Join Twinning for Visit to Twin Village St Benoit

[Cookham Webmaster]

from the chairman Cookham Twinning

[/i]We’re looking forward to visiting our friends in St Benoit in October (26th-29th). Some members have already confirmed that they are coming, and others that they can’t make it this year, but there’s room for more, Please give me a call if you’d like more information (Keith - 01628 532279).  Everyone is very welcome to join us, you will be guaranteed a wonderful time. You do not need to speak French even and you stay with the French in their homes.  

Our hosts have arranged a fascinating itinerary

Saturday 26 October – reception

Sunday 27 October – Sunday lunch in Vouillé , around 20 kms from Poitiers

Monday 28 October – visit to The Chateau and gardens of Villandry and the Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud, where Henry II, his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine and son King Richard the Lionheart are buried. In the evening a dinner with a musical group in St. Benoit.

Here are some transport options

•          Train: Eurostar St Pancras to Paris (Gare du Nord) then Paris Montparnasse to Poitiers - tickets available 3-4 months in advance

•          Air: direct flights (Ryanair) from Stansted to Poitiers Friday 25 October dep STN at 14:05 arr PIS at 16:35.  Return Tuesday 29 October dep PIS at 11:00 arr STN at 11:30.

Current price (return) £87.30 (excluding baggage etc)

•          Drive options

•          Eurostar: Drive Calais to Poitiers – 624 km 6 hours 8 mins

•          Sea: Britanny Ferries from Portsmouth to St Malo overnight

Friday 25 October dep Portsmouth 20:15 arr St Malo Saturday 26 October 08:15 - current price £175.  Drive St Malo to Poitiers 402km 4 hours

Return Tuesday 29 October dep St Malo 20:30 arr Portsmouth Wednesday 07:45 -current price £130

•          Other routes Britanny Ferries from Portsmouth to Caen daily

Return Tuesday 29 October dep Caen 16:30 arr Portsmouth 21:15 / dep Caen 23:00 arr Portsmouth 06:45 – current price £115.  Drive Poitiers to Caen 3hours 30 mins

 

For those of you that are coming, it would be helpful if you could let me know your chosen transport option, so that I can let our hosts know. We also plan to meet for an informal (optional)  lunch at the King’s Arms on Saturday 28th September to meet before we go.

[Bathsheba]

And perhaps during the return invitation, the French can take in a trip to High Wycombe Parish Church in which you can find a monument to Henry II's favourite mistress Rosamund Clifford.