BELGIUM & FRANCE.
Pilgrimage along the Via Brabantica, the Via Gallia Belgica, the Chemin Estelle and the Via Turonensis.
12/Jun/2020 to 23/Jun/2020.
Pilgrimage along the Via Brabantica, the Via Gallia Belgica, the Chemin Estelle and the Via Turonensis.
12/Jun/2020 to 23/Jun/2020.
14/Jul/2020 to 20/Jul/2020.
31/Jul/2020 to 11/Aug/2020.
and then later to Santiago de Compostela.
Thursday 11/Jun/2020.
Home to Antwerp journey.
Home to Antwerp journey.
Antwerp, Saint-James' church - Starting place of the pilgrimage.
Like so many other European cities Antwerp also has a sanctuary for Saint-James.
In the early fifteenth century there was a hospice here, which welcomed Northern European pilgrims travelling to the tomb of the apostle James in Santiago de Compostela.
In 1413 a chapel, dedicated to Saint-James, was added to the hospice. Soon the chapel proved too small. As a consequence construction started on the current church in Brabant Gothic style in 1491. It would take no less than 175 years to complete the church.
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| Antwerp, Saint-James' church. |
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Pilgrims near the Saint-James' church. |
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| Antwerp, cobbled streets. |
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| Antwerp, the Great Market Square, with the Cathedral Tower in front (123m tall). https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_of_Our_Lady_(Antwerp) |
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| Antwerp, the Brabo foutain. |
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Antwerp, Nello and Petrasche statue, at cathedral square. |
|---| Cathedraal logies Drie Koningen, Antwerp, 58€.
Friday 12/Jun/2020.
DAY 1 - Antwerp to Lier hike, 24km.
DAY 1 - Antwerp to Lier hike, 24km.
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| Antwerp, leaving the Hotel. |
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| Antwerp, starting point of the pilgrimage. |
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| Antwerp, a last visit to Saint-James in his church. |
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| Escape from Antwerp's busy city life through the Rivierenhof park. |
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| Rivierenhof park. |
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| Borsbeek, "Fort 2", part of Antwerp's now obsolete defence system. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Redoubt_(Belgium) |
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| Borsbeek, Saint-James church (unfortunately closed). |
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| Lier, Saint-James. |
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| A very same brew will be drunk at Saint-Quentin, at the end of the first part of this pilgrimage. |
Lier.
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| Lier, Saint-Gumarus church. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gummarus |
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| Lier, the city hall. |
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| Lier, the Zimmer clock tower. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zimmer_tower |
|---| Pierre's house, Emblem.
Saturday 13/Jun/2020.
DAY 2 - Lier to Mechelen hike.
DAY 2 - Lier to Mechelen hike.
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| Lier, the Beguinage. |
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| Leaving the town of Lier. |
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| Lines of knotted willows. |
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| Near Duffel, bridge crossing the River Nete. |
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| Duffel, town hall. |
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| Bicycle and hiking path, squeezed inbetween Nete river and the Nete canal. |
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| Finally, after hours walking along the river Nete, the path takes an abandoned railway track. |
Mechelen.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechelen
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| Mechelen, a cool "Golden Carolus Tripel", the nice local beer. |
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| Mechelen, the City Hall. |
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| Mechelen, the Saint-Rombold's Cathedral. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Rumbold's_Cathedral |
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| Mechelen, Saint-Rombold's Cathedral, Covid 19 rules properly applied. |
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| Mechelen, tower view, after having climbed the 536 steps. |
|---| NH Hotel, Mechelen, 81.71€ incl breakfast.
Sunday 14/Jun/2020.
DAY 3 - Mechelen to Brussels hike, 36km.
DAY 3 - Mechelen to Brussels hike, 36km.
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| Verbrande Brug, over the maritime Brussels-Scheldt canal. |
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| Presbytery garden, with the statues of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception and the seven dwarfs... |
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| Grimbergen, water mill. |
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| Grimbergen, Tommenmolen, a cool "Grimbergen" beer. |
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| Grimbergen, the abbeye church. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grimbergen_Abbey |
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| Grimbergen, castle ruins. |
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| Brussel's "Groene Gordel". |
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| Brussels, the "Atomium" monument. |
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| Auguste Rodin's "The Thinker" statue in the Royal cemetery of Laeken. |
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| "Manneken Pis". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manneken_Pis |
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| "Royal Saint-Hubert Galleries". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galeries_Royales_Saint-Hubert |
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| Brussels' cathedral, Saint-James statue. |
|---| Résidence Le Quinze Grand Place, Brussels, 68€/n incl breakfast (1st night).
