Postcards from Lagrasse

#PostcardsfromtheLot#Lagrasse#Aude#LesPlusBeauxVillagesdeFrance

Can you see the rain? It didn't rain all day ... only while we were inside enjoying a delicious "menu du jour".

The day started out not promising great weather, actually the whole country of France is experiencing unseasonable, temperamental weather.

You can't do anything about the weather ... so you have to make the most of the circumstances.

After a quick visit with our landlords, Kay and Mark (who own / operate Sainte Hélène Chambre d'hôtes and rent out their amazing "French apartment" in Olonzac) ... we received some suggestions for today's outing and headed to "Lagrasse".

Lagrasse (Aude Dept) a medieval village is located in the valley of the River Orbieu at the foot of the Pyrennes ... it is a member of "Les Plus Beaux Villages de France" association. 

... "One of the most beautiful villages of France" it dates back to the time when the Abbey was built in the late 700's ... 

It was a day that my camera probably was thinking will she ever stop taking pictures ... so I hope I don't overload you with too many postcards?

                         

The covered Market Hall dates from the 13th and 14th centuries ... 

                  

The Blacksmith shop...

The remaining walls ...

                  

The picture above is of the cemetery within the monastery walls.

The Corbières Wine region ...

Monsieur Honey was ever indulgent and patient today ... Walking with me down the many streets and all the way around the walls of the medieval village.

Nice legs Monsieur Honey! 

Pretty lanes, pretty streets wearing many different coats of colour and some decorated with many pots of flowers ...

Love this stairway full of pots ...

Outside the café after the lunch hour ... this is a favorite of mine ... The colours of the umbrellas with the beautiful twisted plane trees in the background.

Hope you enjoyed travelling with us to Lagrasse and even on a not so perfect weather day ...

It was still a beautiful place to visit.

The Spicy Colours of Market Day

#MarketDay#Olonzac

A day at the Market is a pleasure for all your senses ...

Visually there are many colours,  plenty of sounds of the market vendors and shoppers  interacting, the wonderful aromas of the fresh baked goods, fresh fruits and vegetables and the spices plus the fragrance from the soaps and lavender.

Many of the stall vendors offer free samples of their products ... cured sausages, fresh apricots, wines, tapenades, cheeses and olives are just a few examples of today's offers ... which will satisfy your tastes.

Don't forget the sense of touch ... there are luxurious fabrics used in the many items from aprons to bedding to tablecloths. 

                    

Normally by this time in our adventure ... we are "Marketed" out! 

In other words we have been to too many ... but this year's adventure did not provide much time or opportunity to do the "Market" circuit.

Today, I got my "Market" fix ...

Today's market was a large one with many vendors ... farmers, traders and artisans and the village's population swelled as many visitors come from neighbouring towns and villages.

We came home with a basket full of fresh vegetables, sweet & juicy melons, bread, sausages and a sweet dessert treat ... plus I found a deal on an amazing jacquard woven tablecloth.

(Made in France).

Happy! Happy!

Catching up with Caunes Minervois

#CaunesMinervois#Minerve#Marble#MontagneNoir

This morning found us at loose ends ... it had rained heavily overnight and today was overcast and a bit drizzly early on in the day.

We went in search of the larger surpermarket for a quick pickup and then just followed one of the roads leading out of town ...

We travelled through many tiny villages and soon we were approaching Minerve (I call this place the French Grand Canyon) ... there's my fear of heights kicking in again.

As the mountains were shrouded in mist we opted to not visit this site today and continued on ... eventually ending up in Caunes Minervois for a memory walk ... in 2005 we spent a wonderful week here in a rented house that is built into the "Remparts" with our friends, Shari and Doug.

Caunes Minervois is a medieval village set at the foot of the Montagne Noir in the Aude Dept. of the Languedouc Region.

The village has many steep and narrow streets that twist and turn.

The 8th Century Abbey ... currently under restoration.

                              

Red / pink marble is quarried here and is said to have been since Roman times ...

Somethings were very familiar and then others we couldn't remember at all...

The lavoir, Maison des Remparts, giant plane trees ...