14th - 15th May, 2016. A visit to Tonnerre.

Tonnerre was our next stop and is the town with most to offer on this canal. Two English boaters had told us that there was nothing at Tonnerre, so don't always believe what you are told! This is The Fosse Dion, an 18th century lavoir, with 200 litres of water per second flowing through this pool, which is reputed to be bottomless. It was the meeting place for the laundresses, famous for their gossip, causing endless hostilities between those of the upper town and those of the lower town

Way up above the pool, many steps up! is the church of St Peter. It dates back to the 13th century and is a fine building.

From the church it is possible to look out over the many and varied roofs of the town.

This stained glass window was made in 1541, and is noticeably different in its colouring to more modern ones. It is lovely.

From the church, this garden descends to the town. The path slaloms down the steep hill, between the trees, and is known as Parc Grippeau.

Our next visit was to the Notre-Dame Hospital, which is in the centre of Tonnerre. This hospital was founded in 1293 by Marguerite of Burgundy.

This main hall used to contain about 40 patients, with four altars too, for Catholic services.

At the end of the main hall were steps down to a small room, The Holy Sepulchre, where we could see one of the oldest representations of The Entombment of Christ. It was stunning! It was sculpted by two brothers in the 15th century, and is in very fine condition.

There was a museum to tell us more about the hospital too, within the building. This model shows how the main roof of the hospital was supported.

The rest of the museum showed how surgical procedures were carried out, among other exhibits. This wooden statue of Marguerite of Burgundy was carved in the 13th century.