Monday 15/Jun/2020.
DAY 4 - Brussels to Halle hike.
DAY 4 - Brussels to Halle hike.
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| Brussels' City Hall at the Grand Place |
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| Saint-James pilgrimage attributes. |
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| Pieter Brueghel memorial (Brueghel the Elder). |
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| Brussels, Pieter Brueghels' birth place in the Hoogstraat (rue Haute). |
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| Brussels, Halle Gate. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halle_Gate |
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| Brussel-Vorst, Giant Saint-Augustine church (1935, Art Deco). |
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| Brussel-Ukkel, Till Eulenspiegel's estaminet. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Till_Eulenspiegel |
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| Brussel-Ukkel, Crabbegat path. |
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| Beersel Castle. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beersel_Castle |
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| 'Maatjes' lunch at Brasserie Kasteel Beersel. |
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| Buizingen, Café De Kluis. |
Halle.
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| Halle, train station. |
- Return train Halle-Brussels, 3.70€.
|---| Résidence Le Quinze Grand Place, Brussels, 68€/n incl breakfast (2nd night).
|---| Résidence Le Quinze Grand Place, Brussels, 68€/n incl breakfast (2nd night).
Tuesday 16/Jun/2020.
DAY 5 - Halle to Nivelles hike, 25km.
DAY 5 - Halle to Nivelles hike, 25km.
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| Entering Walonia. |
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| Braine-le-Château, ancient humiliation pillory. |
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| Ittre, church, with a Saint-Roch statue, where he's surprisingly not pointing his leg. |
Nivelles.
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| Nivelles, Collegiate Church. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collegiate_Church_of_Saint_Gertrude,_Nivelles |
Wednesday 17/Jun/2020.
DAY 6 - Nivelles to Morlanwelz hike, 26km.
DAY 6 - Nivelles to Morlanwelz hike, 26km.
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| Leaving the B&B. |
Morlanwelz.
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| "To their Administrator, the employees from the coal mining of Mariemont and Bascoup" (Bas-Coup, litt "Low-Blow"). |
|---| AirBnB, Morlanwelz (B), 53€.
Thursday 18/Jun/2020.
DAY 7 - Morlanwelz (B) to Maubeuge (F) hike, 35km.
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| Leaving the apartment. |
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| A waste tip from the former coal mines. |
Binche.
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| Entering Binche. |
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| Binche, a "Gilles" costume. |
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| Belgium-France border line. |
Maubeuge (France).
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| Maubeuge, Vauban's Porte de Mons. |
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| Picon-bierre, the local brew. |
|---| Le Grand Hotel, Maubeuge (F), 79€ +10€ breakfast.
Friday 19/Jun/2020.
DAY 8 - Maubeuge to Pont-sur-Sambre hike, 20km.
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| Leaving Maubeuge, along the River Sambre. |
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| Along the River Sambre, heavy industry. |
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| Approaching Hautmont, a gloomy, decaying, industrial town. |
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| Bachant, field calvary. |
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| Bachant, a small neat chapel with a Lourdes-cave inside. |
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| Pont-sur-Sambre, watch tower, with a threatening sky. |
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| Pont-sur-Sambre, the hotel for tonight. |
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| A memorable "Filet Mignon" dinner at the hotel restaurant. |
|---| Hotel Aux Berges de Sambre, Pont-sur-Sambre, 71€ incl breakfast.
Saturday 20/Jun/2020.
DAY 9 - Pont-sur-Sambre to Landrecies hike, 30km.
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| Berlaimont. |
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| The path along the River Sambre. |
Maroilles.
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| Mill on the River Helpe-mineure. |
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| A beautiful path from touristic Maroilles towards industrial Landrecies. |
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| Maroilles cheese tartlet. |
|---| Hotel Les Charmilles de Mormal, Landrecies, 65€ without breakfast.
Sunday/21/Jun/2020.
DAY 10 - Landrecies to Le-Cateau-Cambrecies hike, 16km (+ 7km detour).
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| Newspaper reads "The Belgians, a shy but appreciated return" (exit fromCovid-19 lockdown). |
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| Wasting 1h30, walking twice 3.5km at the wrong side. |
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| Duck hunting pond : plastic ducks are used to attract the real birds. |
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| Ors, British war cemetery (1918). |
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| Le Cateau, the belfry. |
Matisse Museum.
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| Matisse museum buildings. |
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| Henri Matisse, Cateau-Cambrecies (this town, 1921). |
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| Henri Matisse, self portret (January 1918). |
|---| Hostellerie du Marché, Le Cateau-Cambrecies, 64.50€ incl breakfast.
