Musee de Flandre -Cassel

The sun was actually peeping through the windows this morning - even though the mist was still evident. 

There was a good roll-up of vans over night with the total growing to over twenty  - glad there was plenty of space to go around. 

Sunday morning in Bergues there is a brocante - translated in English -a flea market. This is, but isn't, an ordinary flea market. The central square was taken over with folk selling their wares, but as we moved away from the squares we found the surrounding streets all closed off to cars so locals could spread more offerings to the passing crowds. It looked as if many people who lived in the adjacent houses just piled their gear out on the street and offered it for sale. A nice twist! It was a very popular event with street after street participating. 

A couple of happy traders sitting outside their front door selling a few items kindly posed for us. 

Even an old time music man and his dogs!

We would have preferred a farmers market to buy some local produce but it was strictly a flea market. 

We returned to the Hilton for coffe and cake before setting our sights on Cassel - a little further down the road. 

Cassel's fame grew from the fact that Marshal Koch, leader of the French army in1914, chose this high ground as his head quarters. The commanding views across the Flemish landscape was of critical importance in 1914.

A memorial plaque in the church at Cassel.

The town today attracts many visitors because it houses the Musee de Flandre. An interesting museum with a very good English audio guide. 

Musee de Flandre

Flemish influences all through this area.

An interesting satirical painting from the Flemish School. Note the swan depicted on the building in the top left was the Flemish symbol for brothel. And can you find the two pick pockets about to strike??

We had come a long way today! - 15 km - so we thought we had had enough and stopped for our overnight in Cassel.

The sun is finally shining and it's starting to warm up a little. Life's good!