, or be entirely maglithic

Dahouët is a small Breton port in the town of Pleneuf-Val-André. The road gently enters this port, passing the foot of the 1821 tide mill. The marina offers 185 places on buoys and 313 places in a floating pool. the basin of the saline. Its natural character, heritage and some shops make it an important tourist site. A coastal path allows you to reach the beach of Val-André in less than half an hour along a very pleasant route.

Pléneuf-Val-André is a commune with 4,083 inhabitants in the department of Côtes-d'Armor and is known as a seaside resort. The Îlot du Verdelet is a tidal island off the Point of Piégu. Wikipedia.

seen on the way. The fortified city of Saint-Malo on an extended bike tour and the walkable city walls on short walks. Parked in a suburb and cycled to and through the city. The tourist traffic is immense, but this place of worship is simply unique. In any case, plan and see. Had lunch at Brasserie Amoricaine, but there have been better. Saint-Malo is a town with 46,803 inhabitants in the Îlle-et-Vilaine department, the most important port on the north coast of Brittany and one of the most visited places in France due to the faithfully reconstructed historic town center and the fortifications. Wikipedia.

seen on the way. Fishing village Cancale on transit (centre, promenade, port). No parking space found within a useful time, also heavy traffic and very busy streets. The location at the beginning of the Bay of Saint-Michel is uniquely beautiful. Cancale is a commune with 5,226 inhabitants in the Îlle-et-Vilaine department and is located in the bay of Mont Saint-Michel on the Côte d'Emeraude. The upper town is 45 m above sea level and is the center with a church, market, shops and the bathing villa settlement at the Pointe du Hock and along the Rue Robert Surcouf, which is famous for its architecture and the picturesque view of Mont-Saint-Michel becomes. The romantic harbor is located directly on the sea, in the Port-Mer district there is a popular sandy beach. The Pointe du Grouin, about four kilometers from the city center, is a popular destination. Wikipedia.

See campsite. The bay of Mont Saint-Michel on a bike tour along the dam to the small towns of Hirel and Le Vivier-sur-Mer. The Bay of Mont Saint-Michel is a depression of about 500 km² between Cancale and Granville. The bay is the scene of the largest tidal range in Europe, with the difference between low and high tide being almost 15 m. It also harbors a varied natural landscape that includes the largest salt marsh and polder area in France. Wikipedia.

slept. Camping Car Park, Ville es Brune, Hirel. Beautiful location directly on the coast road along the bay of Mont Saint-Michel.

rated. ●•••• for Saint Malo. exclamation mark.

Today I leave Brittany and enter Normandy.

I read on Wikipedia about Normandy: Already at the beginning of the

nineteenth century, Normandy developed too

a popular travel destination. As Napoleon and his wife

Marie-Louise of Austria visited the port city of Dieppe,

Dieppe was already a popular holiday spot for British high schoolers

Society. Hortense de Beauharnais and the Duchess of Berry

shortly thereafter made Dieppe the first sea resort in France.

They were enthusiastic about romantic castles and abbeys

and thus to be able to walk in the footsteps of their ancestors.

Marie-Henri Beyle (Stendhal) then coined the term tourism and William Turner illustrated the first Romantic Normandy travel guide in 1828. Special attractions of Normandy are the legendary Mont-Saint-Michel and

the world famous Bayeux Tapestry. More Sights-

properties are Claude Monet's house and gardens at Giverny, the

white chalk cliffs of Étretat and the landing coast of the Allied invasion on D-Day, June 6, 1944. La Cité de

la Mer is a museum in Cherbourg dedicated to the sea. The neighboring towns of Deauville and Trouville-sur-Mer

are popular seaside resorts. Christian pilgrims visit in turn

the places of birth and death of Alençon and Lisieux of the saint

Therese of Lisieux, as well as Rouen as the place of the martyrdom of

Saint Joan of Arc. Normandy is a region

in northern France and founded in 996 AD as

historical province. The area is divided into the lower

Seine area (former Haute-Normandie) from Giverny to the

Sea and land to the west (former Basse-Normandie)

with the Cotentin Peninsula. To the former duchy

Normandy also included the Channel Islands. Between punchline

de Barfleur and Cap de la Hève, the Baie de

Seine, the most striking bay in Normandy. The Duchy

began as a fief to Rollo, a Viking chieftain through the

West Frankish King Charles (911). Rollo's descendants succeeded

conquest of England. The Dukes of Normandy were too

Kings of England (until 1087, from 1106 to 1144 and from 1154).

