A cold morning was compensated by clear
blue skies and we had a very relaxed start, taking advantage of the
campsite showers before breakfasting on croissants.
We drove the short distance to Orrouy,
due south of Compiegne. A walks leaflet from Pierrefonds tourist
information told us that there was a walk there that took in some
Roman ruins, however there was no map or details of the route. When
we arrived at Orrouy we had to follow a short diversion as there was
a flea market in full swing. We found somewhere to park and headed
back to the flea market to find that there were also children's rides
and a penny arcade and all this in a very small village. Resisting
all of the temptations (it was too early for sausage and chips), we
decided to set off on the walk. Fortunately, Jane spotted a board
with a map showing the route of a walk from the village that also
included the Roman ruins. It was a little longer than we wanted so we
cut off part of the walk by taking a quiet road. Climbing up a hill
we arrived at level open ground with large open field of beet.
Arriving at the Roman ruins of Champlieu we found an impressive
theatre, a bath house and a temple. The theatre would have held many
hundreds of spectators and we had to wonder where the rest of the
population had lived – they must have been close.
The remainder of the walk was through
forest currently being thinned and the felled trees taken for timber
and firewood.
We arrived back at the motorhome and
headed off, stopping in a lay-by for a very late lunch. Once again,
we decided that we wouldn't push on to Provins, so we headed for an
aire at St. Cyr sur Morin. The village is small and pretty and the
aire is between the Little Morin river and a mill leat. Mills were
obviously important in the area with two extant mills on the
outskirts and millstones on display in many places. We had a pleasant
wander around the village and bought some food at the local shop,
open at 18:00 on a Sunday, a rarity in France.
Photos: The Orrouy portaloo, so much
nicer than those modern plastic ones!; The Champlieu Roman theatre;
Taking another step back in time, this fuel pump in the village of
Champlieu is still in use.
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