‘I was promised a historic medieval centre in Montluçon – just like Carcassonne, only with far fewer tourists’
Ah, la belle France, who could resist its temptations? The Normandy beaches, the charming little Breton fishing ports, and those dreamy posh places in the south.
But what about the middle? As you clock up those autoroute miles, are you never tempted to turn off at one of the brown signs you pass, advertising things you can see at the next exit?
I was, last summer. I had always intended to visit the Auvergne region, famous for its volcanic scenery, on the way down further south for work. But when, having just reached the area’s northern perimeter, I saw just such a sign for somewhere called Montluçon, I couldn’t resist making a quick detour. I was promised a historic medieval centre, just like Carcassonne, only apparently with far fewer tourists.
Medieval Montluçon
First impressions were good. I had just stopped in a tree-lined street, trying to work out where to park my 7.37m-long Bailey Autograph, when a local man suddenly zoomed to a halt on his moped and directed