The duchy then fell in the Hundred Years' War

reign of the French kings. With the creation of the

Départements in the wake of the French Revolution and

the two regions of Haute-Normandie and Basse-Normandie

Normandy was no longer a political entity from 1972, but

the question of the reunification of Normandy remained popular,

so that the merger took place again, in 2016 as part of the reorganization of the French regions. To this region

Normandy today includes the departments of Calvados, Eure,

Manche, Orne and Seine-Maritime. lived in Normandy

2019 3'325'032 people. Le Havre is the largest city, followed by Rouen, Caen and Cherbourg.

Friday. June 3, 2022.

felt. Weather first cloudy, then rain at 12 to 19 degrees.

Driven. 171 km. 120 km of highway. 2h30. Via Mont Saint-Michel, Avrenches, Saint-Lo to Utah Beach. Heavy traffic at times, but still a quick journey as there are hardly any construction sites, diversions or heavy traffic.

seen on the way. Mont Saint-Michel Abbey a good two-hour walk from the car park and through the town and up the ramparts which can be walked. In the morning between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. the flow of visitors was still limited. Lunch at Auberge St. Pierre, one of the countless restaurants on the "main street" leading up to the abbey. Mont Saint-Michel is a commune with 29 inhabitants in the department of Manche in Normandy and consists of the rocky island of Mont Saint-Michel in the bay of the same name in the Wadden Sea and parts of the mainland. The island, named after Archangel Michael, is about a kilometer from the coast. The fortified abbey dominates the islet and is an example of the Norman architectural style from 1022. Unesco World Heritage Site since 1979. Wikipedia.

See campsite. Utah Beach and associated museum on a short bike tour. Since the anniversary of the invasion on June 6, 1944, one can see many "remembrance people" in old uniforms and vehicles (military jeeps and motorcycles) on the beach and especially in the town of Sainte-Marie-du Mont on the approach to Utah -Beach. Utah Beach is the place and code name for a partial Allied landing during World War II for the five-kilometer stretch of coast between Poppeville and La Madeleine. The next landing sectors were Omaha Beach, Gold Beach, Juno Beach and Sword Beach and the Pointe du Hoc gun emplacement. In Utah Beach, the US Army began the invasion on June 6, 1944, an hour before the other Allies on the other beaches. Wikipedia.

slept. Camping Car Park, La Madeleine, Utah Beach. Rather desolate facility in "no man's land" except for the nearby sea and the museum.

rated. ●•••• for Mont Saint-Michel. exclamation mark.

Pentecost Saturday. June 4, 2022.

felt. Weather at night storms, thunderstorms and rain, brightening in the afternoon at 12 to 19 degrees.

See campsite. Villages in the hinterland of Utah Beach on an extended bike tour in the morning with brief stops at countless monuments and for shopping in Saint-Mêre-Eglise. At the Airborn Museum there, a big commemorative event with a bazaar of historical military paraphernalia and a "Chilbi" is taking place these days. The surrounding villages are full of "military souvenir" shops.

See campsite. Dunes and beach in the afternoon on a long walk along the coast and a short visit to the Utah Beach Landing Museum. The museum, opened in 1962, is located on the spot where a German bunker secured the stretch of coast. It was destroyed by the American attack on the morning of June 6, 1944. The museum commemorates in particular the US troops involved in the invasion. In addition to a landing craft and many smaller war-related exhibits, the museum features one of the few surviving American Martin B-26 "Maurauder" medium bombers.

slept. Camping Car Park, Utah Beach. Like yesterday.

rated. ●●●○○ for the opportunity to spend a quiet day commemorating the countless victims of war around the world in a place as historically special as Utah Beach. On the other hand, I was personally - without being moralistic - astonished by the currently more "folkloric" number of visitors, also in view of the renewed misery in the Ukraine.