Monday 22/Jun/2020.
DAY 11 - Le-Cateau-Cambrecies to Fresnoy-le-Grand hike, 30km.
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| Le Cateau, Leaving the hotel of last night. |
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| Le Cateau, main Church. |
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| Stuck in the fields. |
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| Saint-Martin-la-Rivière, waterfall. |
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| Bohain, Henri Matisse's birth place. |
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| Bohain, belfry. |
- Train ride to Saint-Quentin (as no lodging available in Bohain nor Fresnoy-le-Grand).
|---| Hotel Le Florence, Saint-Quentin, 63.77€/n without breakfast.
Tuesday 23/Jun/2020.
DAY 12 - Fresnoy-le-Grand to Saint-Quentin hike, 22km.
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| Spring of the River Somme, and the very first bridge. |
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| Rigole d'alimentation de l'Oise et du Noirieux. |
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| Wetlands. |
Saint-Quentin.
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| Albert I statue, commemorating the heroic sacrifice from Belgium at the start and during WW1. |
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| Basilica of Saint-Quentin with a rare double transept. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_Saint-Quentin |
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| The 260m long basilica labyrinth, pilgrims used to follow it to the center. (picture stolen from the internet). |
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| Saint-Quentin, the Market Place. |
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| A welcome half liter of fine Tripel-d'Anvers beer, after hiking over 300km in 12 days. |
- Train ride, back to Fresnoy-le-Grand from Saint-Quentin , 2€.
|---| Hotel Le Florence, Saint-Quentin (2nd night), 63.77€/n with breakfast.
Wednesday 24/Jun/2020.
Return home journey.
- Local train from Saint-Quentin to Aulnoye-Aymeries.
- Local train from Aulnoye-Aymeries to Lille-Flandres.
- Fast train from Lille-Flandres to Aix-TGV.
|---| Home.
Monday 13/Jul/2020.
BACK IN SAINT-QUENTIN.
DAY 13 - Saint-Quentin to Tugny-et-Pont hike (18km).
Tugny-et-Pont.
|---| La borne du pèlerin, Tugny-et-Pont, 29€/n.
Tuesday 14/Jul/2020.
DAY 14 - Tugny-et-Pont to Noyon hike (34km).
Noyon.
|---| Hotel le Cèdre, Noyon, 71€/n + 11€ breakfast.
Wednesday 15/Jul/2020.
DAY 15 - Noyon to Compiègne hike (28km).
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| Leaving Noyon. |
Compiègne.
|---| Hotel Ibis budget, Compiègne, 68.82€ incl breakfast.
Thursday 16/Jul/2020.
DAY 16 - Compiègne to Senlis hike (42 km !!!).
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| Leaving Compiègne. |
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| Picnic along along a second boaring straight 12km stretch |
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| Senlis Cathedral portal. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senlis_Cathedral |
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| Poor Clares monastery chapel. |
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| Pilgrim bedroom at the monastery. |
|---| Monastery of the Poor Clares, Senlis, donativo.
Friday 17/Jul/2020.
Day 17 - Senlis to Écouen hike.
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| Leaving the monastery early morning. |
|---| Hotel Kyriad, Écouen.
Saturday 18/Jul/2020.
Day 18 - Écouen to Paris hike.
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| Saint-Denis, a multicultural suburb of Paris. |
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| Saint-Denis, town hall. |
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| Saint-Denis, cathedral. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senlis_Cathedral |
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| Saint-Denis, cathedral. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senlis_Cathedral |
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| Saint-Denis cathedral, tombs of the french kings. |
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| Paris, Saint-Denis canal. |
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| Finally crossing other pilgrims, the first encounter after 18 pilgrimage days. |
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| Paris, Saint-James tower, end of this six hiking days stretch. |
|---| Home.
Friday 31/Jul/2020.
BACK IN PARIS.
Day 19 - Paris to Massy hike (18km).
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| Paris, two weeks later, back at the Saint-James tower. |
Massy.
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| Taking two Affligems at Massy, an extremely hot day. |
|---| Ibis Styles hotel, Massy, 70€ incl breakfast.
Saturday 01/Aug/2020.
Day 20 - Massy to Arpajon hike (23km).
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| Longpont-sur-Orge, basilica. |
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| Longpont-sur-Orge, basilica. |
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| A perfect picnic spot. |
Arpajon.
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| Arpajon. |
|---| Hotel Océane, Arpajon.
Sunday 02/Aug/2020.
Day 21 - Arpajon to Etampes hike (24.2km).
