Hidden treasures of Raviers, Nuits and Cry, plus some macabre finds.

Chateau at Nuits

We have got into a pattern of cruising for the morning or until about mid afternoon and then stopping at our chosen place for 2 nights.  On the first day from mid afternoon we settle in and take in our immediate surroundings.  The following day we have a longer bike ride in morning or afternoon to see the surrounding area.

Raviers Rocomat Stone Works

Raviers, the centre of the local quarrying industry, is a bit of a ghost town but is interesting to walk round. There are the Renaissance touches within the fabric of the buildings and an old chateau surrounded and incorporated within a number of nearby town houses.  Julian remarked that most of it will have disappeared in 50 years as the roof and beautiful turrets showed wooden timbers and gaps with no tiles.

Railway building at Nuits on opposite side of River L'Armancon

Across the River Armencon is Nuits, with a large complex of railway buildings it hints at former railway pioneering glories including an abandoned route linking Paris with the Mediterranean via Lyon.  Now devoted to potato growing, a very serious business.  The sign says 'Jardin sous surveillance video'.

An hotel barge C'est la Vie was moored here when we arrived, waiting for it's 8 American guests to turn up.

They have their own chef on board and so do not rely on local hosteleries which are few and far between.

We found a little Bistrot and had a 4 course meal - (it is not often one finds a village bistro so we felt duty bound to have the full works) the following day we planned a circuit that took in the local villages and chateaux.

The Churchyard at Asniers-en-Montagne

We cycled through fields of wheat, barley, pea and hay crops climbing gently up to the village of Asniers-en- Montagne.  (This is the macarbre bit). We headed to the church in the centre, wound round the back through a grassy alley and ended up at a dead end at the back of the church with the only exit being through the graveyard. When I opened the rusty gate I came upon some disturbed ground near some tumbled graves.  I said joking 'this is just the sort of place that you would find a load of human bones!'

Snail with human bones

The next thing I saw was a huge snail (the sort you get when you order esgargot?) and a bone.  Then I saw an invertebrae.  In a graveyard, they could only be human.

Small mausolium in same churchyard

Our itinerary then took us to Cry, and on the way the ruined Chateau Rochefort.

Chateau Rochefort a huge and impressive crumbling ruin

The medieval gatehouse with Renaissance ruins behind

We arrived at Cry, and another village hostelry open, this time a cafe and tabac!  Being unable to pass by any kind of establishment that is open in a French village - such a rarity, we stopped off for a 'chocolat chaud' which came in funny ceramic mugs made to look like crumpled plastic cups.

11th century crypt at Cry

By now we were running a bit late for the tour at Nuits Chateau that we had noticed earlier that morning.  So we raced back on the bikes along the towpath and made it by 4.15pm on the dot.

The room where Buffon worked at Chateau Nuits.