September Field Trip: Return to Valenciennes

Valenciennes, mon amour  

I really had to return to Valenciennes. And I certainly had to go at the time of year when the city holds the procession of Notre-Dame du Saint Cordon. 

Every year, on The Virgin's Nativity, the Queen of Heaven is carried around the streets, a 14km hike. For details of the story behind this annual procession that originated in the Middle Ages see Travelogue March 11th 2013.

It was crucial, therefore, that my second trip to what I had come to see as Marguerite's home town would have to include September 8th in its itinerary. I  bought my Eurostar ticket and booked 5 nights at the same hotel as before.

On 6th September our good friend Peter, who lives in Bexley and who had put me up for the night, dropped me off at Ebbsfleet International to catch the 7:08 for Lille. Not quite such an early start this time! 

Changing trains at the Gare Lille Flandres, I arrived in Valenciennes in plenty of time for a good French lunch.

Click here for September Field Trip Part 1