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| Boissy-sous-Saint-Yon, Saint-Thomas-Becket church, 12th Century. |
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| Saint-Sulpice-de-Favières, a giant church for a tiny village. |
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| Saint-Sulpice-de-Favières church portal. |
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| Brières-les-Scellés. |
Étampes.
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| Étampes. |
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| Étampes, Notre-Dame-du-Fort church, 11th Century. https://fr.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collégiale_Notre-Dame-du-Fort_d'Étampes |
|---| Comfort Hotel, Etampes, 46€.
Monday 03/Aug/2020.
Day 22 - Etampes to Angerville hike (25km).
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| Leaving Etampes at 6:20. |
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| Roman road. |
Angerville.
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| Angerville, church, with two giant Lebanon cedars in front. |
|---| Salle Paroissiale, Angerville, 10€.
Tuesday 04/Aug/2020.
Day 23 - Angerville to Artenay hike (33km).
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| Leaving the parish hall 'bedroom'. |
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| Leaving Angerville. |
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| Rouvray-Saint-Denis. |
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| Oinville-Saint-Liphard. |
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| Toury. |
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| Toury church, showing both Rooster and half moon. |
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| Potatoes culture. |
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| Christ popping out of the bush. |
Artenay.
|---| Fasthôtel, Artenay, 43.50€.
Wednesday 05/Aug/2020.
Day 24 - Artenay to Orleans hike (26km).
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| Leaving the hotel early morning. |
Orleans.
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| Orleans, Jeanne d'Arc sta tue(Saint-Joan-of-Arc). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_of_Arc |
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| Orléans, Holy Cross cathedral. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orléans_Cathedral |
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| Orléans cathedral, Jeanne d'Arc burned at the stake (in 1431). |
Loire river.
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| Orléans, Loire river. |
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| Orléans, Loire river. |
|---| Jacqotel, Orleans, 57.90€.
Thursday 06/Aug/2020.
Day 25 - Orleans to Beaugency hike (29.8km).
|---| Hotel Relais des Templiers, Beaugency, 60.70€.
Friday 07/Aug/2020.
Day 26 - Beaugency to Suèvres hike (22.8km).
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| Leaving the hotel before sunrise. |
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| Time was frozen here in 1950. |
|---| Relais La Providence, Suèvres, 57.55€ incl lunch and drinks.
Saturday 08/Aug/ 2020.
Day 27 - Suèvres to Blois hike (13.7km).
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| Hotel for tonight. |
|---| Hotel Anne de Bretagne, Blois, 67.83€ incl breakfast.
Sunday 09/Aug/2020.
Day 28 - Blois to Chaumont-sur-Loire hike (22.5km).
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| Sunrise. |
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| Candé-sur-Beuvron. |
Chaumont-sur-Loire.
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| Diner place for tonight. |
|---| Logis de Chaumont, Chaumont-sur-Loire, 75€.
Monday 10/Aug/2020.
Day 29 - Chaumont-sur-Loire to Amboise/Tours hike (23km).
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| Leaving the guesthouse before sunrise. |
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| Chateau de Pray, now a luxury four star hotel. |
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| A cave-house. |
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| Another cave-house. |
Amboise
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| Amboise Castle. |
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| Leonardo Da Vinci's house. |
Tours.
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| Tours, cathedral, 13th century stained glass windows. |
|---| Hotel Mondial, Tours, 61€.
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| Train to Paris, then to Aix-en-Provence. |
OVERVIEW : Antwerp (B) to Tours (F) in 29 day hikes.
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12 DAY HIKES - 13 OVERNIGHTS (12/Jun/2020 to 23/Jun/2020) : Via Brabantica : Antwerpen - Lier - Mechelen - Brussel - Halle - Nivelles Via Gallia Belgica : Nivelles - Mariemont/Morlanwelz - Maubeuge - Pont-sur-Sambre - (Maroilles) Landrecies - Le-Cateau-Cambrecies - Fresnoy-le-Grand - Saint-Quentin.  6 DAY HIKES - 5 OVERNIGHTS (14/Jul/2020 to 20/Jul/2020). Chemin Estelle : Saint-Quentin - Tugny-et-Pont - Noyon - Compiègne - Senlis - Ecouen - Paris.  11 DAY HIKES - 11 OVERNIGHTS (31/Jul/2020 to 11/Aug/2020) : Via Turonensis : Paris - Massy - Arpajon - Etampes - Angerville - Artenay - Orleans - Beaugency - Suèvres - Blois - Chaumont-sur-Loire - Amboise/Tours. |
