Links to the past...

Our friends and near neighbours on Grande Rue, Norman and Margaret, have a delightful property that contains a fair bit of history...well certainly in their 'water features'

Within their great collection of barns they have made a very comfortable alfresco area that contains a cart as a 'feature' - one with a great link to the village - it was made here.

It still has its name badge.

Big sun in Barrou...

Last week was a strange one weather wise, we even had temperatures up in the 20's - it's the end of October for goodness sake!

On Thursday morning I could hardly see walking along Grande Rue with the low full sun working its magic.

Church on Sunday...Cravant-les-Coteaux

After taking you on our walk around Cravant-les-Coteaux last week and having given you the  the former parish church of the old village (Vieux-Bourg) I thought I should let you see the 'new' parish church. 

The church of Saint-Léger is a relatively new church here in Touraine, dating from 1863 built in the typical 'Latin-cross' design.

It is a 'locked' church so I had to visit the Mairie to get the key...fortunately it was next door.

It has a nave with a barrel ceiling...

...leading to the choir with more 'Lobin' stained glass windows.

There are two side chapels...

...and the now familiar pulpit.

There is a resplendent Joan.

 Looking back to the front doors.

Outside the church somehow seems to take on a larger persona, showing some of the familiar lines of architect Gustave Guérin.

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Concert in Descartes...

Sadly concert cancelled due to illness...

If you are looking for some entertainment and good food then head down to Descartes on the 31st  of October...and catch Richard Grainger in Concert

Jeudi 31 Octobre

Restaurant Le Cassiopée

10 rue du Commerce, 37160 Descartes

Ouverture à 19h30

La soirée commence à 20h00

€25 (repas et concert inclus)

Le Menu

ENTREE

Terrine de saumon atlantique à l'oseille

PLAT

Suprème de poulet fermier sauce normande, gratin dauphinois

DESSERT

Tiramisu délizioso

Le Cassiopée and SFA Promotions

Vous présentent avec fierté, une superbe soirée de musique folk traditionnelle animée par le célèbre chanteur-compositeur- interprète anglais, Richard Grainger, avec des chansons du nord-est de l'Angleterre.

Réservation fortement conseillée:

Tel: 06.11.61.40.20. ou 02.47.92.95.77. ou email: vollereaum@yahoo.fr

Richard Grainger was born and raised in a musical family in Middlesbrough, Yorkshire, England. As a performer Richard rose through the ranks of the Folk Clubs. Across the North East of England A unique singer and guitarist Richard writes profoundly of his roots in the North of England, and the heritage of the Yorkshire moors, coast and local industry. Many of his songs such as ‘The Whitby Whaler’ and ‘Death of Nelson’ are widely sung, having been absorbed by the folk - tradition over the last 30 years.

He has written and produced several plays including ‘The Eye of The Wind’ which was recorded by the BBC with Sir David Attenborough narrating.

With 11 albums already to his credit Richard’s new CD ‘Hard Road’ is about to be released.

www.richard-grainger.com 

The mysterious tower...

On one of our many sojurns into the Vienne with friends Mike and Liz (who are now proud grandparents) this year I dragged them along some country roads we had not been on before while 'steeple chasing' (without horses) that lead us to the village of Monthoiron. There is nothing to write home about here other than its 11/12 century church (of which I haven't as yet written about - told you so!). I was however distracted by some ornate gates down a non-adopted road that lead to a chateau - you can see the gates and more info on the village on this blog. As we drove past,the tower pictured above caught our eye as an odd construction  in an odd location.

How right were we! The “Tour de l’Architecte”, as it has been christened, is now being hailed as "one of the most mysterious and original monument of the first Renaissance in France" by them that knows  and is said to have used the architectural concepts of Leonardo da Vinci. 


The aim now is to have it ready, in some form or other to be visited in time for the 500th anniversary of the death of Leonardo da Vinci in Amboise (May2019) and I'm sure they hope, bring in many tourists.You can see the towers location here on 'google earth'.

                                                                                                                                                                    

Signs aplenty...

A walk around...Cravant-les-Coteaux

Back in April  when we visited Cravant-les-Coteaux to check out the former parish church of the old village we also took the opportunity to have a walk around the area - hadn't posted as yet - so here it is...

We left the car (and Le Vieux Bourg) by the church and headed along the D44 towards Cravant-les-Coteaux and the 'new town'. This was not a marked route (there are some here) but one recommended by a local chap working in his garden - very kind of him. 

It offered a circular route back to our car via the high ground on the left of the picture above.

You pass the cave of 'Pierre Sourdais' with its unusual watchtower...which you'll see later...

...before your first sight of the village and its 'new' church.

As you enter you can't help but notice the potential of the little building on the right! My mum always used to describe the run-down houses Pauline and I used to buy as 'having potential' - bless her.

Like the majority of villages in our part of France the most imposing buildings are the Mairé and the church...

...but as the sun began to break through it showed up pretty well.

We had been advised to seek out the views over the vines towards Chinon on the high ground.

Bit of a climb...

...up past another cave 'Gisele et Hubert Page'

At the top of the hill you are directed off to the right to the 'Panorama' which meant another short (200m) climb to the top...have to say it felt longer!

It was however well worth it...

...it's just a shame that the blue skies slipped behind us!

The vines were at a very early stage and looking at them up close you wonder at their ability to provide such delicious fruit.We decided that we had to come back in summer and  autumn to check out the views then.

After exhausting the views we headed back down the 200 metres (easier this time) and took a right back towards the old village.

This scene,with its palm trees could be from the hills of California but no...

...it's the setting for the 'Caves Angelliaume'

Looking back down towards the cave of 'Pierre Sourdais with its watchtower (as promised).

The road along the 'high ground' took us past yet more caves...

...and cute dogs desperate for attention - ah!

It was then downhill back to the old village and the church...

...very pleasant.

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