A day of contrast yesterday.
In the morning we walked to the Blockhaus d'Eperlecques, a historic monument about 1.5 Km from where we are staying. Neither of us were prepared for what we found. On the outside there was a typical reception and tourist shop. The entrance to the Blockhaus was at the back of the shop through a large steel door. The experience of walking through the door was a bit like the wardrobe in Narnia - but it wasn't so much the area we'd walked in to but the atmosphere. It was heavy and there was a sense of great sadness.
In a wood there were six stations to visit and these started to explain what the Blockhaus was for and why it had been built. Blockhaus is a German word for bunker and this bunker was to be used to manufacture and launch V2 bombs during World War 2, with London as the main target. The stories of the construction using prisoners from concentration camps and other slave labour were harrowing, and we heard As
In the morning we walked to the Blockhaus d'Eperlecques, a historic monument about 1.5 Km from where we are staying. Neither of us were prepared for what we found. On the outside there was a typical reception and tourist shop. The entrance to the Blockhaus was at the back of the shop through a large steel door. The experience of walking through the door was a bit like the wardrobe in Narnia - but it wasn't so much the area we'd walked in to but the atmosphere. It was heavy and there was a sense of great sadness.
In a wood there were six stations to visit and these started to explain what the Blockhaus was for and why it had been built. Blockhaus is a German word for bunker and this bunker was to be used to manufacture and launch V2 bombs during World War 2, with London as the main target. The stories of the construction using prisoners from concentration camps and other slave labour were harrowing, and we heard As
we
accounts of the harsh conditions and the many hundreds who died at the site. rounded a corner to the third station we were not prepared for the sight before us. In our minds we had expected a bunker like we see on the cliff tops at Dover. The huge scale of the mass of concrete in front of us stopped us dead in our tracks. When you se
e the size of it it seems incredible that it is not visible from the village or the roads around - the dense woods were one of the reasons the Germans picked this site.
Most of the building is still intact although part of it was destroyed by Allied bombing which thankfully caused the Germans to decide to abandon the site during 1944.
Visiting this place stirred up many emotions - sorrow for the pain and suffering endured in building the
bunker, thankful that it was never used as it was intended and grateful that our lives are so much easier than those who had to endure the horrors of WWII.
In complete contrast we spent the evening in Lille at "Le Braderie" - the enormous flea market which is held once a year. The scale of it was amazing - like hundreds of car boot sales throughout the city centre and the range of items on sale was incredible - everything from Victorian farm machinery to the latest hi-tech products. The moules frites were good though and served in generous portions, as you can see from the picture.
e the size of it it seems incredible that it is not visible from the village or the roads around - the dense woods were one of the reasons the Germans picked this site.Most of the building is still intact although part of it was destroyed by Allied bombing which thankfully caused the Germans to decide to abandon the site during 1944.
Visiting this place stirred up many emotions - sorrow for the pain and suffering endured in building the
bunker, thankful that it was never used as it was intended and grateful that our lives are so much easier than those who had to endure the horrors of WWII.In complete contrast we spent the evening in Lille at "Le Braderie" - the enormous flea market which is held once a year. The scale of it was amazing - like hundreds of car boot sales throughout the city centre and the range of items on sale was incredible - everything from Victorian farm machinery to the latest hi-tech products. The moules frites were good though and served in generous portions, as you can see from the picture.
Moving on tomorrow to the Champagne region - I wonder what local produce we might sample there?
A bit like visiting the war graves in Normandy - very unsettling and you can't stop thinking about it for days afterwards.
ReplyDeleteMoules frites..........yum, one of my great pleasures!
Keep on reporting - we all miss you Carol xxx
Its so good to imagine you en France, it all makes super reading, take care
ReplyDeleteDiane xx