Day 57 - Besancon to Dole.

Day 57: Besancon to Dole. 76 km, 4h30.

A glorious cloudless day greeted us this morning as we set off for Dole. Just outside Besancon we met up with the group of cyclists that started the EuroVelo 6 from Vienna to Nantes on the 30 May. There are 50 cyclists of all ages and from 10 different countries in the group. This is an event that has been organized by the French to promote the EuroVelo 6. The price is 25 Euros per person per day, this includes accommodation in hostels and breakfast.

This year the Tour de France will pass through Mulhouse and Besancon for stage 10 and 11. Sorry we won't be there to see the action!

We got chatting to one of the EuroVelo group, a British guy who works for the BBC. He cycled past and said he liked our cycle tops - we were wearing our Unite Against Poaching shirts. After he heard about the cause he said that he would do a posting about us on his blog. This is great! We also met up with a couple from New Zealand and a lady from USA, at our mid morning break. Fabulous to exchange experiences en route with them. They finish on 14 July in Nantes. We may cycle past them again.

We cycled through agricultural lands with sweeping views across the fields to the low forested hills which were backed by limestone cliffs as we got closer to Dole. We clocked 3000km as we passed through Thoraise. We can't believe it, we did 1000km in 16 days!

Lunch was on the banks of the Doubs at Anderland where a French guy and girl entertained us with there rock climbing skills up a sheer limestone cliff. They were both very accomplished climbers but gave us butterflies in our tummies as they made their way up like spiders.

Dole is situated on a rocky outcrop above the Doubs River; this meant we had a steep climb into town to the TI. We picked up a map for a self guided walking tour around town. This is a fabulous way to explore a town in one's own time. The map has some background info on the various sights and there are brass markers with a cat sitting on a fence - Circuit du Chat Perche. It is a reference to the writer Marcel Ayme ( 1902 - 1967 ) who spent his childhood and teenage years here. Louis Pasteur a chemist and microbiologist was born in Dole. He is renowned for his work on vaccinations, pasteurization and bacteria fermentation. Many lives have been saved over the years through his research.

The Collegiate Church of Notre Dam, built between 1509 - 1580, dominates the sky line. It is built in the Gothic style and has some beautiful stained glass windows which were replaced between 1840 - 1950. The large wooden organ was carved in the 18C by Karl Josef Riep.

We visited Dole 16 years ago when we were traveling through Europe in a camper van with the girls and my parents. We spent a lovely evening moored in a barge with a view of the Collegiate Church of Notre Dam which was lit up and looked magical in the evening light.It was lovely reminiscing. 

Supper was a take-away from the charcuterie with a good bottle of Jura Pinot Noir (WWS 7) on the banks of the Doubs.

Leaving Besancon, river on one side, ramparts on the other.

The fortified cliffs above Besancon, and the exit from the tunnel we came through.

A milestone passed near Thoraise.

The WWs taken at 3000km by a wobbly photographer.

The water curtain at the entrance to a canal for barges. We had to go over the top.

Now that's Eco-cooking.

Hollyhocks along the bank.

Spot the rocker-climber. It gives me the wobblies.

Approaching Dole.

The view from our evening picnic site. The top half a photo, the bottom Monet.

The "Gossips" watching the folk of Dole.

Evening in Dole. We spent the night here in a barge 16 years ago.