Monday, 24 July 2023
Thursday, 20 July 2023
Wednesday, 19 July 2023
Ever decreasing circles
As we are heading toward Caen it was inevitable we'd cross into territory we covered on previous trips. Tonight we are staying in Falaise which we visited on 31 Aug 21.
We did first have a look around Domfront which is a nice mediaeval village though currently feeling everything but mid-summary. Few shops open, and few visitors even though it is school holidays.
The unusual St Julien. Built in late 1920s in neo-romantic style, though surely there was a church there before? Check that spire! |
Decorated with part-mosaics |
There had to be a castle, this one belonging to William the Conk's son at one point. On the border between Normandy and Brittany, hence England and France, it saw some action. |
We found a British choir practicing in here. Sounded great. |
Tuesday, 18 July 2023
Monday, 17 July 2023
Lazy day
We have three nights before the ferry, but only a couple hundred kms to go so taking it easy.
Durtal castle is a hotel but what limited access possible was irrelevant as it is closed Mondays.
We wandered north for an hour or so.
Sunday, 16 July 2023
What we need is an art critic
It actually rained this morning which is somewhat surprising given the overall heat Europe is getting. Temperature is just right, tending to cool.
We wandered the troglodyte village, visiting artist's galleries and an apple tappery. When grapes failed at the end of the 19thC an old method of preserving apples was revived and these were sold to the British navy as a source of vitamin C to ward off scurvy. The apples are dried at a low temp (no higher than 60), then tapped with a hammer to concentrate them. They end up just 2cm thick. They can be eaten as is or reconstituted with any liquid. We tasted one with apple juice and another with wine and spices. Both would make great desserts.
An architypal troglodyte home in that it started with a cave, then a sort of lean-to, then a full blown house. |
We then moved on to check out a nearby chateau. It turned out to contain a contemporary art collection and little of its own history. I found the art completely inaccessible.
Let Chateau Montsoreau |
This was the exception to the inaccessibility. I found it amusing and thought provoking. |
(You have to read the packets carefully) |
I'm still not sure if this is an artwork or simply a miscreant dog |
My camera flashed up "group photo". |
Here's the 15thC castle, built for accommodation, not military purposes |
Black and black. Well, he ain't wrong. |
Original artworks. They are fish. |
At least it had a view |
Onwards then, through some narrow roads that should have been avoided, including a box bridge that may well have torn mirrors or worse.
We stayed in a camp beside the Loir (not Loire) and enjoyed power and shower.
Saturday, 15 July 2023
Tanks a lot
Well, there was nothing for it today but to visit the second largest tank museum in the world (so they say).
I won't show all the 100+ photos/videos for which you can thank me later.
For tank enthusiasts the German 'cats' are often popular, and Saumur has a Tiger 1 that they are restoring to running condition.
A 1:1 scale kitset Tiger |
They have a good collection of models and dioramas.
Perhaps the quirkiest exhibit was the Russian T-72 trainer:
Anyway, I have plenty of reference pics for future models now.
Jude had spent the day at the Chateau so when we both got back we drove down the road to Turquant, a troglodyte town.
Sculptures are scattered throughout the village. Why ants? |
The (non-troglodytic) church has windows restored using 16thC methods. Having seen so many churches we are excited by anything different. |