Foire aux Vins

 

When the vendange is finished (grape picking) and the vignerons are busy making this year’s wines and putting them down then storage warehouses need to make room . Everything moves along the supply chain so, with new stock about to arrive,  retailers need to clear the shelves.  That's when wine fairs pop up everywhere and this is the ideal time to restock the cellar.

 

At the supermarket - wine as far as the eye can see

and both sides of the aisle and down the centre

Too many choices

Chateaux Mouton Rothschild, Pichon Baron and Angélus

or perhaps a Margaux ?

We only bought twelve cases ( six dozen bottles) as that’s all we could fit in the trolley – this time. Should last until Christmas.

Bonne semaine mes amis

Sad Times

 

The local mayors and councillors in their ribbons of office

Yesterday, we attended a sad event. You may have read of the assassination of a teacher , Samuel Paty, in France last Friday – for teaching about freedom of speech.

All over France there have been gatherings as a show of support and solidarité  for teachers. This was the one held in our town.

only saw two people not wearing a mask

some social distancing even in the carpark

trying not to get too close

even the dogs paid their respects

There were a couple of speeches, a minute silence, then everyone sang La Marseillaise.

It was very stirring.

Solidarité

First post lockdown outing

We’ve been behaving appropriately for eight weeks now. Only leaving the house one at a time, attestation in hand, face mask at the ready,  only grocery shopping and nothing more.

Chateau de Marqueyssac

The garden is pruned twice a year - such a massive job

Different shapes

At last, we are permitted to travel up to 100 kms from home and without a permission slip ! So, our first choice for an outing - Les Jardins de Marqueyssac . A few tourist attractions are now able to re-open and this one opened the gates a week ago.

130 metres above the Dordogne river and La Roque-Gageac 

For those of you who’ve visited us , we have probably brought you  to this area for a day out. Beynac-et-Cazenac, La Roque-Gageac, Domme are all on this stretch of the river Dordogne.

Chateau de Beynac

Chateau de Castelnaud

Chateau de Fayrac

We have driven past the turn off for the Chateau due Marqueyssac and it’s beautiful gardens many times but never seemed to have the time to stop. So this was the perfect opportunity to finally take a look.

Love the trompe l'oeil window

Dining room - obviously

We counted six peacocks and hens in the gardens , all oblivious to the visitors.
 This painting is in the salon

Salon

A corner of a bedroom

The property has been owned by the same family since 1692 though the current chateau was built in the early 19^th century. The gardens were the work of Julien de Cerval , influenced by a visit to Italy, who planted thousands of boxwoods to create the fabulous shapes we see today. These take up only a small part of the total gardens. The boxwood lined paths meander for six kilometres through a forest and offer fabulous views of the countryside in all directions because it is all on a rocky outcrop high above the Dordogne valley.

Someone has a lovely house by the river below

You can see the Chateaux of Castelnaud-la-Chapelle, Beynac, and Fayrac from up here. And the Chateau des Milandes, once the home of Josephine Baker, is around the corner.

There are nooks and crannies, statues in random spots, play areas for children, and lots of seats for everyone to enjoy the views and the peace.

A tree house for the children beside a picnic area

The family chapel

A wave rock - an indication of the forces that created this valley

Water creates amazing effects

On summer evenings, there are musical performances by candlelight, and during the day, workshops and various activities. It is normally open all year round and is a very popular site for tourists , especially in the summer, so we were very fortunate that there were only about a dozen people there on our day out. No noisy chatter or screaming children, nothing but birdsong and the rustling of leaves in a light breeze. Once again, timing is everything.

Amicalment

For those who are interested, here is the website for the gardens  -   https://marqueyssac.com/

Spring in lockdown

Tulips for sale in the shops so it must be spring

Salut tout le monde.

The wisteria flowering on our wall

We are about to start week five of lockdown here in France. It’s been peaceful and our town is calm. The only shortage we have at the supermarket is flour, so everyone must be baking. It has been a blessing to live in the country and have a garden. I feel for those living in city apartments .

The roses are climbing

We’ve kept busy with work in the garden, reading, doing puzzles, taking the dog for walks, cooking . The high point of each week is a trip to the supermarket, which we can only do one at a time and with an attestation stating that we are just shopping for food ( in case the gendarmes ask). It’s a simple life.

The crabapple blossom and the cherry are finishing
- soon there'll be fruit to pick 

We have a neighbour in an upstairs flat with just a small terrace. She has a little boy and it must be frustrating keeping him entertained. He plays in the lane sometimes , so we have offered them the use of our garden for him to play on the grass.

We are all starting to look a little scruffy, even Lily. Due to other issues, I haven't been to the hairdresser for two months. Now discovering my true hair colour ( it's not a pretty sight) and desperately in need of a cut. Graham says that , if this lockdown lasts much longer, he will end up with a ponytail. 

we have mauve and purple and white lilac,
though the flowers don't last long

Can’t imagine what this would be like without the internet, Skype, etc. At least we are in instant contact with family and friends and all are well and keeping safe wherever they are in the world.

The bar on the corner, where we have spent many an evening enjoying an apero, or a music night, has been closed for the past year. Signs this week that someone is taking over the lease and doing a preparatory clean up. Something to look forward to when the restrictions are lifted and we can all sit in the sun and enjoy a rosé together again.

even the grape vines are shooting

How are you all coping ? We see that there are different levels of restrictions in different countries. How do you feel about that where you are ? The big one that I notice here is no more kissing.

Bisous virtuel de France

ROYAN

We made the most of a rare sunny winter's day and decided to take a drive to Royan. It's only 160 kilometres away, so an easy drive for australians.

It was a glorious sunny day until we reached Royan - then the clouds rolled in

Royan is a resort town about 100 kilometres northwest of Bordeaux. It’s where the Gironde Estuary meets the sea and the area has been occupied since prehistoric times. The romans planted vineyards, farmed oysters and mined the salt . The Visigoths came around 418 and then the Vikings around 844.

Notre Dame de Royan (1958) behind the modern apartment building 

Where the estuary meets the Atlantic

The town was virtually destroyed by allied bombing in 1945 as there were two german forts here protecting the access to the port of Bordeaux.

Belle Epoque villa beside a modern version

love this wrought iron decoration

The main beach is two kilometres long and there are still some Belle Epoque villas scattered amongst the more modern houses and low level apartment buildings.

This group , clad in wetsuits , chose the water instead of the promenade for their walk.
The temperature was around 10 degrees with a cool breeze!

Strung out a little, but still walking

We didn't wait to see if they went the whole length of the beach - and back

On the day that we  visited, the promenade was busy with joggers, bike riders and people walking their dogs, even in the cooler weather.

Winter at the beach

 Must share the interesting roundabouts we saw on the way.

Escargot anyone ?

Oysters ?

You know you're by the beach now

Thinking especially of everyone back home in 

Australia - take care.