Tag Archives: patrimoine

Every Château Tells a Story #17: Le Château de Bournazel

Posted on 14/10/2019 by nessafrance

So much for my theory that tourist sites are less crowded out of season. Le tout Aveyron turned up at the Château de Bournazel yesterday, giving the hard-pressed guide some logistical problems. “This is the first time we’ve opened in … Continue reading →

Posted in Aveyron, Places | Tagged Aveyron, Bournazel, Château de Bournazel, monument historique, patrimoine, Renaissance architecture, Renaissance château, SW France | 2 Comments

Tilting at Windmills

Posted on 17/03/2019 by nessafrance

One of the things I love about living here is local people’s interest in le petit patrimoine, the vestiges of a rural life that has faded away. Groups of enthusiastic volunteers contribute to their restoration to rescue them from oblivion. … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Places | Tagged Association des Amis du Moulin de Saillagol, Moulin de Saillagol, patrimoine, Saillagol, SW France, windmill | 11 Comments

Varen: Haven by the River Aveyron

Posted on 03/08/2017 by nessafrance

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

All Fired Up: Bread Ovens

Posted on 11/06/2017 by nessafrance

You may have seen these small, domed buildings, often tacked onto the back of a house, in French villages. They’re part of le petit patrimoine, not significant enough to merit historic monument status but important vestiges of past times, nonetheless. … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Places | Tagged baking bread, bread, communal bread oven, Flouquet, four à pain, four banal, French bread, patrimoine, rural life, SW France | 15 Comments

Preparations for the Fête at Teysseroles

Posted on 29/05/2017 by nessafrance

I haven’t written much recently about the church at Teysseroles, which we are helping to restore. This is mainly because not a great deal has happened. I have to admit I find the sporadic activity on the restoration frustrating, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Teysseroles chapel | Tagged chapelle de Teysseroles, de La Valette family, fête de Teysseroles, Jean de La Valette-Parisot, Parisot, patrimoine, Siege of Malta, SW France, Teysseroles | 2 Comments

Restoration of the Lavoir in Caylus

Posted on 11/05/2017 by nessafrance

Lavoirs, or wash-houses, are features of the landscape around here. In times past, this is where the women (naturally…) did their laundry. They were normally constructed by a spring or a stream, so if the women were lucky, there was … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Places | Tagged Caylus, Caylus Notre Village, lavoir, lavoir de Caylus, patrimoine, rural life, SW France, wash-houses | 12 Comments

Every Château Tells a Story #14: Le Château des Bordes, Lot

Posted on 22/09/2016 by nessafrance

When I started this series about the châteaux in our area, I had no idea that so many of them exist. There are the obvious ones – Najac, Saint-Projet, Belcastel – but also less obvious ones. Some are just … Continue reading →

Posted in Châteaux, History, Places | Tagged Château des Bordes, Châteaux, French châteaux, Gourdon family, journées du patrimoine, Lot, patrimoine, Promilhanes, SW France | 11 Comments

5 Hidden Gems in Southwest France

Posted on 13/08/2016 by nessafrance

This region contains so much to see and do that it’s easy to visit only the obvious places, those that get the most publicity: the plus beaux villages, the Viaduc de Millau, the better-known markets, the famous festivals. Dig a … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Places | Tagged Académie des miniatures, Albi, Caylus, Les Jardins de Quercy, maison rucher, Ossip Zadkine, patrimoine, Peyrusse-le-Roc, Promilhanes, SW France, Villeneuve, Zadkine Christ | 17 Comments

Caylus Car Rally Revived

Posted on 02/08/2016 by nessafrance

Our village formerly held an annual car rally. This wasn’t a race with souped-up vehicles – fortunately – but a “rallye touristique”, i.e. following a circuit between checkpoints around the commune. The event faded, as these things do, but … Continue reading →

Posted in French life, Places | Tagged Caylus, Caylus Notre Village, lavoir, lavoir de Caylus, patrimoine, rallye touristique, SW France | 13 Comments

Every Château Tells a Story #13: Le Château de Cénevières, Lot

Posted on 25/07/2016 by nessafrance

The Château de Cénevières towers over its village and the River Lot, which meanders far beneath. The castle commanded a formerly important strategic position and the river, which was once well-plied trade route. My local writing group went on an outing … Continue reading →

Posted in Châteaux, History, Places | Tagged Antoine de Gourdon, Cénevières, Château de Cénevières, de Braquilanges family, Lot, Parisot Writing Group, patrimoine, River Lot, SW France | 12 Comments