Pentecost Sunday. June 5, 2022.

felt. Weather first cloudy, then sunny at 12 to 19 degrees.

Driven. 219 km. 110 km of highway. 4h30 driving time. Via Goury, Cherbourg, Carentan to Caen. On country and coastal roads on the Cotentin Peninsula and in the Natural Park, on the motorways to Caen. Fast ride without major hindrances.

seen on the way. Along the coast on the Cotentin peninsula to Cape La Hague with the Goury lighthouse, continuing with a short stopover at the port of Cherbourg and through the Marais et du Bessin Regional Nature Park near Carentan and finally to Caen. The Cotentin is a French peninsula in the department of Manche on the English Channel with the main town of Cherbourg. The Goury lighthouse stands 800 meters from the cape on the Gros du Raz rock. It signals the Raz Blanchard, one of the strongest tidal currents in Europe, between Cap de la Hague and the Channel Island of Alderney, and the northern entrance to the Passage de la Déroute, which leads to the east coast of Jersey Island. The historic port city of Cherbourg, with a population of 25,370, has a seaport with a naval base for the French Navy and a marina. In Cherbourg is the museum La Cité de la Mer, which houses the largest nuclear submarine open to the public, Le Redoutable, as well as the Bathyscaphe Archimède. The museum also has a 12-meter high aquarium and an ocean-themed exhibition. Above the port is the Gothic basilica of Ste-Trinité. Located in the departments of Calvados and Manche, the Marais du Cotentin et du Bessin Natural Park was created in 1991 and covers an area of 150,000 hectares, of which 30,000 hectares are wetlands and marshes of European importance on the Contentin peninsula. River valleys and salt marshes on the east coast create a variety of natural habitats with heaths, marshes, bogs as well as hedgerows and coastal landscapes. At the center of the park is Carentan, from where boat trips on the Douve and Taute through the park depart.

See campsite. Château de Caen, abbeys, Vaugueux half-timbered district, pedestrian zone on a two-hour bike tour with short stops and walks. In my opinion, the large, partly well-preserved castle (château) is worth seeing, also thanks to the view of the city from the fortress walls. Caen is a city with 106,230 inhabitants in the department of Calvados and is situated on the river Orne, 15 kilometers upstream of its mouth in the English Channel. The two Romanesque churches of the Abbaye aux Hommes Saint-Etienne and Abbaye aux Dames Sainte-Trinité as well as the castle of William the Conqueror are the most important sights and at the same time the most important monuments. Wikipedia.

slept. Camping Car Park, Rue de Roquemonts, Caen. Nice, small, well-located parking space with spacious pitches. Almost full.

rated. ●○○○○ ●●○○○ ●••○○ ●•••○ ●••••.

Whit Monday. June 6, 2022.

felt. Weather at night thunderstorms and rain, during the day sun at 12 to 18 degrees.

See campsite. Bayeux old town with the tapestry in the Center Guillaume le Conquérant on an extended bike tour from Caen via Creully to Bayeux with short walks in the Musée des Tapissier and the old town. Definitely worth a visit in my opinion. Bayeux is a municipality with 12,682 inhabitants in the Calvados department and has an almost completely preserved urban structure around the cathedral . These include city palaces from the 17th and 18th centuries, some of which are still privately owned, parish churches at the city exits and especially the tanning district. The Museum of the Allied Landings in World War II comprehensively shows the events of 1944 in the region. The medieval Bayeux Tapestry is on display at the Musée de la Tapisserie. It depicts the history of the Norman conquest of England at the famous Battle of Hastings in 1066. h. T he tapestry was embroidered in the second half of the 11th century on a 52 centimeter high, 68 meter long strip of cloth and shows the conquest of England by the Norman Duke William the Conqueror in 58 individual scenes over a distance of 68 meters and ends with the battle in Hastings . The carpet has been part of UNESCO's Memory of the World program since 2007. Wikipedia.

