It was la journée du Patrimoine and the French were claiming their republican rights in a gauche sort of way.
Some doubtless were scrambling over the flower beds at the Fort de Brégançon, the presidential holiday retreat on the Var coast between Toulon and St Tropez. Others, I imagine, were gawping at the grandeur of the Elysée.
I crossed the majestic Roman Pont du Gard , a UNESCO World Heritage Site near Nimes. The bullfight the night before was not covered by the day of free access to national treasures, but more of that another day.
How smoothly it all went elsewhere around France I cannot say. For many of the hundreds of French, American, German, Chinese, Italian and British visitors (yes, and I am sure others I didn't identify) helping themselves to their slice of the heritage at the same location as me, it was not so much the Pont du Gard as the bridge of sighs.
Crossing beneath the towering structure from the left bank to the right, I followed a sign up a short but steep flight of steps to the entrance to the bridge.
There, a pleasant young attendant was turning people away with the explanation that the walk across the bridge itself was one way. From the other direction.
Back to the rive gauche we went, and up another short, steep flight of steps. Another attendant, a charming lady whose French came complete with a Scottish accent, allowed people in a few at a time, giving them tickets in the process instead of collecting them.
There was not very much to see, except at either end of the span, since the upper tier of the bridge is almost completely under stone cover. And the Romans being shorter than the average bloke of 2007, I bashed my head several times during the walk. It was an experience of sorts, but the views were to be had from underneath the bridge.
At the other end, more people were being told to go back to start the walk at the other side. I suggested to the girl that a sign or two might have helped and she smiled in agreement.
A slightly grumpy American seemed cheered up when I joked that they were just being French about things.
Did anyone else take advantage of free or less restricted visits in their necks of the woods? Best of all, did anyone get the the Fort de Brégançon and if so, did they work out where Cécilia Sarkozy has decided the swimming pool should go?
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