Youngs Abroad!: Oradour-Sur-Glane... least we forget.

Oradour Sur Glane - main street

Another day in Midi-Pyrenees paradise! We left the water mill early and drove about 260 km North to Oadour-sur-Glane. The village has been left as a memorial to the townsfolk who were killed during the war. In June 1944 a groups of SS soldiers arrived. rounded up 642 people, including 193 children, burnt the entire village and then shot all of the inhabitants. Only one woman and five men managed to escape. it was an amazing snap-shot in time with the trappings of daily life still evident, deteriorating as they are exposed to the elements. It is also incredibly moving to confront the evidence of the horror of what war was like for the people going about their lives. Even though there were other people there, the place seemed peaceful and is clearly teated with huge respect. Leaving the village as it is has been a much more significant memorial than if they had built something else.

Doctors car - left where it was destroyed.

There is a new town build further up the hill - life does go on.

We bought delicious bread and other ‘delights’ from the local bakery and had a picnic on the grass overlooking the town. There was a stunning blue sky but it is easy to imagine how brooding the place would look with grey skies and heavy clouds.

On the way to Oadour-sur-Glane, we travelled via the motorways, which was amazingly quick. On the way back we used more of the minor roads, took a few wrong turns and drove through some beautiful countryside and quaint villages. We visited Rocamadour which has an amazing cathedral build against the cliff face and down into the valley below. There is a village below the cathedral and the walkway, with hundreds of steps, was part of the local pilgrim pathway. We did cheat and paid to use a lift to avoid some of the steps.

Thankfully we found a supermarket that was still open so we could stock up on food for dinner, before heading ‘home’ by about 8.30. Another fantastic day.