Moret-sur-Loing is a boating hub. It sits on the Loing River immediately after the last lock on the Canal du Loing. It is a kilometre from the confluence of the Loing and the Seine. With the feeling of relief that comes with finishing the Canal du Lonig (ie. no more locks to deal with) and with nowhere nearby to moor on the Seine, it is a popular overnight (or longer) spot. The moorings are very pretty and Moret-sur-Loing is a lovely town. It was our fifth visit to Moret-sur-Loing – the most we’ve stopped anywhere. Luckily for us, we like it here. The white sheet at Aleau’s stern keeps the setting sun out of our eyes when we relax on the aft-deck.
As usual, the Mairie – or in this case l’Hôtel de Ville – is the most majestic building in town.
I don’t know when the building below was constructed – but it was well before the stones for l’Hôtel de Ville were laid. And it’s still being used.
What’s standing next to it is even older – built in the 1500s for King François I.
Whenever we’ve been in Moret-sur-Loing, we’ve had crêpes at La Poterne where we can sit on a balcony overlooking the Loing. (See Chap. 168 and 207.) This time, we tried Moret-sur-Loing’s other crêperie – La Gavotte.
The view certainly wasn’t as nice and the crêpes were only almost as good as La Poterne.
Almost every town has something that seems a little odd. In Moret-sur-Loing, it was this pedestrian crosswalk – equipped with a light. It goes nowhere.
Maybe the other side of the street is busier and in need of a light you might ask. Nope. Nothing there, either. Is there a fine if you cross on the red? But where would you be going?
In Chapter 177 – written after an earlier visit to Moret-sur-Loing – I said that Au Faubourg de l’Écluse was one of the best patisseries I have been to. Including Paris. That still holds true. This time, instead of pastries – which you have already seen – I checked out the fridge.
Champipi (in life outside the fridge) is a type of mushroom.
I think the ones below are probably tastier than the real thing.
The one-kilometre stretch of the Loing that joins the Seine with the Canal du Loing can be a busy transit route for commercial barges. They have to navigate between all the pleasure boats tied up in Moret-sur-Loing. The boat in the centre of the photo with two anchors raised against its blue and white bow is a commercial headed our way. (We’re safely tied up and out of the way.)
It has to wait behind another commercial waiting for the lock to open. Josyl will have to be patient. The lock is closed for lunch. When it opens, only the first barge will fit in. The lock is not big enough for two 38-metre long barges to fit in at the same time.
When we head out onto the Seine, those ‘Freycinet’ barges will seem small. We’ll be sharing the river with barges coming up from behind that are 185-metres long and much faster than Aleau. We will have to be extra vigilant.
Before casting off, our neighbour’s cat came over to say good-bye.
And then took refuge from the sun.
So long, Moret-sur-Loing. For now.
