Medieval Knights (and a Day) in Mirepoix!

Sunday, May 12th, 2019 #Mirepoix#vide-greniers#Postcardsfromthelot#maisondelachevalerie

Sometimes you just have to go with the flow.  

Monsieur Honey has a strong interest in looking at/searching for unusual items ... i.e. antiques, flea market bargains.

While we were in the planning stages of this adventure to France, I had done some “Googling” about “vide-greniers and brocantes”. 

I found a very informative website  https://vide-greniers.org/Languedoc-Roussillon/mai that we could use to discover where these activities were being held on any specific date. 

So I added the link to my home screen for easy reference. 

Back in 2013 during our three-month stay in Dégagnac, he purchased this book at the local « épicerie » and it provided much entertainment and exploration of new communes, villages and towns. 

We travelled to and discovered so many different places in the Lot Valley ... here’s hoping that this list with provide us with the same experience. 

Yesterday, we checked out the vide-greniers listings to see if there was anywhere new that we could visit.

Bram was showing a town wide sale. So off we went to do what I call “picking”. 

Guess what daughter, Jenn also likes to check out the flea markets and antique shops. 

I say she comes by it honestly through her Papa. 

Monsieur Honey ferreted / picked through this suitcase (pictured below) to find the right tunes that would provide the desired atmosphere for an afternoon/ evening on the sun-trapped terrace. 

Our bargain of the day was the purchase of an assortment of CDs which included some great French music and even some Zydeco.

Plus they are souvenirs that can easily travel home with us that will provide hours of  listening pleasure in our courtyard during the Canadian summer.

Hopefully, our family, friends and neighbours will also enjoy the sweet songs! 

The bargains of the day 1€ per CD ... all brand new and still in original wrap/packaging. 

Another vendor was selling CDs for 15 to 20 euros a piece.

Bram is a commune in the Aude department in the Languedoc-Roussillon region located on the Canal du Midi. 

We didn’t spend much time here as it was a Sunday and out of season. 

Can you see the snow on the Pyrénées? 

The road to Mirepoix ... our next stop. 

Mirepoix is a bastide town in the Ariège region that was rebuilt in the 13th century following a flood. 

The typical medieval wood carvings on the old facade of « La Maison des Consuls »...

Do you see the different faces? 

The market square with the southern French Gothic-style Saint-Maurice cathedral in the background. 

Beautiful half-timbered houses whose first floors (1st floor in France is actually the 2nd) that hang over the square create the arcaded walkways below which houses unique shops, cafés and restaurants. 

This reminds of the houses that hang over the river in Girona, Spain. Photo from September 2017. 

We found a table to enjoy the warmth of the sunshine, a little tapas, Rose and people watching at “No. 20 by Pat”. 

A little more wandering of the side streets surrounding the square, my entourage (Father and daughter) checked out a couple of brocantes and then we found an amazing shop ... Maison de la Chevalerie (House of Chivalry).

There were beautiful items created by French craftsmen all displayed meticulously. 

Here you can also be entertained ... you can see what it was like to be a knight in the Middle Ages, wear a period costume, do some middle age activities ... crossbow shooting, ring throwing, duels, etc. 

It was an enjoyable visit with the shop owner who provided friendly, excellent service. 

So if you find yourself in Mirepoix stop in and say hello to Cyril and checkout the shop at 15, rue Vigarozy - 09500 Mirepoix.

Inside courtyard of a hotel/ restaurant ...

I call this brocante alley ... 

Just a pretty facade ...


Tomorrow (May 13th) was Jennifer’s last full day in France ... come back to read about our day in Gruissan, looking for the beach. 

Market Day in Céret

Saturday, May 11th-2019 

Today our road trip is taking us to the “Deep South” of France to share the Céret market experience with Jennifer. 

Céret is probably one of our most favourite spots with plane tree lined streets and it has just enough going on in the town with a good café /restaurant scene, many local shops plus larger grocery stores and of course there is the fantastic Saturday market that winds all the way around the centre of town. 

Céret is located at the foothills of the Pyrenees, very close to Spain ... in fact, today as we exited from the auto route, the built in GPS took us thru Spain and then back into Céret. 

