Lorraine and Champagne Ardenne
12/15 August 2016

First Leg

Slideshow

D-EXHV

Sedan

Nancy

Troyes

Hilversum

Following the early return home from our previous trip, we planned a short trip to the north-east of France, where the weather was going to be nice for the days to come. With restricted airspace active over the Ardennes Forest and weather yet to improve during the day on Friday 12 August 2016, we departed during the second half of the Friday afternoon to Sedan, Douzy, taking a route west of Brussels. In Douzy there was a hotel within walking distance of the small airport, and we started our trip over the Lorraine and Champagne Ardenne regions from there the next day.

Rene at Hilversum airfield

Antwerp

Canal du Centre

Sedan-Douzy airport

On Saturday August 13, we made a few stops, and Nancy became the 500th airport visited as a pilot. We celebrated this with a picnic in the Pépinière Park. In the evening we watched the light show "Son et Lumière Nancy" at the Place Stanislas.

At Sedan-Douzy airport

River Moselle (Mosel, Moezel)

Nancy, Essey airport

Veleda at Nancy, Essey airport

Nancy

City Hall Nancy

Nancy is the capital of the north-eastern French department of Meurthe-et-Moselle. The UNESCO-listed Place Stanislaus exemplifies the elegance of the city with its monumental palaces and fountains. It links the medieval old town of Nancy and the "new" town built under Charles III in the 17th century. The City Hall (Hôtel de Ville) of Nancy occupies the entire south side of the square.

Nancy Cathedral

Pépinière Park is the largest park in Nancy. It is the perfect place for a picnic under a tree. Adjoining to Place Stanislas is Place de la Carrière, with the Triumphal Arch. Then there is the 18th-century Nancy Cathedral, and the 15th-century Church of St François-des-Cordeliers. The Ducal Palace of Nancy was the home to the Dukes of Lorraine. Today it houses the Musée Lorrain.

On Sunday we flew to Troyes. On the way we saw the Memorial Charles de Gaulle in Colombey, and we made a stop at Brienne airport where parajumping was taking place. In Troyes we had booked a hotel near the airport that had bicycles available, and we used the bicycles to visit the city.

Departure from Nancy

Memorial Charles de Gaulle

Veleda at Brienne, Le Chateau airport

Final runway 35 Troyes, Barberey airport

Troyes

Half-timber houses, Troyes

Located on the Seine river about 150 km southeast of Paris, Troyes has a lively centre that's graced with one of France's finest ensembles of half-timbered houses and Gothic churges. The nome troy weight for gold derives from the standard of measurement evolving here. The half-timbered houses were rebuilt after the great fire of 1524, which destroyed much of the medieval city.

Troyes Cathedral

Construction of the Gothic Troyes Cathedral begun in 1208, with work continuing until the 17th century. The Basilica of St Urbain is a classic example of late 13th-century Gothic architecture. Église Ste-Madeleine is Troyes' oldest and most interesting neighbourhood church. Interesting is also the Église St-Pantaléon church, with numerous statuary from the sixteenth century.

On Monday morning we flew back to Hilversum. We first fueled at Troyes, and then departed to the north. On the way we passed Reims, that we had visited in the spring of 2013. In Belgium we flew between the Chievres and Charleroi CTRs, then below the Brussels TMA to pass Brussels west of the city, then throught the Antwerp CTR in the direction of Brasschaat. Upon arriving at Hilversum airfield, we landed on runway 07.

Veleda at Troyes, Barberey airport

Reims

Strepy-Thieu boat lift

Landing at Hilversum airfield

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