LA CÔTE DES DEUX-AMANTS

In the 12th century, Marie de France, one of the earliest of women writers tells the touching legend of Caliste and Raoul the two lovers from where la cote des deux-amants gets its name. It seems that the King of Pitres did not want to give away his daughter so he decreed that her future husband would have to be strong enough to run non-stop to the top of the nearby hill with Caliste in his arms. Raoul, the son of a count, made an attempt but collapsed and died from exhaustion at the top of the hill and Caliste fell dead beside him; the two young lovers were buried on the spot and so the hill acquired their name. From the top of this hill overlooking the Seine, one can easily see the Écluses d’Amfrefille down below. The locks together with the Poses Dam constitute the main control of the water flow in the Lower Seine and divide the canalised stretch below Paris from the tidal section which flows into the Channel.  I couldn't help myself and I stopped the car whenever I could in order to snap some photos of the fields covered in yellow rape flowers.