Bon jour fellow francophiles. This is my question, and it's a real long shot that anyone will have the answer, but here goes- I'm looking for a small town in France that I saw in 2009 Tour de France; we're taking another trip there next year and I want to see this town. Only problem- thought I made a note of the town but apparently did not. It's a possibly medieval (but I'm not sure) village with ramparts, built way up high on a cliff or a rock ledge, above either a highway or river; from the town you can see for miles, but the town is sort of by itself up there. I have looked on Google earth for days and cannot find it- I've looked at all the major bastide towns, like Carcassone, Besancon, etc and lots of smaller ones, but to no avail. If you have an idea, please post!
Posted by
Los Angeles, California
1986 posts
A long shot- try Rocomador
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
Sounds like Besançon to me, and I'm almost positive the Tour passed through there in 2009. And even if it is another town... Besançon looks awfully lot like your description.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17572 posts
I think Janet has the right idea. See where the 2009 Tour went and look at places along that route. We enjoy watching the Tour on TV as much for the scenery and aerial views of the lovely old towns as for the race action.
Posted by
Atlanta, Ga, USA
2023 posts
Maybe St Cirq LaPopie? It is a very pretty little town in the Dordogne area and I think it sits high above the Lot River. Roads are narrow and winding approaching the town which does indeed appear to perch off of a ledge.
Posted by
Dijon, Burgundy, France
120 posts
I don't think it is Besançon since the town (120 000 inhabitants)is not on a hill at all but it is almost surrounded by the Doubs river. What is on the hill is "la Citadelle" a fortress with remparts, a park and a a zoo. We spent almost a full day there and it was very nice. You can take a bus instead of climbing the hill. http://www.besancon-tourisme.com/fr/visiteet-decouverte/citadelle.html Besançon itself is nice too and worth a visit. Good luck! It is too bad you don't even know the region where the town is located, there are LOTS of towns like that.
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
I'm betting on either Domme or Rocamadour. Can you recall anything else?
Posted by
Michigan, USA
162 posts
Here is the link to the 2009 Tour de France. My best guess is that what you are describing is Gruyeres, Switzerland. Stage 15 went right by there before ending in Verbier that night. Gruyeres is a castle and small town up on a hill over looking a pastoral valley. Very pretty area. http://www.letour.fr/2009/TDF/COURSE/us/le_parcours.html
Posted by
Margate, FL, USA
204 posts
what about gordes? it has a rampart, on a cliff, and is medieval with narrow cobbled streets that go up and down?
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32384 posts
natalie, with your description of "It's a possibly medieval (but I'm not sure) village with ramparts, built way up high on a cliff or a rock ledge, above either a highway or river", the only town that comes to mind is ^Les Baux de Provence^, but I'm not sure if that's even in the area that you're looking? Have a look at the "official" website * www.lesbauxdeprovence.com/ * to see if anything looks familiar (cut & paste the link inside the asterisks). Good luck!
Posted by
OP
roanoke
36 posts
Thanks to all of you for your replies!! I looked at each one of the towns suggested, and I do actually think it's Besancon after all- at first I didn't think so but looking more closely at the old part of the citadel, it seems likely. I'm 98% sure that's the place! Although I marked all the other towns for places to visit- they were all great too. And yes, I do like watching the cycling, but my favorite part of Le Tour is the countryside!