Villedieu-les-Poêles

 On our first full day in Pan Town, which was Thursday 4 September, we walked round mainly looking for the stationment de camping car. There are two aires both with 5 overnight parkings and one with full facilities. You will not be interested in any of that, but the above photo shows the rather nice municipal park hard by the none-serviced aire. There's also a nice park by the other one.

 PanTown centre is typically northern French with very narrow streets cramming a lot in a small space. There are many expositions on at the moment, not least the 70th anniversary of the liberation of France and this town is no exception. There are on display very evocative motion picture sequences by the US army of the town's liberation - the street below for instance, shot to bits with heavily armed GIs on either side. Beautiful B&W still photos of them greeting civilians and washing themselves in the river behind the photographer, below, they look utterly tired out.

 So what's the USP of GodPanVille? It starts with crusading knights who obtain a concession from Henry I (of England, no less, not France) to control import and export in the region and tax the populace stupid. They are very good at it, but also have learnt off of the Saracens the gentle art of bell founding. The place becomes a very great centre for all to do with metal crafts. There still is a bell foundry and pan making. We are talking about the most expensive pans any chef could want. Also it is a centre for lace making by hand.

 They also have their own lavoir, below, this time straight into the river.