Spent an abbreviated visit in France's only WW 2 concentration camp. Took a wrong turn about 25 kms out and did a massive tour through the mountains. When I got there, it was mostly forested over and not much in the way if information. I stumbled upon some ominous looking ruins and went in-creepy. The sign said that music playing was not allowed. I understand the sentiment but not sure i agree. Came across a Bobcat while exploring the upper quarry camp area. Big guy. Glad he was afraid of me and ran. Also found the gates to the Quarry. Wasnt sure my trip out there was worth it when I came across the camp for real.
I got my ticket and walked around in the sunshine. I felt strange taking photos which turned out not to be a problem because I forgot the camera in my bike. The barbed wire and guard houses as well as the prison and medical offices were still up but the Germans destroyed the crematoriums when they left. Many Germans as well as other groups were worked brutally hard here. Outright killing occurred when the Germans shot 109 members of the resistance over two nights in September. Down the road, a doctor gassed 84 Jews in a dance hall converted to a gas chamber. They marched the remaining prisoners off to Dachau when the Allies got to close. Saw some teenage students laughing as they came back up the hill. Sad they didn't get it. Some adults were laughing and joking in the prison. For me, I think I appreciate these historical places more so than exhibits or reading about it.
Headed down a hill into small towns and panicked because I was in Saturday evening time when everything was closed. I bought a semi burned loaf of bread from a vending machine and then loaded up on drinks at the gas station when the lady told me the intermatche was open 3 kms away! Loaded up there in anticipation of the Sunday shutdown.
Biked a few more kms and then went up hill and found a mining museum that looked promising. I came across a memorial to killed or disappeared people in the second war and then saw amother about 3 civilians killed in WW I. Saw a falcon or hawk drop his supper and when I went to investigate, I saw a shaken up bird.
Saw the lightning flashes before I heard the rain on the roof and quickly stashed my bike under the overhang. In the morning, it stopped and I went downhill to catch the road as I wasn't sure where the up hill route would leave me. I passed it about 30 minutes later! I was still happy it wasn't raining though.