The Burgundy Canal in Spring, France

We have yet to grow tired of cruising the Burgundy Canal.  Each season brings a new perspective to what should be the same scenery.  Colors change.  The sky changes.  The leaves on the trees change.  Each season has its own beauty.  Enjoy with me the treasures of Spring on the Burgundy Canal.

Farm in the distance

Green pastures

Lock house on the Burgundy Canal

Tree house

Cocktail time

Grazing horses

Rabelo at Pont d'Ouche

Burgundy Canal lined with Plane Trees

Fresh eggs anyone?

Green pastures with mustard fields

More mustard fields

A Rabelo Sandwich at Vandenesse-en-Auxois

Rainbow after the storm

Looking up at Chateauneuf from the Burgundy Canal with Charolais cows grazing

Just shorn grazing sheep

Farm house with cows grazing

Walking along the Burgundy Canal

Horses grazing with bales of hay beyond

Fields of yellow flowers

Rabelo moored on the Burgundy Canal

Alesia, Galo-Roman Ruins,and Chateauneuf-en-Auxois, France

We love visiting the Abbaye de la Bussisere-sur-Ouche.  Paul Day's sculptures enhance the gardens.

Cruising along the Burgundy Canal is a visual delight

 We walk up to Chateauneuf-en-Auxois whenever the opportunity presents itself.

 Red Door

Old Stone Wall

Wheel-barrel with Pots and Red Flowers

We always visit what we have named "Lee's Lookout" in memory of a dear friend who once visited Chateauneuf-en-Auxois with us.

Our Beautiful Rabelo

Normally this is Tom's reaction when I'm at the helm.  Steve was convinced he had the situation under control. After all he was a captain in the navy.

 Alesia Park Museum gives us an interesting perspective and education on a small part of France's history.  This Museum marks the archeological site that commemorates the history of the battle between Julius Caesar and the Gauls in 52 B.C.  There no longer exists any traces of the battle, but the museum recreated the battlements and earthworks and provides an interpretation of what occurred.

The Interpretation Center offers an interactive presentation of the siege of Alésia along with ancient objects, reproductions, dioramas, films, models, multimedia terminals and reconstructions of war instruments.  This museum provides an understanding of the history of the site.  It's well worth listening to the audioguide.  I also recommend watching the video.

This interpretative center is built with a wood exterior, such as the Roman fortifications might have been built at the time of the siege.

Entry into the museum

Statues give you an idea of what the battle was like.

Julius Caesar 

An outdoor example of what the battlefields were like.  Sharp sticks were placed in the ground, ditches were dug, and walls with watchtowers were erected.  If you time your visit right you can see a reenactment of the battle.

The back of the Alesia MuseoParc

 Nearby the battle site are the remains of the Gallo-Roman Town Alise-Sainte-Reine.  The ampitheatre was large enough to hold 5000 people.  At one time it was believed the population numbered in the thousands.  Long after Vercingetorix was defeated, the Gallo-Roman town prospered primarily due to the bronze workers who settled there.

Gallo-Roman ruins.  This was the Civil Basilica:  The administrative building, the municipal counsel which served as the courthouse, and meeting space.

 This building had three floors and a crypt.   While the courtyard was surrounded by a portico with two floors.  The size of the building reflects the prestige of the metalworkers who gathered here.

 Napoleon III commissioned sculptor Aime Millet to produce a huge statue of Vercingetorix to commemorate the completion and success of the excavations at Alesia.  Vertingetorix was a king and chieftain of the Arverni tribe.  He united the Gauls in a revolt against Roman forces during the last phase of Julius Caesar's Gallic Wars.

This monument of Vercingetorix erected in 1865 is approximately 21 feet tall and dominates the site of the last battle.  He was defeated by Caesar.

Dolceacqua, Italy and a Little More

The Ponte Vecchio built in the 15th century

Staying in Villefranche-sur-Mer allowed us the opportunity to explore the surrounding areas.  Italy was a 45 minute drive.  We discovered Dolceacqua which is a charming village in the Liguria countryside. The humpback bridge was painted by Monet on more than one occasion.

The Nervia River which divides the village was down to a trickle when we visited this winter

The newer part of the village called Il Borgo dates mainly from the 19th century.

The town square of Il Borgo

The Terra district of Dolceacqua is squeezed into a small area between the river and the steep hills behind it.  There we discovered tall ancient houses, small courtyards, steep alleys and vaulted passages.  While the area is small it's full of charm.

Dark narrow passages

Steep stairways

Tall homes with vaulted passages

This cat was staring intently at the door willing the owner to let it in.

An adorable dog was fascinated by a child across the alley

Tom is hamming it up

A narrow alleyway elegantly decorated with umbrellas

Looking up at the umbrellas

The castle Doria is an imposing structure towering over the older part of Dolceacqua.  In the 14th century fortifications were added as it was made into a more comfortable residence during the renaissance period.  It was damaged during the 18th century Wars of Succession and again by an earthquake in 1887.

Doria provides a dramatic backdrop to Dolceacqua 

Entrance to the medieval castle Doria which had its origins in the 12th century.  

Looking into the courtyard of the castle Doria

Semicircular courtyard

One side of the courtyard

It's always nice having Jon and Cherolyn visit us.

Cherolyn wanted to make sure they had the opportunity to climb up to the fort to see the views of Villefranche-sur-Mer

We had a lovely morning exploring Eze

We had to lunch at the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild in Cap Ferrat and explore the gardens