Chaumont

Where shall we go this weekend? Well June remembered that Chaumont was on the way home from Mulhouse and that the roads were pretty on the way. She proposed to go in that direction and enjoy the views.
In the end, we did not find the views that we wanted to stop in and ended up in Chaumont itself.
Chaumont is quite a large town, with an old historic part that we inevitably ended up in. But not before we entered the town under the viaduct.

Le Viaduc - For scale, there are people about mid picture

[Le viaduc] is 600m long with 50 arches of 52m. It is one of the most remarkable works of 'art' from the mid 19th century in Europe, perhaps the world. Conceived by architect Emile Decomble, it was built to permit the train to get access to the high part of the town. The construction was completed in record time: 15 months to build 60,000 cu-m od maconary thanks to 2500 workers and 300 horses working night and day. The works became an economic engine for the main centre. Partially destroyed on the 31st August 1944, it was soon rebuilt to reestablish the railway. Majestic and imposing, it has become an emblematic figure for the town and has featured in many films.

Please

As you can see in the picture, it is possible to walk along the 1st level. Since we had stopped at the picnic spot from where this picture was taken, we also walked along. Until that is that June got a fit of vertigo about mid way and we returned with her clutching my arm!

So we ate and carried on into town, looking for the old quarter. It was relatively easy to find, despite the town being a higgledy piggledy mess of winding streets. I don't think we ever saw a straight street, all curved and often serpentined. The result of building on a hill perhaps.

Inside the church named 'Jean Baptiste'

We spotted the "John the Baptist" church. It was described on the outside as 'gothic', and as we opened the door to go in we were greeted with an extremely chill draft that set the tone for the inside perfectly. It was dark and gloomy. There were images of Christ's baptism, and several as this picture, of John's disembodied head. We left quite quickly for the much more pleasant warmth of the outside world. "Could you ever see people worshipping joyfully in there?" June asked. It took more faith than I have to say "Yes".

But the town has many pleasant features. Typical of the place are these turrets on the faces of many houses. Most are round, but some are square, and all house the staircase to the upper floors. Then there are the colourful windows and coal cellars along the winding streets. Photos below and in the photo album page.

Turret and start of staircase.

For scale, the doors are small.

A particularly good example of house and turret.

Jesuit Chapel - click for picture view

And then these was the Jesuit Chapel, now part of the college and sporting an art exhibition, but light and joyful and beautifully decorated as you can see. We spent a little time in here looking at the pictures (photographs) to the sound of Pink Floyd playing 'Dark Side of the Moon'.

Woodland facilities.

Was there a downside? Well in this town it advertised 'public toilets'. Despite the smell outside we decided to try them out, but only one problem, they needed a 10 cent piece to operate and we did not have one. Saved from what may have been inside, we were still in need and recalled a facility on the way home. Here it is.
You have a choice here. The cubicle or the woods. June chose the woods! which says it all.