Sometimes everything goes well and this was one of those days. After some incredibly hot weather the day was very cool with overcast skies when we cycled out from Clemacy, not along the canal, as originally planned, but up into the hills heading for the 'Carriere d'Aubigny' where we had heard there was one of the best tourist sites in the region, an old stone quarry. It lived up to expectations and was an amazing place, almost like a cathedral atmosphere but underground. It had been mined completely by hand and the stone was used in many of Paris' buildings, including the Opera. The miners picked into the rockface and used dry wooden wedges to fracture the huge blocks from the wall, as the natural moisture made them swell. They used candlelight to work by and you can see the soot marks still on the ceilings of the man made caves. Since opening the site for tourism they have employed stone masons to teach their skills to school groups and have also commissioned works of art.
The rest of the day was spent cycling along quiet country lanes in an arable farming district before hitting the vineyards around Coulonges-la-Vineuse, where we had booked a Chambre d'Hote for the night. Along the way we feasted on ripe black cherries in an overgrown orchard.
Inside the subterranean quarry.
Countryside along the way
Lunch stop
Cherries!
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Location:Coulanges-la-Vineuse
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