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Tag Archives: French Wars of Religion
Timeless Monument: The Cathedral of Cahors 900 Years On
2019 marks the 900th anniversary of la Cathédrale Saint-Etienne in Cahors. The cathedral is even older than the ill-fated Notre-Dame de Paris. Yesterday, 27th July, was supposed to be the official anniversary, since it was on that day in 1119 … Continue reading
Saving Face: Some of the Less Obvious Gems in SW France
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so I’m following the example of fellow blogger Midi Hideaways, who wrote a recent post about the statuary and carved stone faces on buildings in the towns of the Languedoc. In this post … Continue reading
Posted in History, Places
Tagged carved stone figures, Caylus, chimera, French Wars of Religion, gargoyle, Maison des Loups Caylus, Najac, Puycelsi, Puylagarde, Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val
6 Comments
French Flavours: Poule Farcie, a Classic French Dish
The ubiquitous roadside posters advertising French fêtes and other social events very often have “poule farcie” emblazoned across the centre. This dish has a number of advantages for large gatherings. It can feed a lot of people and much of it … Continue reading
Posted in Food/drink/recipes, History
Tagged Bearn, chicken, confréries, French Wars of Religion, Henri IV, poule au pot, poule farcie, poule farcie recipe, SW France
5 Comments
Varen: Haven by the River Aveyron
I never cease to be amazed by the new things (to me) I discover in this region, where I have lived for 20 years. We haven’t set foot in Varen for ages and even then we didn’t stop to have … Continue reading
Posted in History, Places
Tagged Château de Varen, French Wars of Religion, Hundred Years War, Le Moulin Varen, Lexos, patrimoine, River Aveyron, SW France, Tarn-et-Garonne, Varen
16 Comments
Puylaroque: Tranquil Village with a Turbulent History
The panorama from the viewpoint at Puylaroque is magnificent. Beneath the rocky outcrop on which the village stands, the plains of southwest France roll away towards the Pyrénées. On a clear day, you can see the mountains, but that is … Continue reading
Every Château Tells a Story #7: the Château de Féneyrols
Our region is crammed with small châteaux that played an important role in its history at one time. Almost every village of any size had one. Now, they are seen as quaint relics of bygone days. I set out to … Continue reading
Every Château Tells a Story: #6 Le Château de Penne
Circumstances have prevented me from posting for a few days, but now I’m resuming with my series about the region’s châteaux. Le château de Penne commands a strategic position 120 metres above the River Aveyron on a rocky outcrop. … Continue reading
Posted in Châteaux, History, Places
Tagged Albigensian Crusade, château de Penne, French Wars of Religion, Hundred Years War, Penne, Penne-du-Tarn, SW France
9 Comments
Every Château has a Story #3: Le Château de Caylus
Very little remains of this château, except for a square tower in surprisingly good condition and parts of the original ramparts. And yet, in its heyday, le château de Caylus had dominion over a large swathe of the surrounding … 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
The Secret of Le Château de la Reine Margot
‘Queen Elizabeth I slept here.’ It’s well known that Tudor monarchs imposed on their subjects’ hospitality to reduce their own household expenses. But if Elizabeth I stayed in all the places that lay claim to it, she would never have … Continue reading
Five Curiosities in Caylus
How many of us can claim really to know the place we live in? I’ve always contended that, as a tourist, you find out more about places because you are not subject to the duties and distractions of daily life. … Continue reading
Posted in History, Places
Tagged Caylus, French Wars of Religion, Maison des Loups, Ossip Zadkine, Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val, Tarn-et-Garonne
17 Comments
