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Tag Archives: Aveyron
The Bells, the Bells: the Magic of Church Bells in Rural France
In Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame, the loud ringing of the cathedral bells has turned Quasimodo, the bell-ringer, deaf. Some of you will no doubt have seen Charles Laughton hamming it up inimitably in the 1939 film. I … Continue reading
Villeneuve d’Aveyron: Ancient Paths and a Historic Gem
What do you think this building is? A small château or fortified house? A barn? All will be revealed below. Autumn is the best time for walking in this area. The days are warm and sunny, it’s usually dry underfoot … Continue reading
S.O.S. French Towns
A few days ago, I had coffee with two friends in the centre of Villefranche-de-Rouergue. This Aveyron town, some 25 km from us, is one of my favourite towns in the region. It’s an attractive place, steeped in history and … Continue reading
A Film Record of an Aveyron Family Post-WWII
Just after WWII, Aveyron was a different country from much of France. It took a long time to get there from anywhere else, people spoke a different language and the way of life had existed for centuries. Change was happening, … Continue reading
Posted in History, Personalities, Places
Tagged agriculture, Aveyron, Farrebique, Film, French country life, Georges Rouquier, Occitan, Rouergue, rural life, SW France
5 Comments
French Flavours E and F: Two Aveyronnais Specialities
Time for another instalment of my French flavours series. I realise I have only got to ‘E’ and we’ll never get to the end at this rate, so this week I’ll do ‘F’ as well and you get two for … Continue reading
Posted in Food/drink/recipes
Tagged Aveyron, Aveyron recipes, Estofinado, Les Farçous, River Lot, rural life, Stockfish, SW France, Villefranche de Rouergue
7 Comments
French Flavours: D is for Diablotins au Roquefort
I have been continuing my researches to bring you another in my series of recipes of Southwest France. Here’s one you’ve probably never heard of – diablotins au Roquefort. I certainly hadn’t. Easy to make, with readily-available ingredients, they are … Continue reading
Posted in Food/drink/recipes
Tagged amuse-bouche, Aveyron, Diablotins au Roquefort, French flavours, recipes, Roquefort, Roquefort-sur-Soulzon, SW France, walnuts
9 Comments
Finding Our House in France
Today is a very special one on La Lune. It’s 20 years ago to the day since we first saw our house. During our five days’ house-hunting in France, among the legion of properties we saw only two fitted the … Continue reading
Posted in French life, Places
Tagged Aveyron, French property, living in France, Lot, property-hunting in France, real estate, rural life, SW France, Tarn-et-Garonne
23 Comments
French Flavours #2: B is for lou Bajanac
In my A-Z of traditional French recipes, I’m trying to focus on those that originated in southwest France, where we live. So I’ve eschewed boeuf à la Bourgignonne or blanquette de veau, delicious though they are. Surprisingly, I found a … Continue reading
Posted in Food/drink/recipes
Tagged Aveyron, châtaignes, chestnut soup, chestnuts, French recipes, Laguépie, lou Bajanac, Rouergue, SW France, traditional French recipes
8 Comments
Beyond Time: A Journey Back to Prehistory Part 1
Ours is one of the more rural French regions, but transport networks criss-cross the countryside and commercial suburbs mushroom around its historic towns. And yet this part of France is peppered with the works of prehistoric artists and builders. They … Continue reading
Posted in History
Tagged Aveyron, cave paintings, Dolmens, Grotte de Foissac, Menhirs, Musée Fenaille, prehistoric art, prehistoric sites in SW France, prehistory, SW France
5 Comments
French Flavours #1: A is for Aligot
The temperature was approaching -10C when I went downstairs this morning – outside, I hasten to add. This is the coldest spell we’ve had for five years. In this weather you want rib-sticking food; nouvelle cuisine doesn’t hit the … Continue reading
Posted in Aveyron, Food/drink/recipes
Tagged aligot, Aubrac, Aveyron, burons, food, Laguiole, Laguiole cheese, SW France, tome fraîche