See campsite. Evening stroll through the park at the nearby Caen Memorial. The Mémorial de Caen documents Operation Neptune with the Allied landings in Normandy on June 6, 1944 and the ensuing battles to liberate Normandy from German occupation, and embeds this in 20th-century European history from World War I to fall of the wall. Annually 630,000 visitors. Wikipedia.

slept. Camping Car Park, Caen. Like yesterday.

rated. ●•••• for a unique historical document and a historically well-preserved old town.

Tuesday. June 7, 2022.

felt. Weather alternately cloudy and sunny at 12 to 20 degrees.

Driven. 90 km. 2h00 driving time. Mostly country and coastal roads via Cabourg to Deauville. After slow traffic on the Caen bypass, proceed quickly with moderate traffic.

See campsite. Seaside resorts of Deauville and Trouville-sur-Mer on a short bike tour and several short walks in the ports, on the promenades and the pedestrian zones in the centers. The places are in the immediate vicinity separated by the river Toques. Deauville looks to me like a large, sophisticated shopping center on a film set, while Trouville-sur-Mer has retained more of a historical charm. Deauville is a municipality with 3,565 inhabitants in the Calvados department and a well-known seaside resort. The important marina, racecourse, sumptuous villas and hotels, casino and wide sandy beach and promenade all contribute to Deauville being regarded as one of Normandy's most elegant seaside resorts. Deauville was a popular subject for the Impressionists. An important building is the church of St. Laurent with a medieval hagioscope, the so-called leprosy column. Trouville-sur-Mer is a commune with 4,603 inhabitants. In contrast to Deauville, which was designed on the drawing board by the architect Brunet in 1859, Trouville is a historically grown fishing port and has gradually become more popular, as evidenced by numerous magnificent buildings from the turn of the century. The fish hall from 1936 is a historical monument. Wikipedia.

slept. Camping le Chant des Oiseaux, 11 route d'Honfleur, Trouville-sur-mer. Beautifully located campsite about three kilometers outside of Trouvaille-sur-Mer. The pitches are terraced on a cliff some 60 meters high, right by the sea.

rated. ●●●○○ for the beautifully situated parking space and the contrast between historic and more modern seaside resorts.

Wednesday. June 8, 2022.

felt. Weather alternately cloudy and sunny at 13 to 20 degrees.

See campsite. Beach below the campsite with a view of Trouvaille-sur-Mer and the port of Le Havre on a morning stroll. A beautiful beach almost to myself.

See campsite. Beaches and promenades of Trouvaille-sur-Mer and Deauville on shorter walks with afternoon stops. I was particularly struck by the old stone bathhouses. Also visit the fish market, the today's "moving" market and the church of St. Laurent in Trouvaille-sur-Mer.

slept. Camping le Chant des Oiseaux. Like yesterday.

rated. ●●●○○ for a relaxing "rest day".

felt. Weather largely sunny at 14 to 18 degrees.

seen on the way. Seaside resort of Honfleur on a long walk with stops at the port, in the old town, at the church of Saint Catherine and the warehouses of Grenier à sel. In my opinion, a must-see place to visit. Honfleur is a port city with 6,733 inhabitants. Today the painters still stand on the Honfleur quay and in the Greniers à sel, two warehouses built in 1670 east of the Vieux Bassin in l'Enclos, a defensive structure built in the 13th century. The Sainte Catherine church with the free-standing tower was built entirely of wood by ship carpenters in the 15th century with two twin naves and a roof structure like ship hulls. The church is a historical monument. A masterpiece of engineering is the Ponte de Normandie, inaugurated in 1995; it is one of the longest bridges in Europe. Wikipedia.

See campsite. Chalk cliffs of Étretat, old town and Chapelle Notre-Dame on a walk from the old town to one of the cliffs, after a short bike ride from the campsite. Etretat is a seaside resort with 1,237 inhabitants in the Seine-Maritime department and is known for the steep cliffs with their extraordinary rock formations that frame the town on both sides. The town is geared towards tourism with hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops and a wide range of leisure and sports activities. Wikipedia.

slept. Camping L'Aiguille Creuse. 24, Residence L'Aiguille Creuse, Les Loges. Beautifully located, quiet, family campsite. Generous parking spaces in the roundabout. Two-thirds full. 6 km to Etretat.

rated. ●●●●● for must-see places.

