Tuesday 20th September 2016
Today's excursion took us to the beautiful medieval village of Castelnou in the heart of the Aspres.
After finding one of the last parking spots on the outside of the village we entered through the "North Gate" known as the Millars Gate. It is flanked by two towers and has a murder-hole.
We strolled the two main cobble stoned paths / streets that were connected every so often by narrow staircases of stone steps.
This walk is not for the infirm, feeble or someone wearing "stilettos".
Do you see the old bread oven?
After a quick exploration on the higher road halfway up to the Château, we spotted a restaurant on the lower road that called out to us. It was lunch time after all!
After climbing many steep steps down to the lower road, we found ourselves at the "L'hostal" Restaurant & Bar.
We opted for a table in the rustic interior looking out over the mountains ...
Our shared starter .... we will be making this at home, so delicious!
From the outdoor grill ... today's "brochettes" my choice ... turkey and mini chorizo sausages with onions, peppers, roasted potatoes, vegetable melange.
Chicken fricasse for Monsieur!
My happy Monsieur Honey wearing his party hat ( with splashes of juice/grease from his chicken fricasse dish on his shirt .... ) enjoying his ice cream dessert!
Coconut pie with apple pie sorbet!
Iron work adorns many of the village homes, shops ...
Beautiful, handmade silk scarves blowing in the wind ...
I should have bought this as my souvenir!
A close up of a bread oven ...
Spread around the village are constant reminders of the previous sieges (most notably in 1286) ...
Cannonballs ... here this one adorns a gate post!
We find it incredible that places like these have been so well kept/preserved and personally believe it is due their isolated locations.
Another wonderful day of adventure and discovery in the South of France.
