Rest Day in Langres! Whoohoo!

What, oh what, should I do?

I sleep. Since I went to sleep last night at 7PM, I’m awake and fixing breakfast at 6 AM. I make myself an omelette; I have a cup of local strawberry yogurt; and, of course, a croissant and coffee. Since I’ve been longing for cold milk, I have a morning cup of cold milk.

At 10 AM, I’m off. I get my official Via Francigena stamp at the Office of Tourism. With the help of a town map, I’m ready to explore Langres.

With only 8000 folks, Langres isn’t overwhelming. On a plateau several hundred meters above the surrounding plains, the city offers some beautiful views from its two miles of walls and towers. Originally fortified by the Romans in the third century, Langres walls made more formidable during later centuries. Apparently these walls were successful, nobody ever captured the city.

Inside the walls, I wander through the curving streets and alleys. I see France’s oldest, continuous hotel. The Hotel d’la Poste has welcomed folks since 1588. From the outside, I’ll pass on spending the night there.

Because the French love public statues, I spot two.

One statue is to Nurse Mance, a co-founder of the Hotel-Dieu, the first hospital in North America (located in Montreal).

The other statue is to Denis Diderot. You know him right? Born here in 1713, he and his colleagues wrote a classic of the Enlightenment, a 28 volume set the French Encyclopedia. His audacious, and unrealistic goal, was to provide information on everything known to humanity. Helpful, yes. Achievable, no.

At the center of Place Diderot, I find his statue. I learn that it is sculpted by Bertholdi who made the Statue of Liberty. I also see that present day Langresians are capitalizing on Diderot’s name. There’s a Diderot boulangerie, a Diderot stationary store, a Journaux and Tabasco store Le Diderot, and the A La Brulerie Diderot! All within a hundred feet of each other.

I finally make it to the twelfth century Saint- Mammes Cathedral. For the first time on this walk, I see three massive tapestries hanging from the walls. Tired of just stone statues? Rotating artwork? Supporting local textile merchants? Wanting to keep the cold out? I’ll have to read more to discover the reasons.

I’m finished seeing Langres. Time to return to my BnB, eat my first chocolate pastry, and have my first nap. Or, should I find a nice bench and read a book?

A pretty good Rest Day if you ask me!