Definately cooler today (at last!).  We have moved from the Saumur campsite to the Aire next door. Good thing we moved in the morning as by late afternoon the Aire was almost full (with no space in the campsite either). People appear to be flocking into the town this weekend with their vintage bicycles for the races starting tomorrow at 9am.

We spent the day wandering around the town but didn’t have the energy or inclination to climb the hill and visit the chateau…….

One attraction in the town we couldn’t say no to was a guided tour of the Combier distillery, built in 1848 by the creator of the ‘Triple Sec’ orange liquor. The processes used now seem to have changed very little over time with next to no automation. The Stills are almost 200 years old and feed up to a cooling platform designed by Gustave Eiffel (yes – the tower man).  The tour ended with tasting and we had to show our support by purchasing a bottle!

The distillery also produces Absinthe, banned in France until 1988. I asked about it and was treated to our own tasting ceremony: ice cold water dripped onto a sugar cube over a glass of Absinthe. All very fascinating but not sure if it would be the top of my list the next time I visit the pub!