Not sure if we missed something but when we returned back to Montlaur the Gendarmerie had our usual road closed off. 

Who knows ... maybe the GPS satellite knew the road was closed. 

Even with an early start, we arrived later than anticipated due to the detour through Spain ... Jennifer can say she also went to Spain! Haha! 

Remember this place ... overlooking Place de la Liberté with stunning views over the tiled roofs and mountains. 

We stayed at this apartment on three separate occasions. 

 

Here’s a memory from 4 years ago ... Monsieur Honey snuck out to buy me some flowers! 

The market was as busy as always even with the threat of rain. 

This vendor was hoping to cash in on the weather ... selling “parapluies”.

Luckily we didn’t need one! It only rained when we were inside. 

We wandered, checking out the various vendors selling their products and wares.

And of course it was cherry season ... a must buy! 

They were juicy and sweet! 

And every year the last weekend in May, there is a Cherry Festival. 

We had hoped to eat alfresco in the “Place des Neuf Jets” but the weather man or was it Mother Nature had other plans, neither of whom were cooperating. 

The sky was dark and threatening rain.

We had reserved a table at Quattrocento where we enjoyed a delicious lunch  « a l’intérieur «. 

A little more strolling after lunch to be able see without the market stalls set up. 

Picasso’s fountain ...



A street view with the giant plane trees ...

We discovered some “street art” paintings on walls ... I didn't know anything about these previously, after some searching I found an article from November 2017  in the P-O Life magazine.

Here’s an excerpt ... New Faces in Cerét by written Elaine Koerner.

The artist behind the faces prefers to be known only as FAS.
“I am very proud of our artistic history,” explains FAS, who lives in Céret with his family.
“I decided to create these portraits in tribute to a handful of the many painters and other artists who either were locals or else were drawn to Céret’s charms as visitors. My portraits include both well-known and lesser-known painters.”

His portrait project got started more than a year ago after he received a thumbs up from the Mairie.

There is suppose to be six to nine of these throughout the town. If interested you can read the whole article online.

The beautiful bottle brush plant ...



And one last stop at Bar Pablo before leaving town ... 

À bientôt Céret! 

The Road to Narbonne

Friday, May 10th-2019

If it’s Friday it must be Narbonne along the Canal de la Robine. 

This was Monsieur Honey & I’s first visit to Narbonne other than the train station to take a connecting train many years ago.

We found a parking spot in a lot along the Canal. 

Our first destination was Les Halles (circa 1901) a magnificent building housing the indoor market place. 

It is open daily from 7AM-2PM. 

Some architectural detail

I’d say if you can’t find what you’re looking for here it probably doesn’t exist.

The market vendors sell all products from A to Z ... from anchovies to zucchinis with everything in between. 

Fresh baked goods from “Le pain to patisseries”, cheeses, butchers of every kind (beef, pork, poultry, etc.), fish mongers,  fresh fruits and vegetables of every sort, olives, oils, spices and of course wines. 

Beautiful fresh flowers ...

There are several restaurants within the Market Hall ... 

After our “market fix” or should I say my fix (I love French markets), we wandered along the canal and crossed the river to the other side where the majestic Cathedral Saint Just and Saint Pasteur is located. 

Construction started April 3rd 1282. It has a long history during it’s time of building. The choir* was completed in the 1330s and then in 1345 work was stopped due to the Hundred Year War. 

*A choir, also sometimes called quire, is the area of a church or cathedral that provides seating for the clergy and church choir. It is in the western part of the chancel, between the nave and the sanctuary, which houses the altar and Church tabernacle. Wikipedia

Work continued later and into the 1840s. 

It is dedicated to two Spanish brothers & martyrs Justus and Pastor from the late IIIrd century. 

We visited the Church each with our own reasons. 

We enjoyed an excellent Mediterranean tapas lunch at La Rotonde before exploring some more.

  

Some magnificent architecture ...

Here in the main square is a portion of the “Via Domita” the historic Roman Road.

The Via Domitia was the first Roman road built in Gaul that linked Italy to Spain dating to 118BC.

What history! 

The gargoyles overlooking the church grounds ...

Narbonne is definitely worth another visit ...