Inside le Château de Najac

Posted on 12/06/2016 by nessafrance

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

Our Village Fête: Yesterday and Today

Posted on 22/05/2016 by nessafrance

We went to our village’s Fête de Pentecôte (Whitsun fete) last Monday. It’s still an important local event, but in times past it was among the bigger fêtes in the region. We have a lovely book of photographs showing our … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Places | Tagged Caylus, cazelles, Fête de la Pentecôte, Fêtes in France, gariottes, lavoirs, patrimoine, Pentecôte, pigeonniers, SW France, Tarn-et-Garonne | 18 Comments

Every Château Tells a Story #12: le Château de l’Astorguié, Parisot

Posted on 01/05/2016 by nessafrance

Last week marked the 19th anniversary of the first time we saw our house (no, it’s not the one above). Looking back at estate agents’ details of other properties reminded me that a small château close by was also for sale … Continue reading →

Posted in Châteaux, History, Places | Tagged Château de l'Astorguié, de La Valette family, French châteaux, Jean de La Valette-Parisot, Parisot, patrimoine, rose essence, rose perfume | 17 Comments

Bach, an Ancient Village on the Causse de Limogne

Posted on 18/04/2016 by nessafrance

This was a week of excursions. Yesterday, we rehearsed and sang in the biannual scratch choir concert in Puycelsi, a hilltop fortified village in the Tarn. As always, it was an inspiring event. The concerts are held in aid of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Food/drink/recipes, Personalities, Places | Tagged Auberge Lou Bourdie, Bach, French regional cuisine, lavoir, Lot, Monique Valette, patrimoine, phosphate mines, Phosphatières du Cloup d'Aural, SW France | 6 Comments

Every Château Tells a Story: #10 Le Château de Belcastel

Posted on 31/01/2016 by nessafrance

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 →

Posted in Châteaux, History, Places | Tagged Aveyron, Belcastel, Château de Belcastel, Fernand Pouillon, patrimoine, Plus beaux villages de France, Restaurant du Vieux Pont, Rodez, Saunhac family, SW France | 10 Comments

All About Stone

Posted on 14/01/2016 by nessafrance

This is a land of stone. Old houses are invariably built of la vieille pierre (old stone). When you walk along a footpath, it’s usually bordered by ancient stone walls. If you want to plant a tree or shrub, you … Continue reading →

Posted in French life, History | Tagged barn, construction materials, dry stone walling, la vieille pierre, limestone, patrimoine, rural life, stone, SW France | 20 Comments

Every Château Tells a Story: #9 Le Château de Mayragues

Posted on 10/11/2015 by nessafrance

Time for another château. This time it’s one that has been brought back from oblivion by its current owners and in my view is an absolute gem. Le Château de Mayragues is not in our immediate neighbourhood; in fact, it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Châteaux, History, Places | Tagged Architecture et Musique, Chateau de Mayragues, fortified house, Gaillac, Gaillac wine, maison fortifiée, monument historique, patrimoine, SW France, Tarn | 8 Comments

The Wheels Turn at Teysseroles

Posted on 20/10/2015 by nessafrance

As we know, the wheels of French bureaucracy grind exceedingly slowly. Try restoring an historic monument, as we are doing at the nearby chapel of Teysseroles, and they go at a snail’s pace. But now things appear to be moving, or … Continue reading →

Posted in Places, Teysseroles chapel | Tagged Bâtiments de France, chapelle de Teysseroles, church restoration, Parisot, patrimoine, restoration, SW France, Teysseroles | 11 Comments

Every Château Tells a Story # 8: Le Château de Labro

Posted on 11/10/2015 by nessafrance

Yesterday was one of those luminous, mellow days that you get only in early autumn. The trees were turning and it was warm, but not hot. So we decided to take advantage of it to go for a walk and … Continue reading →

Posted in Châteaux, History, Places | Tagged Château de Labro, de La Valette family, Jean de La Valette-Parisot, Malta, Order of Saint John, Parisot, patrimoine, Seye Valley, Siege of Malta, SW France | 11 Comments

End of an Era at the Hamlet of Flouquet

Posted on 22/08/2015 by nessafrance

It was the end of an era in two senses, to which I’ll return below. Every year, as part of the summer walks laid on by the commune of Espinas, we visit a pretty hamlet called Flouquet. The houses are … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Personalities, Places | Tagged baking bread, bread, Espinas, Flouquet, four à pain, lavoir, patrimoine, rural life, subsistence agriculture, SW France, threshing | 10 Comments

