Chauvigny...a view from the park.

On our many previous visits to Chauvigny in the Vienne we had only ever looked down on the public park and lake from the 'high town', so when we dropped a friend off at the airport recently we decided to go and check it out.

You certainly get a different view of things...and a pleasant walk into the bargain.

There is a path,not for the *faint hearted, that leads up to the higher part of the town

Once there you can take your reward of a refreshment from one of the local hostelry's terraces.  

* During the tourist season there is a 'courtesy' bus to take you up and down from the upper town.You can catch it at the tourist office and public park.

       

May Day part IV...in search of the source...

After the brocante at Moncontour and following the advice of our lunch companion we headed over to La Grimaudière to check out the source of their rive,La Dive. We were told that it was located behind the church (Saint-Cybard ) so that made the crystal clear water of the source rather easy to find....

De la Source, 86330 La Grimaudière

May Day part III...Moncontour and a coincidence.

Sunday was our first time in Moncontour though Denis (our generous host for the day) and Angela, John and Maureen who we were with, had been to their annual brocante before. What struck me was that even without the brocante it is still worth a visit.

It is watched over by another of Foulque Nerra's 11th century keeps (free entry on May Day) and also has a fine Romanesque church.

As we walked around we couldn't help but notice the number of fine 3-story townhouses it had for such a small place (pop.around 1000). When returning to the car we popped into their small tourist office where a very charming and helpful lady informed us that the village had prospered during the mid-nineteenth century through the development of trade of hemp and an established agricultural fair.

Many of the houses along the river have their own private lavoir (wash house) and it makes for a charming riverside walk

Coincidences with Pauline and I are aplenty so it was no real surprise when,as we sat having our repas,I got talking to a local resident who went on to tell us about the lavoirs and the walk. I let him know we knew about them and then went on to show him a photograph I had taken earlier of one...and guess what? it was of his!. He also asked where we came from and when we told him Touraine Sud he let us know he had lived for 3 years in Abilly. He also said we should check out the source of the crystal clear water which wasn't too far away at La Grimaudiere.

As we were leaving the village we stopped to have a look at the 10 ha lake just outside the village where some brave souls were water skiing. 

All a question of taste part II...beer in Neuville-de-Poitou

During our tasting day out last Thursday in the Vienne...wine as an aperitif to lunch was followed by a visit to the department's only micro-brewery  'Brewery Bellefois' for some beer tasting.

We actually arrived here just before lunchtime but as it was Friday the shop didn't open until 2.00pm (same on a Tuesday...ah 'La Belle France') as we had some time to kill, rather than hang around waiting for their restaurant to open we decided to drive to the next village,Vouillé, to see what we could find.

We found the 'Cheval Blanc' a 'Logis' hotel with a lovely terrace.

Where we had a lovely lunch.

Pauline was happy with the choice!

After lunch we returned to the now opened brewery only to be told they did not do 'tastings'...you had to go to their brasserie next door and buy some. The restaurant was just finishing their lunch service but were happy to serve us just beer on their terrace. This looked like a good place to eat as well, so you could have the choice of here or the 'Cheval Blanc' if you come to sample their wares. 

To link their beers to the region they have given them names of the dates of famous local 'battles'...'507 Clovis' for example for the 'battle of Vouille' (had we not just eaten there?) Liz, who doesn't like beer asked for a glass of wine but the charming man at the bar said that outside of restaurant times their license only allowed to sell beer ???...ah 'La Belle France' encore. Told him he would have to come with me to explain to her...and he did...nice chap. I liked the dark beer in the above pic best with Mike opting for the one beside it...though we, Pauline included, tried them all with a reasonable amount of gusto. 

Futuroscope favourite?...

'Arthur' was easily the best experience...kids must love the cute little guys - we did. Followed interestingly enough by one of the oldest attractions 'Dynamic Vienne' which  takes you on a whirlwind tour of the region in everything from a caddy car to formula 3 racing car.