A busy weekend...Sunday, Patrimoine,brocante and music.

Yesterday we headed out with Angela and Dennis in search of some visits for Patrimoine - with our first port of call being 'Domaine de la Boutelaye' where a friend had visited the day before and recommended it, only to discover it was in fact only open on the Saturday! Undeterred we continued on our day out and headed to Angles-sur-l'Anglin for their brocante plus to visit some nearby sites there.  

On the way there we passed through Coussay-les-Bois and noticed the the Eglise Saint-Martin was open to visit so popped in for a look. We were met the ladies of 'Les Amis de l'eglise Saint-Martin' who explained that the main church in the village 'Eglise Notre Dame'  was closed as it is currently unsafe and their association is helping to raise funds for its restoration.

The brocante was a little quieter than previous years but as we were supposed to be there for the walk it did not really matter.

There was the usual variety of 'stuff' on sale with this stall holder having items just in case you needed them.

This one was offering some bear legs.

As I said we were only there for the walk but couldn't resist these glasses (12) which were still in their display boxes for 6 euros the lot! Only problem was we had nothing to carry them in so asked the stall holder to hold them for us and we would pick them up later.

As luck would have it a stall near him had this shopping trolly at 5 euros so the problem was immediately solved! Angel and Dennis bought a few items including some paintings as they were searching for something to hang in some spare wall space they have. After finishing our walk we stopped in at cafe 'Le Bellevue' for a refreshment only to find we were wearing our cloaks of invisibility. After waiting a bit to long and seeing people who had arrive a bit later than us, we got up, thanked them for their lack of service and left. 

We were more fortunate at our next stop in Vic-sur-Gartempe where we had headed to take in another visit at Villa des Iles. We decided to have lunch at 'Ô Bouchon Vicquois' where we were told we would have a wee bit of time to wait as our host was chef as well as front of house. We decided to wait and were delighted with our lunch.

After lunch we walked down to the house, which we understood would be reopening in the afternoon, only to find the gates locked - another disappointment.We then decided to drive down and have a look at the 'La grotte de Notre Dame du Bedoué' just outside the village.

Apparently the grotto was made to save the parishioners of Bedoué the trip to Lourdes to pray to the Virgin Mary, a statue was installed  in this small cave in 1920. The cave remained a local pilgrimage site until 1965.  It is still maintained by the owner and decorated with flowers by visitors.

Next we headed to Château de la Brosse but unfortunately my sat-nav took us on a road that was only designed for tractors. So after a number ups and downs and a couple of knocks underneath the car we eventually arrived at the gates of the chateau but not surprisingly it was closed. I did manage a couple of photos from over there hedge. 

Although we had failed to fill our day with heritage visits, with good company and a good lunch we had a good day out.

To end a busy day we headed over to Celtiqua's final gig at the Lavoir in Preuilly-sur-Claise where they put on their usual good show with a bit of audience participation.

With two of our friends showing some good moves.

A busy weekend...Saturday, music and fireworks.

After a lovely lunch to celebrate a friends birthday in Le Grand-Pressigny I headed over to 'La Poterne' in Preuilly-sur-Claise to set up for a concert with Gerard on its terrace after setting up our equipment and audience chairs the bright afternoon sun was far to hot to play there so we had to reset ourselves up in the shade of the walls of the internal courtyard. Below is 'Only you' one of the songs from our set.

There was a good mix of friends and locals as an audience.

After the concert Pauline I joined friends Angela and Dennis to watch the fireworks down by the plan d'eau which accompanied by backing music proved pretty spectacular!

A few pics, from another fun 'Games Day' with Sally & Chris.

This was the setting for friends Chris and Sally’s 'Games Day' over in Montebœuf yesterday,where as ever, the company, food and set up were excellent.

A lovely day out...

Yesterday we headed down to Saint-Savin in the la Vienne to their brocante along with friends Angela and Dennis.

This charming town is located on the left bank of the Gartempe river is famous for its Romanesque abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which makes for a great backdrop to any events here.

Pauline and I currently only use brocantes as a casual walk as we have more 'stuff' than we need while D&A still look for treasure and bargains.

These items do not fall into either category - try before you buy comment. 

After our walk around the brocante and a coffee,we took a walk down to the river to take in the great views over the river.

As we headed back north we spotted a sign for a 'Marche Gourmond' at nearby Archigny, these are local producers' markets where you can buy and taste local specialties on site in a festive and friendly atmosphere.

When we arrived we found there was also a small brocante and display of tractors and motorcycles as well as the producers' stalls.

As it was lunch time we were hoping to take advantage of some of the food on offer but found that unfortunately it was obviously so 'local' that you had to have made a previous reservation. 

So it was on to the next option - La Roche-Posay where we settled down for a light bite at the 'Epicure' cafe which proved a good choice.

Audio guided tour of Orleans : Part II : Strolling Orléans’ medieval heart.

After our visit to the cathedral,we strolled down to nearby Rue Pothier, where we were led to the 'Salle des Thèses' all that remains of Orléans first university. It is one of the oldest (15th century) surviving Gothic civil monuments from the Middle Ages in the whole of France.It was frequented by the Reformer John Calvin and the humanists Erasmus and Rabelais.

At the bottom of the street,on Rue de Bourgogne, you will find the 'Hôtel de préfecture du Loiret' the administrative headquarters for both the Loiret department and the Centre-Val-de-Loire region. The building was formerly part of Notre-Dame de Bonne-Nouvelle Abbey complex. 

These streets capture the city’s layered past, from Roman origins to lively present-day charm. Rue de Bourgogne, Rue de la Poterne, and Rue de la Charpenterie form a compact network of narrow lanes, half-timbered façades, and everyday energy that still feels intimately tied to the Loire.Rue de Bourgogne is a very long street that runs east to west through Orléans.

This street was the medieval route toward Burgundy and is the way Joan of Arc entered the city in 1429. You pass the narrow Rue du Bœuf Sainte-Croix with a look back at the cathedral before arriving at Rue de la Poterne.

This street offers a quieter, more intimate scale. A classic medieval side street, it preserves fine examples of timber-framed architecture, including a late-14th-century house at No. 25 and others (such as Nos. 16 and 28) displaying distinctive patterns, diamond lattices and grid work. Its name evokes the old Port de la Poterne, once a busy riverside landing for goods arriving by boat. The street sits at the meeting point of commercial activity to the north and more artisan-oriented zones toward the river.

Rue de la Charpenterie continues the story of craft and continuity. Named for the carpenters and joiners and masons who once lived and worked here. Notable half-timbered façades survive, among them the colorful 15th-century examples around Nos. 64–66 and finer stone details elsewhere.

The house at number 32 dates from 1501. The oak timber-framed facade consists of St. Andrew's cross panels and a brick infill. The ground floor was modified in the 18th century and formerly housed a shop. You can see Pauline admiring it in the photo above,while listening to the audio presentation. 

Together these streets form the living core of Orléans’ old quarter. Their narrow proportions, surviving timber frames and mix of daily commerce and quiet corners make them ideal for slow exploration on foot. We walked them in the guides sequence moving easily between Roman alignment, medieval craftsmanship and the contemporary feel of a city still shaped by its river, where we were heading to next.