40 Comments
A Cut Above the Rest: Laguiole Knives
The Aveyron town of Laguiole sits at the edge of the stark and empty but stunningly beautiful Aubrac plateau. We passed through there several years ago on our way to the Aubrac cattle transhumance, which takes place every year in … Continue reading
Posted in Aveyron, History, Places
Tagged Aubrac, Aveyron, Jean-Louis Calmels, Laguiole, Laguiole bee motif, Laguiole cheese, Laguiole knife, Michel Bras, SW France, transhumance
12 Comments
Appetising Return to Belcastel
Last time, I wrote about a ghostly story linked to the château de Belcastel. This week, we had the opportunity to make a return visit to this plus beau village in Aveyron. Not only does it occupy a delightful setting … Continue reading
Posted in Aveyron, Food/drink/recipes, Places
Tagged Aveyron, Belcastel, Château de Belcastel, food, Michelin star, Plus beaux villages, Restaurant du Vieux Pont, SW France
16 Comments
Inside le Château de Najac
At least a dozen years have elapsed since I visited the interior of the ruined château de Najac in Aveyron. This imposing 13th-century fortress is a landmark for miles around, best seen from the opposite slope on a misty autumn … Continue reading
Posted in Châteaux, History, Places
Tagged Aveyron, Chateau de Najac, French châteaux, medieval life, Najac, patrimoine, Plus beaux villages, SW France, Templars
18 Comments
Every Château Tells a Story #11: Le Château de Mazerolles, Aveyron
As you round a hairpin bend just before the hamlet of Mazerolles, you get a breath-taking view of Najac across the valley, crowned by its ruined château (pictured below). This must have greeted the chatelains of Mazerolles (above) every morning … Continue reading
Posted in Châteaux, History, Places
Tagged Aveyron, Chateau de Najac, Château de Mazerolles, French châteaux, Mazerolles, Najac, Rouergue, SW France
10 Comments
Every Château Tells a Story: #10 Le Château de Belcastel
Although I have written about Belcastel, in Aveyron, I haven’t devoted much space to the château. Its story is that of a phoenix raised from the ashes. The fortress could so easily have crumbled into a pile of stone, had … Continue reading
Things to Do in Southwest France 2015
We’ve lived here since 1997, but many things remain that we haven’t seen or done. As I have often remarked, once you get settled in a place, daily life tends to take over and you are no longer a … Continue reading
Every Château Tells a Story #2: Le Château de Najac
On autumn mornings, it rises out of the mist, perched on top of its pinnacle; while on summer evenings, it seems to float in the sky, lit from below. The fortress is a landmark for miles around, standing sentinel … Continue reading
Posted in Aveyron, Châteaux, History, Places
Tagged Aveyron, Chateau de Najac, Croquants, French Wars of Religion, Hundred Years War, Najac, patrimoine, SW France, Templars
15 Comments
Weather for Walks: October 2014 Weather in SW France
We took advantage of the continuing spell of glorious weather last weekend to do one of our favourite walks, along part of the Viaur Valley. I mentioned this in my previous post. It’s a walk that’s best done on … Continue reading
Posted in Aveyron, Places, Walking in France, Weather
Tagged Aveyron, Lagarde-Viaur, rainfall, River Viaur, SW France, SW France weather, Tarn, Viaur Valley, Weather
8 Comments
Gardens and SW France Weather May 2014
In early June every year, Rendezvous aux Jardins (national gardens weekend) takes place. We make a point of visiting at least one garden during the event. I normally leave green (appropriately) with envy and wish that my garden looked anywhere … Continue reading
Posted in Aveyron, French life, Gardening, Weather
Tagged Aveyron, gardening, rainfall, Rendezvous aux Jardins, SW France weather, Villeneuve-d'Aveyron, Weather
1 Comment
Goose Fat and Garlic
A few weeks ago – only just found time to write about it – I attended the launch of a new edition of Goose Fat and Garlic, a book about the cooking and recipes of SW France. Jeanne Strang, who … Continue reading
Posted in Aveyron, Books/writing, Food/drink/recipes
Tagged Aveyron, books, Ferme Carlès, food, Goose Fat and Garlic, Jeanne Strang, recipes, SW France
