St Méard de Gurçon

the trees in bud at last

    It’s early spring so we never know what to expect with the weather each day.

so clever to think of combining  a vide grenier with a fishing day
- something for everyone in the family

you never know what you'll find

St Méard is a hilltop village with a 12th century church

The sun was shining this morning so off we went to the nearby village of St Méard de Gurçon for their combined vide grenier and fishing day  ( and why not ??).

can't chat while you fish if you sit too far apart

perfect spot for the bar

St Méard de Gurçon has a population of around 800 and these events , like the annual flower market, the summer night markets and the annual ‘Spectacular’ are popular.

Many french villages have made artificial lakes and stocked them with fish so the locals can enjoy a day by the water on the pretext of catching something. Whole families, with their picnic baskets, sit around these little ‘lacs’ enjoying a chat with the neighbours .

there's always someone interested in your 'preloved' items

catching up

On this particular day there was also a refreshment tent with croissants for the early arrivals and a barbecue for lunch. Where else would you get a glass of wine at 8.00am on a Sunday ? 

This is a typical french village with a church, town hall, a boulangerie, an old wash house ( le lavoir) where once upon a time the women used to get together to do the family wash and exchange gossip, and naturally, a good restaurant.

the church is 12th century, of course

wonderful old entrance

in summer, there is even a cafe under the trees by the church

la mairie

le lavoir

the original post office

the excellent restaurant "Le Pressoir" 

And in the surrounding countryside there are vineyards, fields of canola and sunflowers and open fields.

canola fields

For many this is rural bliss.

Bonne semaine mes amis