Circus in the snow

The circus is coming to town....

It was at Chatellerault from 1st-5th February and is in Chinon, from today (8th) until 12th February.

We spotted the convoy of trailers travelling from Chatellerault to Chinon yesterday afternoon and today we passed the site of the circus - at La zone commerciale du Blanc Carroi, just off the Chinon to Tours road (D751).

What a strange site it was, the brilliant white snow setting off the red of the circus tents.

Back in October Jim and Pauline posted a blog about a different circus troupe, commenting that with apparently low takings (Jim estimated around 300 euros) they could not have making much of a living.

It's hard to imagine many people turning out in this weather for the shows at Chinon tonight and over the next few days, so takings will probably be on the low side again.

Incidentally, some of the posters boasted the appearance "UNIQUE EN FRANCE,  'BRYAN' UN LION BLANC".... We can only hope it doesn't escape against this backdrop..

We'll be on the lookout for unusual footprints if it does....!

Room with a view...

Jim and Pauline will remember this one....

Should it perhaps be called "The Great Escape.... in the planning stages"!!

Jim, what do YOU think?!

Jardin des Ramparts, Thouars

A day out last month took us through Thouars, a medieval city situated in western France in the Poitou-Charentes region. It stands on a rocky outcrop above the right bank of the River Thouars, a tributary of the Loire.

We took a walk round the Jardin des Ramparts set on a steeply sloping site, overlooking the river. What a delightful garden it is!

It's history is rather more brutal. On May 5th 1793 the Vendée army attacked this north-western part of the ramparts. The destruction caused allowed the invading Rochejoquelein to enter the town.

The garden, built on land owned by local historian Hugues Imbert, makes good use of the site. Planting is set against the backdrop of the ramparts and along sinewy paths, which are alarmingly steep in places!

For those who feel like braving the gradient, there is a glimpse of the river down below through the trees.

For most, though, it is a place to come and relax and enjoy the beauty and tranquillity. And judging from the day of our visit, it is well appreciated, as indeed it deserves to be.

The Chateau at Rivau and its fairy tale gardens

As my daughter is staying with us we took a trip to the Chateau at Rivau, about 15 kilometres north of Braye.

The chateau dates from the 13th and 15th centuries and was built by the Beauvau family who were related to the kings of France. Recent work allows visitors to see the site as it was back in the 15th century.

There are five rooms within the chateau open to the public and one of these houses an international collection of antique musical instruments, some of which visitors are allowed to handle and play.

The Royal Stables now house a skilfully projected history of royal horses and horses of myth and legend.

The gardens were just wonderful. Four hundred species of scented roses have made Le Rivau "the French Conservatory of fragrant roses".

Huge vegetables grow in the potager of Gargantua and I have a feeling it may have set Colin thinking.....

 Then it was on to the Fairy Tale gardens.....

 

 

 

 

 

If you look closely you can see Rapunzel letting down her hair...

It was a truly enchanting place for children of all ages to enjoy. There is so much more to tell that we may well post a sequel!

Richelieu's Young Farmers

Today it was the turn of the Jeunes Agriculteurs du Richelais to put on a display aimed at the children of the area.

Advertised as: "A la découverte du lait et Marché fermier" the day was a celebration of all things to do with milk production on the farm. There were the obvious cows and goats

 

Plus some imaginative use of a trailer with hay bales to provide a slide...

A Maze....

And a cart track for the little ones.....

Surrounding the square were the usual stalls selling honey, glasses of wine, hand made soap and local produce as well as the obligatory beer stall!

There was something for everyone!

Prieuré saint-Léonard de l'Ile-Bouchard (15kms from Braye)

We have always liked l'Ile-Bouchard ever since we first went there when we were on holiday a few years ago. We now go quite regularly both to enjoy the river and  pick up shopping at the Super-U. Until this morning we had never been to the ruin of the priory church of St Leonard.

The construction of the priory church of St Leonard dates back to the eleventh century. There is not a great deal of the church left but what remains is stunning. The last photograph gives a complete description in English. (like all our photographs if you click on it to enlarge it you can read it).

 

 

You have got to admire the skill of the stone carvers from all those years ago whose work still remains today..

 

 

There are six capitals all intricately carved with religious themes. A description of each is given at the left hand side of the photograph below.

The priory is open all year round and it is free to visit.

Richelieu Brocante de l'Assomption

Today is the fête de l'Assomption and a holiday for many in France.

We went into Richelieu to have a look at the Brocante de l'Assomption, with it's wide variety of stalls, held on the tree lined streets of the Av.du Quebec and Av. Pasteur just outside the town wall.

 

 

As always with these events, it was well attended and the stalls displayed an eclectic mix of wares.... from the sublime...

To the ridiculous...

At 25 Euro it's ridiculous!

To the down right spooky!

With more than a hint of the ecclesiastical thrown in for good measure!

We came away wallets intact but with another little slice of the eccentricities of French life under our belts!
Vive la Brocante!

A taste of Rivière

Travelling up to Chinon the other day we took a detour off the D749 to the old village of Rivière, 1.6 kilometres south east of Chinon.

Having only ever been through the newer part of Rivière, we were very pleasantly surprised by this little gem of a village on the banks of La Vienne.

A walk along the river and then through the village took us past some quaint properties with beautiful gardens and flower lined streets.

Hollyhocks, of course, were in abundance!

 

The church of Notre Dame de Rivière, built during the tenth and eleventh centuries, is completely surrounded by buildings. To see parts of it, including the nave and the bell tower, you have to take a walk along the river and round the block!

The interior of the church shows how the nineteenth century imagined a medieval church would be decorated.

There is access to the crypt, again, elaborately decorated

Next time we go we will remember to take the map - which I managed to leave on the garage floor - so that we can follow the footpath along the river........ or is that a triumph of hope over experience?!