The field trips and dégustations leave time for reading and socializing in the lounge.
In Tournus, where we are docked, is the Romanesque abbey of Saint Philibert. The abbey’s windows are modern because the original were damaged in World War II. As in England, many stained glass windows of French churches were taken down and stored for protection against bombing, but apparently the Saint Philibert windows were not saved.
Tournus is more than the abbey....
Exploring Tournus has sharpened our appetite for lunch.
After lunch we set out for Château de Messey for wine tasting.
Usually wine tastings were scheduled for late afternoon, because just before dinner is when one’s senses of taste and smell are at their sharpest. This day, however, Château De Messey has declined to accommodate Françoise’s wishes, so our visit to medieval Brancion comes after the wine tasting.
Tournus cannot accommodate Libellule overnight, so when we meet her she is docked at a campsite upstream. This proves to be a nice spot for explorations before dinner (not so nice for Françoise, whose bike ride is ended abruptly by a burst tire).