Friday. June 10, 2022.

felt. Mostly cloudy and windy at 14 to 19 degrees.

See campsite. The port city of Fécamp and the seaside resort of Yport on an extensive bike tour with a few short stops and walks, especially in Fécamp. The place didn't look very attractive to me (getting old), but the historical buildings and the view from Cap Fagnet are worth a visit. Yport was only interesting for the detour because of the chalk cliffs that surround the town impressively closely. Fécamp is a port city with 18,041 inhabitants in the department of Seine-Maritime in the Normandy region and is located at sea level on the English Channel. The city maintains a commercial port, a fishing port and a marina. The cliffs of the area are known as the Alabaster Coast and the most famous product from Fécamp is the liqueur Bénédictine distilled here. Fécamp has been recognized as a City of Art and History by the Ministry of Culture. You can see the abbey church Sainte-Trinité in Norman style built 1175-1220 (now Hotel de ville); The historicist 19th-century Palais Bénédictine is an art museum with medieval sacred art and the distillery of the herbal liqueur DOM Bénédicte; The 16th-century Saint-Etienne church is a monument historique; Cap Fagnet rises 95 meters above the city and shows the remains of bunkers from a German WWII Atlantic Wall radar station. The seaside resort of Yport is a municipality with 726 inhabitants in the same department of Seine-Maritime and geographically belongs to the Pays de Caux. The former fishing port and today's tourist resort lies below steep chalk cliffs (Falaises) of the Alabaster Coast. Like the entire Côte d'Albâtre, Yport is on the "Impressionist route" and inspired Claude Monet (watercolor Les falaises à Yport, 1861), Paul Colin (La vallée d'Yport, 1880), Pierre-Auguste Renoir (Marée basse à Yport, 1883) or Albert-Auguste Fourie (Un repas de noces à Yport, 1886). Apart from the main attraction, the chalk cliffs on both sides of the town, which drop perpendicularly to the sea, nothing worth seeing is mentioned. Wikipedia.

slept. Camping L'Aiguille Creuse. Like yesterday.

rated. ●●●○○ to visit Fécamp.

Saturday. June 10, 2022.

felt. Weather sunny at 13 to 19 degrees.

See campsite. By bike to the Phare d'Antifer and walk along the cliffs on both sides of the Cap d'Antifer. Continue by bike to Etretat and walk up to the Porte d'Aval cliffs, also called "Elephant" because of the shape of the trunk, La Porte Manne and on to Cap Ponte de la Courtine. The natural scenes are uniquely beautiful, I was almost alone on the Cap d'Antifer, but there were crowds of people on the Falaises near Etretat. And everywhere on the coast you will find witnesses of the Second World War (bunkers). La Poterie-Cap-d'Antifer is a municipality with 453 inhabitants in the Seine-Maritime department, its coast is part of the Alabaster Coast and includes prominent points such as the Cap d'Antifer with the lighthouse, the Point du Fourquet and some beaches such as the Plage de Tilleuil and the Plage d'Antifer. The cliffs of Étretat were formed in the Upper Cretaceous and consist primarily of white chalk and flint. Other minerals common to the east Normandy coast are not found at Étretat. One does not find there the sandstone that occurs to the north at Dieppe, nor the yellowish oolite from the Caen area. The three distinctive rock arches Porte d'Amont, Port d'Aval and Porte Manne go back to the surf of the sea and were not created by an estuary, as is wrongly assumed. The Aiguille rock needle consists of somewhat harder limestone, which has withstood this progressive erosion to this day. Another well-known formation is the Pointe de la Courtine. Wikipedia..

slept. Camping L'Aiguille Creuse. Like yesterday.

rated. ●●●●○ for unique nature experiences, one star deduction for the migration of peoples at the "Elephant".