Magic Roundabout 7

Yes there back!

Its over a year since we did our last roundabout but whilst out on our travels earlier in the month this one caught our eye. Located at the junctions of the D960 and the D761 on the outskirts of Doué-la-Fontaine it features something that you would least expect on a French roundabout.

Can you see what it is yet?

Why there is a Giraffe in the middle of a roundabout we did not know at the time.

But a quick look on Google earth and...

it reveals that the roundabout is right next to 'La Zoo de Doué-la-Fontaine.' which has a tower of Giraffes and some good revues from Tripadvisor.

A toast..... on a roundabout!

The wine glass roundabout on the D35 just outside Bourgueil... Cheers everyone...

Magic Roundabout 6

Many of our readers who travel back to the UK from our part of France will recognise this one immediately. It makes me smile ever time we go past.

Located on the D18 and D18E the Rond-Point des Vaches is to the south of Rouen, just before you enter the industrial area travelling north up to Calais.

Milton Keynes eat your heart out!!! I wonder if the ones here are by the same artist Canadian Liz Leyh who did the ones in Milton Keynes.

Magic Roundabout 5

Just when you thought we had finished with the roundabouts, they are back!

This weeks is located on the D749 between Chatellerault and Chauvigny just on the outskirts of the delightful village of Bonnes.

The interesting feature of this one is the 'ball on a stick' in the middle constantly rotates! You certainly can't miss which village you are in!! We have been past in the dark and the lollipop lights up as well...

We are not sure what the summer theme is this year perhaps children's play - It looks pretty though...

Courtesy of Google street view you can see what it looks like in winter..

Bet you can't wait for next weeks!!

Magic Roundabout 4

This weeks featured roundabout is located just outside Sainte Maure de Touraine on the D760 at its junction with the A10 motorway. We pass this way many times on our way to Tours and it is where we pick up the motorway on our trips to the UK.

As Sainte Maure de Touraine is the centre for goats cheese and holds a yearly goats cheese fete in June, what else would you expect to see on a local roundabout but a goat...

I think it is a simple but effect sculpture and for anyone coming off the A10 signifies the town has some connection with the goat...

Like the roundabout last week the other half has been planted with vines. I don't know why!

and again I wonder what they actually do with the grapes?

Magic Roundabout 3

This weeks featured roundabout is located just outside Châtellerault at the crossroads of the D38 the route to Targé and the D161 the route to Chevalerie. It is part of the Châtellerault ring road.  We travel on this road on our trips to Limoges Airport. It is the "rond-point des Vignes de Targé "

It is a very rural location so I would not expect to see anything other than a plain roundabout perhaps with a few wild flowers. However this is France and as can be seen from the photographs it is a small domaine ( Domaine des Roundabout!!!). It has the old machinery, two caves and even a small vineyard growing grapes.

I wonder what they actually do with the grapes?

Magic Roundabout 2

This weeks featured roundabout is again on a road we travel frequently between our house and Dissay (the home of Brico Depot). It is only a small roundabout on the D757 in the centre of the village of Lencloître. This years theme is obviously the beach.

 

The theme is continued in other areas of the village with small areas being decorated accordingly.

Given this is a small community of less than 2500 people, they have certainly made the village look good for the summer... Well done to them.

Courtesy of Google earth you can see what the roundabout normally looks like....

Magic Roundabouts...

We've mentioned roundabouts before when we spoke of Le Main Jaune but this is only one of many interesting ones around the region. The French do take great pride in their local roundabouts. To celebrate these flights of imagination we're going to feature a "Roundabout of the Week" over the next few months.

Our first is to the East of Richelieu, travelling towards St Maure, L'Ile Bouchard, at the junction of the D757 and the D20. It is recognised to the English locally as the Chocolate Orange Roundabout....

Any guesses as to why??  The nickname would be completely lost to the majority of French as Terry's chocolate orange is not exported.

As can be seen from the pictures each segment represents a local village with the name engraved on the outer stone circle. Simple and yet very effective at one of the main entrance roads to the town.