L'Avenir - cruising Europe's inland waterways: Montargis

Over the years we have been to several towns describing themselves as 'the Venice of ____' (complete as appropriate). I have never actually been to the real Venice (it's on the list) so I admit I am perhaps not best qualified to comment but I have a suspicion that those coming up with what they obviously thought was a clever, original, marketing slogan hadn't been there either. The two things all these places have in common are, of course, canals and bridges. Other than that they bear little or no resemblance to each other at all. Anyway, as Venices go, Montargis, where we have been moored for a couple of days, is a rather pleasant one. With 131 bridges, a river, a lake, a navigable canal, a network of smaller canals and the remnants of ancient moats you are never far from the water. The town is also a Ville Fleurie so most of the bridges have beautiful floral displays and there are dinghies filled with flowers moored in many of the little waterways running through the town centre.

The town is overlooked by the remains of an ancient chateau which we visited intending only to look at the view over the town. However the hugely enthusiastic guide spotted us and persuaded us to join him and 3 French visitors on a short tour. The short bit was in distance. We spent about 45 minutes in the 2 rooms of the caves (cellars), another 45 minutes in the small crypt which is all that remained of the ancient church and about another 45 minutes in the still functional chapel. We weren't able to go into what the remains of the chateau as it is now a school but we did spend some time standing outside. Our guide told us, in minute detail, the history of every single thing he showed us throwing in a few local legends as well. This, all in French about a third of which I was able to understand and translate. The other 2/3rds was kindly translated for us by 2 of the other visitors who spoke excellent English having spent some time in Australia and who didn't seem fazed that their already long visit was made twice as long!
We have said goodbye to our guests Libby and Brian who joined us for a week's cruise along the Canal de Briare. Thank you both for your good company, stories and laughs. This morning one of us particularly missed you, Brian, when they had to venture out in the rain in search of croissants. We always enjoy having visitors and it is great that some even choose to return for a repeat trip! So if you've been before and fancy another few days afloat then let us know.
We leave Montargis tomorrow heading up towards Paris on the Canal du Loing .
I have a little more to say about our experience here with Orange France but to be honest I feel completely exhausted even thinking about it so it will have to wait until the next time.