15 Comments
Le Viaduc de Millau
This bridge has inspired every conceivable adjective that describes big and impressive. And it is certainly both. I finally got to see the tallest cable-stayed bridge in the world last week, on my way down to the Camargue with … Continue reading
Posted in Aveyron, Places
Tagged Aveyron, Gorges du Tarn, Michel Virlogeux, Millau, Millau Bridge, Norman Foster, SW France, Viaduc de Millau
16 Comments
Beautiful Bastide: Villeneuve-d’Aveyron
Today is la fête de la Pentecôte (Pentecost) in France – for those of you who think I don’t know my dates, this was posted late on Monday. And in keeping with the tradition of public holidays it’s cold and … Continue reading
Posted in Aveyron, History, Places
Tagged Aveyron, bastides, church wall paintings, Hundred Years War, Najac, Villefrance-de-Rouergue, Villeneuve-d'Aveyron
16 Comments
Peyrusse-le-Roc: A Hidden Corner of the Aveyron
Knowing that the fine weather wouldn’t last, I made a long-planned excursion into the Aveyron Département yesterday. I set off under wall-to-wall blue skies. The trees were fuzzy with spring green and the pastures were gold-tinged with buttercups. The farmers … Continue reading
Posted in Aveyron, Châteaux, History, Places, Walking in France
Tagged Aveyron, Medieval garden, Petrucia, Peyrusse-le-Roc, Roc del Talhuc, SW France
17 Comments
Najac Conundrum: the Answer
In my recent post about Najac, I posed a conundrum. What is the protuberance on the side of the building above, about three metres up? I received some interesting suggestions.
Belcastel Revisited
Being rather occupied for various reasons at the moment, I’ll just share with you some shots of Belcastel in the Aveyron Département. I took these during les journées du patrimoine recently when, for once, we decided to be tourists in our … Continue reading
Posted in Aveyron, History, Places
Tagged Aveyron, Belcastel, Château de Belcastel, journées du patrimoine, patrimoine, SW France
13 Comments
Najac Revisited – and a Couple of Conundrums for You
Last Saturday and Sunday were journées du patrimoine (heritage days) not only here in France but also across Europe. Thousands of historic sites throughout France opened their doors, many of them free, and put on associated events and entertainment. We … Continue reading
Posted in Aveyron, History, Places
Tagged Aveyron, Chateau de Najac, Najac, patrimoine, Rouergue, travel
18 Comments
Book Review: Aveyron, a Bridge to French Arcadia
I don’t often do book reviews here. It’s difficult to strike a balance between being overly ingratiating and offensively critical. However, I am making an exception today to mention a book I have just finished and enjoyed about the Aveyron … Continue reading
Posted in Aveyron, Books/writing, History, Places
Tagged Aveyron, Aveyron a Bridge to French Arcadia, books, SW France, Thirza Vallois
11 Comments
Ten Things to do in 2012 in SW France
Everyone’s thoughts turn to resolutions at this time of year. Last year, I suggested 10 things to do in 2011 in southwest France. All of them were things I had never done but planned to do this year. Well, I … Continue reading
Posted in Aveyron, French life, History, Places
Tagged 10 things to do, Aveyron, Lot, Midi-Pyrenees, SW France, Tarn-et-Garonne
12 Comments
Villefranche de Rouergue: Past Glories
It’s amazing how much you learn about a place you thought you knew, simply by taking the time to walk around it. We live about 25 kilometres from Villefranche de Rouergue in Aveyron and have shopped there regularly for 14 years. … Continue reading
Posted in Aveyron, History, Places
Tagged Aveyron, France, market, Rouergue, SW France, Villefranche de Rouergue
10 Comments
Walking the Viaur Valley
After a weekend of cold winds and low temperatures – I was picking walnuts wearing a woolly hat and a jacket on Sunday – the weather turned again on Monday. A cloudless blue sky and temperatures in the mid-20s … Continue reading
Posted in Aveyron, French life, Nature, Places, Walking in France
Tagged Aveyron, Lagarde-Viaur, River Viaur, rural life, Ségala, SW France, sweet chestnuts, Tarn, Viaur Valley, walking
14 Comments
