Tag Archives: Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val

Discovering a Former Railway Line

Posted on 30/06/2017 by

Do you enjoy travelling by train? I do, except of course when it’s cancelled or held up by the wrong sort of leaves or by vandals removing the copper from the electric cables, as happened to us recently in Sweden. … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Places | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

French People’s Favourite Village: Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val in 2015?

Posted on 25/04/2015 by

  In 2014, it was Cordes-sur-Ciel in our Midi-Pyrénées region, about 30 km from us. Which village will it be this year? The 2015 candidate for our region is Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val. Voting in this contest – Le Village Préféré des Français … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Places | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The Flood of the Century in Southwest France, 3-4 March 1930

Posted on 03/03/2015 by

  On Saturday 1st March 1930, 85 years ago, torrential rain started to fall on already saturated ground in Southwest France. Unseasonably high temperatures brought by southerly winds rapidly melted the thick mantle of snow that had fallen in late … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Places, Weather | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Sheltering Jews in SW France During World War II

Posted on 27/01/2015 by

  Today, International Holocaust Remembrance Day, is the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp by Soviet troops. The unspeakable horror of these places has been described in memoirs and contemporary film footage. But very few survivors remain and … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Places, World War I & II | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

The Little Free Library Inaugurated at Saint-Antonin

Posted on 10/01/2015 by

  So many words have poured out in the past few days, and no doubt will continue to do so, about the horrific events in Paris this week. I can’t add anything to them that isn’t trite or obvious. So … Continue reading →

Posted in Books/writing, French life, Places | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Every Château Has a Story: #1 Le Château de Cas

Posted on 13/08/2014 by

Châteaux, large and small, have played an integral part in the history of France. Some have been at the centre of national events; others have been less affected by them, but nonetheless have a story to tell. This is the … Continue reading →

Posted in Châteaux, History, Places, World War I & II | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Hollywood Comes to Southwest France

Posted on 31/08/2013 by

Some places just lend themselves to being film sets. Picturesque, atmospheric, even scary, they have a certain je ne sais quoi that other locations seem to lack. Or that the camera can enhance beyond their everyday familiarity. Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val beneath the … Continue reading →

Posted in French life, Places | Tagged , , , , , | 20 Comments

A Walk Back in Time on the Saint-Antonin Causse

Posted on 31/07/2013 by

Last Saturday night’s thunderstorm caused us little bother – except for water seeping under the kitchen door as usual – and cleared the air. In parts of Aveyron, we hear, the damage was considerable and a church spire is reported … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Places, Walking in France | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val: Haunting and Historic Town

Posted on 20/03/2013 by

Winter here – especially this winter – is not greatly conducive to getting out and exploring. It’s all too easy to sit in front of the fire and make a promise that we’ll do it next week. But I do … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Places | Tagged , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

Five Curiosities in Caylus

Posted on 18/08/2012 by

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 , , , , , | 14 Comments

All fêted out

Posted on 24/08/2011 by

So much has been going on in this area during the past few weeks that I scarcely know where to begin. This is typical summer in rural France. For a couple of months there is a plethora of cultural events, … Continue reading →

Posted in Customs, French life, History, Places | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments