Pouilly-sur-Meuse

Sunday 28th June 2015.  A very warm, dry and sunny day.  After lunch, we decided to investigate a small area to the east and north-east of Stenay…an area new to us.

We approached via Laneuville, then between the Forêt de Dieulet and the Forêt de Jaunay on the D30, turning right at the border of the Meuse area of Lorraine.

Just below the village of Pouilly-sur-Meuse, the River Meuse and the Canal de l’Est run closely in parallel, then converge.

Canal views from each side of the bridge...

Three horses came to the river for a drink.  There was an obvious pecking order but once the first one had his fill, the other two went together, while the lead horse made his way for a nibble of leaves from a nearby bush.

Three people in a small boat head for the shallow weir and we head out on the return journey.

We returned to Laneuville - via Luzy-St-Martin and Cesse with the  Meuse on our left but sadly not visible - and back to the Meuse at Port de Plaisance at Stenay for a short walk by the river and afterwards a welcome, cold beer at the Café du Port before returning home.

Ah, a shady spot on a hot day...

...startling graffiti...

...sunlit ripples...

...and now for a cold beer which we enjoyed sitting at umbrella tables by the water - didn't take a photo as my mind was on the refreshment!

Late yesterday evening - at 11.45.p.m. - the sky was still light in the west…

Photos taken from a first-floor window at the end of a lovely day.

Haraumont.

Friday 19th June.  At the highest point of Haraumont very tall masts seem to scratch the sky.  They house communication dishes - and where would we all be without those nowadays! - but, even under grey clouds, which haze the distance, the surrounding countryside is breathtaking.

Panorama from left to right…

Forests...

...and farmland...

...too close to photo the full height of the red and white structures...

...but maybe on some future clear day, we'll return to get a distance view of these giants!

Lunch at Montmédy Citadelle.

Tuesday, 16th June 2015.  Another warm day with a mix of sunshine and clouds.  We decided to go to Montmédy.

On the way, we diverted to the village of Juvigny and spent a pleasant half-hour at its pretty river-side spot.  Everything looked so lovely and peaceful, I couldn’t resist capturing it yet again...

Something fascinating about viewing a river from a bridge!

While I take a short stroll along the river bank.

We then continued to Montmédy and headed up the hill to the Citadelle. There’s a lot of restorative work being done on some of the buildings and the interior of the church.  The car park is very dusty and old fireplaces and stone shelves can be seen - once the space must have been an interior of an old house or hall.

 

The bar, which re-opened last year, was sadly closed - perhaps only open in high season - so we decide to head for a café and have the plat du jour.  It turns out this was something we both had in mind but neither had expressed the thought, both of us deciding to “go with the flow” of the day.

It was such a pleasant day that tables and chairs were set outside and it being 12.30. most were full, but there was one at the edge which seemed to be waiting for us.  There were small and large groups of people inside too.

The waitress was very busy and we had to wait to order but it wasn’t a problem. The café is in the main square, grand houses around it, across from the church, and a  pretty inner square, with fountain.

Our drinks were welcome and the food was delicious and worth waiting for. 

By the time we had finished our leisurely lunch the indoor and outside tables had all but cleared but were soon re-filled by others looking for refreshment in the sunshine.

 This was not our first visit to l’Alcazar…nor will it be our last.

Out of the Citadelle, a short way down the hill...

 is a wash-house.

The interior has a dry basin…

 

...and some interesting, old graffiti! 

 

We did not leave our mark but headed home with happy memories of a good day out.