20th - 22nd September. To Moret-sur-Loing, then up the river Seine to Montereau-Fault-Yonne. On to the river Yonne and sloping sided locks

The road into Moret-sur-Loing leads over the bridge and into the town through the town gate. Over to the left can be seen the 12th century church of Pont-Loup.

Unusually, the organ is mounted high up on the wall, inside the church. It is a beautiful church.

This fascinating old building is known as Bon-Saint-Jacques. Pierre Racolet redesigned the exterior in a neoclassical style in 1924, including his own “signature” of a rat in a pot of glue, the symbol of carpenters.

Leaving Moret-sur Loing, and the Canal du Loing, we were soon on the River Seine, and followed the barge Westphalie into an enormous lock. We are not so far from Paris here, but will save that for next year.

We are going 13 kilometres upstream on the Seine, before joining the Yonne river at Montereau-fault-Yonne.

A splendid bronze statue of Napoleon oversees the bridge at Montereau. This commemorates the French success at the Battle of Montereau, on February 18th 1814, when Napoleon led his men to defeat the Austrians, shouting that the cannon ball which would kill him had not yet been made!

On the other side of the road, this building has been painted with scenes from this battle.

This whole mural really gives an impression of the action then.

The collegiate church of Notre Dame, complete with flying buttresses, dominates the skyline, on the far side of the river Yonne.

It is just as impressive inside, and was built during the 12th to the 16th century.

Looking back to the “halte fluvial” as we leave the town, the rest of the battle of Montereau is painted on the building behind the mooring.

The locks on the Yonne river have sloping sides, presumably to make them stronger. It certainly makes them more awkward to use! We moored above the third lock, Barbey, and stayed there, doing not a lot, for two nights to give us time to recover from our energetic town visits.