Thursday 14 April 2011

Demarcation Line

When many people think of the Loire Valley they think of Renaissance chateaux.

Today we took Jimmy (who flew with the Royal Air Force in World War II) to some of the lesser known, but still fascinating, sites in the South Touraine. Jimmy was interested to hear about Jean Delalez - known as "Charlemagne" in the Resistance movement - a local schoomaster and organiser of the escape network for downed aircrew and undercover agents, who is remembered today in the name of the school at which he taught.

We also stopped at a memorial which markes the spot where the demarcation line between Occupied and Free France once crossed a field in the middle of the country, and we wondered at the disruption this must have caused to everyday life in the area.

In between, we visited a forest where some of the nastiest encounters between the Resistance and occupying forces took place, and a prehistoric burial site - all in one afternoon. If you would like to spend an afternoon discovering little known sites which are part of a world wide story email us and tell us what interests you.

The cost of an afternoon tour in the South Touraine is 120euros for up to three people.