Every Château Tells a Story #7: the Château de Féneyrols

Posted on 06/08/2015 by nessafrance

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 →

Posted in Châteaux, History, Places | Tagged château, Château de Féneyrols, Féneyrols, French Wars of Religion, Hundred Years War, patrimoine, River Aveyron, rural depopulation, SW France, thermal springs | 6 Comments

Dig This! What the Archaeologists Found at Teysseroles

Posted on 09/07/2015 by nessafrance

I missed a big event at Teysseroles a couple of weeks ago because I was slaving over a hot computer. The mandatory archaeological test digs took place over nearly three days around the 15th-century chapel. This is a requirement before … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Teysseroles chapel | Tagged archaeological dig, burial practices, cemetery, chapelle de Teysseroles, INRAP, patrimoine, skeleton, SW France, Teysseroles | 16 Comments

Celebrating the Past at our Village Fête

Posted on 26/05/2015 by nessafrance

Unlike many local villages, which hold their fête in the summer, ours has it in May to coincide with la Pentecôte (Whitsun). It involves the usual stuff: concours de pétanque (boules tournament), go-kart racing, a bal/disco and other events. This … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Places, Walking in France | Tagged Bonnette Valley, Caylus, Fête de la Pentecôte, Lacapelle-Livron, lavoirs, local heritage, Notre Dame des Grâces, patrimoine, Saint-Pierre de Livron, SW France | 9 Comments

Thunder and Lightning at Puycelsi

Posted on 29/04/2015 by nessafrance

We have adopted Puycelsi in the Tarn, since we go there to sing at least once a year in a temporary choir that comes together for a weekend or less. This delightful – and apparently impregnable – hilltop village … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Places | Tagged church restoration, Eglise Saint-Corneille, Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, Mark Opstad, Nicholas O'Neill, patrimoine, Puycelsi, Puycelsi scratch choir, SW France, Tarn | 4 Comments

Work Continues to Restore La Chapelle de Teysseroles

Posted on 20/04/2015 by nessafrance

I haven’t written much recently about the 15th-century chapel that we are helping to restore. This is partly because the work goes into hiatus over the winter; and partly because the bureaucracy involved grinds exceedingly slowly. However, there was … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Places, Teysseroles chapel | Tagged chapelle de Teysseroles, church restoration, heritage, historic monument, monument historique, Parisot, patrimoine, restoration, SW France, Teysseroles | 14 Comments

Sunday Promenade Around Félines

Posted on 27/02/2015 by nessafrance

It was more like a forced march, actually. The SF did military service in the Swedish army and can still do a 20 km yomp bearing a 14 kilo pack with the best of them. Last Sunday morning, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Places, Walking in France | Tagged Cassini Map, Caylus, Félines, patrimoine, Ruisseau de Laval, rural life, SW France, Tarn-et-Garonne, walking | 6 Comments

A Typical Quercy Farmhouse (and an Anniversary)

Posted on 14/02/2015 by nessafrance

In a couple of months it will be 18 years since we first saw our house. A lot of wine has flowed under the bridge in that time. The photo above shows it in the early 1970s just before … Continue reading →

Posted in French life, History | Tagged architectural features, bolet, cantou, French country life, patrimoine, pigeonnier, Quercy farmhouse, rural life, SW France | 22 Comments

Every Château Tells a Story #2: Le Château de Najac

Posted on 18/11/2014 by nessafrance

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

Things I Didn’t Know When I Moved to France: Part 1, the Positives

Posted on 25/05/2014 by nessafrance

Now, you’re all thinking I’m going to complain about everything I’ve encountered in France since moving here 17 years ago. Not so. What follows in this post is complimentary; Part 2 (to be posted later) is less so. I’ve restricted … Continue reading →

Posted in Customs, French life, History | Tagged etiquette, France, French health system, French local government, living in France, patrimoine, social customs, SW France | 35 Comments

Trip Along the River Aveyron

Posted on 23/03/2014 by nessafrance

I went to the hilltop village of Puycelsi in the Tarn département on Friday to interview some victims for one of my magazine articles. It’s about 50 minutes’ drive from here but the route is one of the most spectacular … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Places, World War I & II | Tagged Bruniquel, Gorges de l'Aveyron, patrimoine, Penne-du-Tarn, Plus beaux villages de France, Puycelsi, River Aveyron, rural life, SW France, Tarn | 16 Comments