One day, two fetes...

Yesterday we headed over with friends to the premier  'V'Art Festival in the lovely house and gardens of 'Les Viollieres' just outside Bossay-sur-Claise. On display were paintings by Charlotte, the owner of the house plus art in the form metal sculptures, glasswork, silks and specialist photo exhibits by local artists. The visit ended with music from 'Mistiti' who gave us a rendition of classic Edith Piaf songs.

You can check out the artists' work here.

After our visit we headed over to La Roche-Posay to their  Festival of Folk Arts and Traditions where everyone hid in the shade away from the sun 30+ degree temperatures - except for the dancers who were dressed in traditional costumes from their particular region who must have been sweltering.

The big surprise for us was a group of Scottish pipers and drummer.

For us it highlights how this part of France has so much to offer.

What's on in July in Southern Touraine

July is always a busy month for events here in Southern Touraine and indeed the whole of the Loire Valley, with the problem being that sometimes we are spoiled for choice. This weekend we will be taking in the popular 'Soiree Irlandaise' on Friday night and the 'Barroudeurs' music festival in Barrou on Saturday. We have decided this year to also try and take in some of the choirs at Abilly as,because it is always the same night as Barrou's festival, we have never actually visited it in all the time we have been here.

We are lucky here to have musicians who have not only contributed to the cultural events locally but also get heavily involved in the organization of them - it would not be the same place without them!

You can check out some more of 'What's on in July' here:

Laco virgins...

Pauline and I went along to the 'Fete des Laco' (Laboureurs,Artisans,Commercants & Ouvriers) over in Le Grand Pressigny on Saturday...a first for us. It is a similar event to our 'Fete de La Saint-Blaise' here in Barrou. A full day of eating and drinking spent in good company. One difference here was they do not go in for a 'top table' with the president and local dignitaries tagged on to the end of one of the rows,plus the seating positions are preset so you have to find your location on a table plan.Naturally they placed us beside some Anglais friends but we also had some French neighbours from Barrou on one side of us and neighbours from Le Grand Pressigny within earshot.Both couples were very patient when it came to understanding my limited French.They also insist that anyone adding any sort of 'performance' to the day had to go up onto the main stage...a little daunting for us would-be singers...but only a little! 

Something for the weekend...

Concert Angie Palmer Chez Millésime, Chatellerault 29th April - 8.00pm

Listen to two local choirs at Preuilly-sur-Claise.

Nature outing "Vallum Murat" to Ferrière-Larçon  Saturday 30th

Meet at Place d'eglise 2.00pm

Saturday April 30th and Sunday May 1st, from 10 AM to 6 PM.

Sunday 1 May 2016 from 10 to 18,
The private horticultural and landscaping school 'Sainte Jeanne d’Arc' on the outskirts of Loches* organizes its traditional "Festival of Plants" – See more at: http://saintejeannedarc.apprentis-auteuil.org/fete-des-plantes/

*access off bypass at roundabout towards new(ish) Super U

Not so 'belle'...

This was the scene in front of the church

La Roche Posay's homage to the "Belle Époque" yesterday turned out to be a bit of a damp squib as the rain continued here for its second day...shame really.I had gone as friends had said they were going to have a stall but obviously thought better of it after their soaking at Le Grand Pressigny last week.

It was a little busier in the main square which looked as it would on any market day...with no real reference to another era other thn a row of classic cars.

I did find a reference in the lower part of the dunjon which I'd never seen open before...

...a costume display.

Barroudeurs Music Festival...

Lets keep our fingers crossed that weather is ok for tonight's festivities here in Barrou.

Below is my all-time favourite performance, from 2009 I think...

followed closely by the dancing girls of 2011.

Bring on the dancing girls...

Colin's disappointment with the costumes of the dancing girls at his local fête was expressed in the form of the photograph promising so much more from the local tourist board

Below is my video of when they (or a troupe very like them) appeared at our 'Barroudeurs' festival in 2011...

I wonder if it was because it was a Sunday in Braye-sous-Faye 

Choco-late festival...and last years model.

When we saw Colin & Elizabeth's (who have just celebrated two years in their French home) car in the car park of the Festival du Chocolat at Parc des Expos in Chatellerault on Saturday we knew they would be first past this particular post, what with my 'Church on Sunday' taking precedence. Anyway we had wanted to visit it after their enticing post last time around when we chose an alternative distraction.  

Any colour you want!

I'd have to say that I felt the entrance fee was a little steep given that to get the equivalent 'tasting samples' in  value wasn't easy (true Scotsman) as most of the stalls offered only mouse size portions - some none at all. Also the prices for the chocolates and macaroons were too rich for us - though we did eventually break out and buy a small box as a treat for Christmas day.

Not these little fellows though - couldn't bring myself to eat them!

As C & E said the creative juices were flowing

One for the global market?

We didn't wait to see Mona's smile being added

This fellow had the lion's share of the attention but I much preferred last year's model from C & E's visit!

Stepping out...

                                      Traditional dancing at the 'Milk Fair' at Liguel on Sunday.

Loved the hat doffing though thought last year's more entertaining. 

Barrou Bastille Day...

The Bastille day celebrations here in Barrou  start with games for the children in the square behind the restaurant in the afternoon followed by the lantern parade to the banks of the river Creuse before the fireworks themselves.Here is a short video of the grand finale.

                   

Pretty good,we think, for such a small village!

Feu de St Jean...Barrou

On Saturday night the restaurant here in Barrou (Les Tilleuls) continued to play its part in the local fetes by providing a meal of Paella and live music from 'Music Instinct' It was good to see a good turn-out.

We cleared up a point re the actual event itself, we had learnt from going to the same event over the years at Le Grand Pressigny that the Saint Jean being celebrated was Saint John the Baptist and the lighting of the bonfire - no  fireworks - was to celebrate the summer solstice.A lot of people associate the bonfire with Joan of Arc (understandably) but then that would be the 'Feu de Jeanne'

Barrou's bonfire was less spectacular than Le grand Pressigny's have been but the kids were still happy to dance around it.

Fête de la confiture...

The nearby village of Abilly has an annual 'Jam Festival' which incorporates a vide-grenier (empty your attic) and a number of other displays. We attended this for the first time last year and liked it enough to return for the 2012 event on Sunday. The weather was a little overcast after the great spell of weather we just had but it was ok for trekking around the stalls and browsing. Pauline tried to stop me from buying anything, as usual but failed - couple of nice little bargains.

These events are always a good place to bump into friends and acquaintances and today was no exception.

 I liked the way they had more on the little park on the 'Ile de la Claise' by the mill this year,it is a great spot but could be missed if you stayed on the main street.

This year there seemed to be less jam stalls - or did we miss them?

The Salle de Fetes had its usual display of quality craft work...

and the oh so serious 'Jam Judges' were still on the stage from last year so that was handy!