Skip to main content

Oradour sur Glane


Day 20   Sat 3.8.19
One reason for coming this way was to see Oradour sur Glane.  
The German Nazi SS came through the town, ransacked it, and annihilated 642 inhabitants on 10 June 1944.  That was just 4 days after the D-Day landings.

Oradour sur Glane
The French have left the town un-restored, as a tribute and reminder for future generations.   
Oradour sur Glane

It was harrowing reading the story of what happened.  
Buildings have been left derelict, with machinery and cars left abandoned, to emphasise what happened that day.  
Sure, some it it was placed very well, for maximum effect.  
But still it was an atrocity that should not be forgotten.  
It was a moving experience to visit the town.
One of the most poignant things was to see a recovered trumpet valve section on display in the museum part.  



Other articles too, were on display to give one a sense of the pointlessness of it all.
Half a morning there was ample time to get a sense of the horror and terror.  
Then it was back to the campsite for lunch and to freshen up.  
Then to an old work colleague for the afternoon and evening meal.  

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

le Puy de Dome volcanic area

Day 19    Fri 2.8.19 Left our and its over crowded wash block.   We were up and out early to catch the mountain rack-driven train to le Puy de Dome, an extinct volcano!  We tried booking on line to save 10%, but it was such a palaver that in the end we just turned up early and caught the train up to the top.   15 Bucks each.  Well, 14 for me, as I’m old now.   A spectacular 20 minute ride to the top.  A glorious day so the scenery was superb.  It was worth every penny.   Le Puy de Dome (1500 metres) It was possible to walk up, but it would have taken about 2 hours.  The train was the clear winner!   "Life is like a mountain railway" At the top there was a temple to Mercury, which had been re-sited from somewhere else.  Also a telecoms setup that took my attention (obviously).   And there were scores of people queueing up to do paragliding, from the top.  It was great up there. ...

Saint Bertrand de Comminges for the afternoon

Day 14 Sun 28.7.19 We sat around after a lazy b/f, and talking to Brian & Marianne.  Spent the morning in their garden, reading and relaxing.  Then after lunch we went off to Saint Bernad de Comminges, at the recommendation of Brian & Marianne.   It was a little drive away.  There we found a fortified village up no a hill with an imposing  cathedral dominating everything else.  Something was going on, and people in medieval costume were walking around everywhere.  Parking was free, but access to the town was for residents only anyway.  So the walk to the top was a quite steep 700 metre  hike.  When we got to the walls of the town, they were charging to go in.  Not my idea of liberte, egaligte, et fraternity.   Pay up and look big! Nice town After a little debate between us, and realising that the charge to get into the imposing basilica was 5 bucks anyway, and they only wanted 8 bucks to get ...

French national sport - Boules!

Day 16   Tue 30.7.19 We left our hosts, Brian & Marianne with a tinge of sadness.  They had been such good hosts.  A steady, gentle drive through miles and miles of unspoilt countryside.  It one good thing about France, - they have back roads that run for miles without much traffic.  Drove to Plaisance in the Tarn valley and camped in the municipal site there.  Cheap as chips, but very welcoming, and easy going.  When I asked which pitch we should use, the gracious manageress (about my age) said, "ou vous voulez" - wherever you want. When I asked when she wanted paying, she wasn't worried so long as I paid before I left.You could be forgiven for believing that the Tour de France is the French national sport.  Or even rugby.  But I need to tell you that throughout France a more popular sport has poll position. It's the game of boules!  And while I waited patiently for dinner to be served, I was treated to the thrill of the loc...