The Meridian Line: France.

 
The Meridian Line in France slices through the western side of the country; by chance, the area of modern France which was the territory of the English King, Henry II, 1154.  This area was contested up to the end of the 100 years war, 1453, when only a small pocket around Calais remained in English control.  The last battle of  that war - the English lost - was at Castillon-la-Bataille on the River Dordogne, less than 3 km from The Line.

A visit to Castillon is historically very interesting.  Proximity to the vineyards of St Emilion just nearby adds considerably to the tourist's enjoyment. The towns and cities on the map are the nearest to The Line.  Villers, Argentan and Parnay have markers that identify the line.  From Villers on the channel coast to the watershed with Spain at the head of the Gavarnie valley is about 730 km.

 
At Villers-sur-mer where the Meridian Line first meets the French coast, the town has placed a big display of The Line and marked the direction of the Line in the road.  In addition a nearby street was renamed - Rue du Meridien. Villers is a pleasant small sea-side town with a good beach, a casino and an active market.  Well worth a visit.

The Line sign almost hidden in bay leaves.

The southern end of the Line in France is at Gavarnie in the Hautes Pyrenees.  If there is a Line Marker in the Gavarnie area it is not obvious.  The Line nearest to the town would be around 6000 ft and near to le Hount Blanque on the east of the valley.  Gavarnie church has memorials to the climbers and guides who died in this area.

This old church is one of the stopping places for pligrims on their way to St Jaques du Compostelle. The route to Compostelle in Spain climbs out of the churchyard to the west, about 15 miles along the Valle des Pouey Aspe to the frontier at Port de Boucharo.

Gavarnie church in morning mist.

  
 

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