Panther Enthusiasts Club UK

Annual French Trip

Coucy le Chateau September 3rd to 8th September 2008

5th September - Drive to Chateau De Pierrefonds

I was really looking forward to this day because we were going to drive to Pierrefonds via an exceedingly pretty route. The Chateau is massive and very impressive, but it was the drive there that I thought people would get the most enjoyment from. They did, but it was raining quite heavily and consequently the countryside wasn't seen at its best. It was a 60 mile round trip through deserted country roads and we hardly saw another car until - until we suffered the second and last split in our 12 car convoy. We were just approaching Pierrefonds and at a "T" junction. Half the cars negotiated the turn right, but the others were stopped by 2 huge car transporters and were then delayed by a someone having been run over. Those of us already in the car park at Pierrefonds wondered where on earth the others were as we only left them a mile up the road! We did finally meet up again and brollies up, sought shelter in a restaurant. The rain did ease off and we wandered up to the chateau for a look around. There was no chance of our going around it, it was closed for lunch. Why do the French do that? They must lose money - they certainly didn't get ours. The best view of the chateau however is from the outside. Its immense size and fairy tale looks leave a lasting impression.


Gathering in the square ready to go - some hoods up some down	The rain was getting heavy - this was a stop to put the hoods up.

The bumpy roads caused an unscheduled "comfort" stop	Fairy tale castle!

A group who made it up the steps to find the chateau closed and had to be satisfied with a look over the ramparts	Looking down from the ramparts at our cars in the car park

and the view looking up - looks big doesn't it	It looks even bigger close up.

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