A rest day in Moissac. A chance to do my laundry, do some work and find accommodation for the next few stages.
Moissac, on first impressions, is a drab town, situated near the confluence of the Tarn and Garrone rivers. It’s a medieval city with rather austere architecture just outside the city centre, yet in the tourist centre the buildings are more appealing with restored buildings complete with large coloured wooden shutters.
The ‘piece de résistance’ though is the Abbey of St. Peter and its Cloister.
Saint-Pierre of Moissac Abbey and Cloister
Well, walking around some more, after my ‘sandwich’ lunch, I learned that Moissac has another trick up its sleeve, and that’s the canal complete with a network of locks just on the city’s edge.
Canal latéral à la Garrone
It seems that the canal network connects to many parts of France, and indeed, Europe. Many people live on the barges that cruise on these canals.
Alongside the canal is the quay where a few barges from other parts of Europe are docked.
At a quayside cafe there were two English couples, bargies, having a chat. And at this very same cafe I found my first flat-white in France. It really was white and weak and grosse.
The centre of town
Strolling further back in to the centre of town I had a closer look at the architecture. In my head all I could hear was the Monty Python skit ‘bring out your dead’.
Gîte Auberge de Chemins
A comfortable gîte offering good food, run by the flamboyant Agnes who bought the property just before COVID hit. She’s a bicycle pelerin and most who stay here are of the same persuasion.
Observation
It’s quite common in France to write cheques for payment. So many hikers I’ve seen pay their accommodation expenses this way.