Two Weeks in The High Limousine Country: Part 2

Fields of Sunflowers

Fields of sunflowers may just be my very favourite thing!

Rochechouart

We picked a drive to this town, because it has a lovely Chateau. The building is now a modern art gallery that was interesting. As Vern says, “So many meanings to this word…”

Steve and his friend that he called "poo."

Perhaps I should have cropped this one. Oops.

This was made of mud from the river. I like it quite a bit.

These very early frescoes were found when cleaning the building.

Part of the town's cenotaph.

Carrefour Supports the Tour

There is a grocery chain all throughout France and I think we saw it in Italy too. Carrefour is the equivalent of Superstore, selling more than just groceries and wine. The stores sported jersey-shaped signs on all their light poles showing their sponsorship of the Maillot a Pois or polka dot jersey for the Tour de France. My son-in-law tells me this jersey signifies the “King of the Hill” and is awarded to the fastest rider in the mountainous segments. Carrefour has supported it for 40 years. 

Chateaupensac

We called this village Chateau No Chateau. We chose it because of its name, yet not a Chateau was to be seen anywhere. There were a few interesting old buildings, but hey, we’ve learned that they are a dime a dozen!

Is it just me, or do other people love big old doors?

Le Dorat

Le Dorat is another pretty little town with a significant old church, with more evidence of the crusaders. We even toured the crypts here, but they had been cleared of any evidence of burial sites and as Steve said, “Would make a good bar/nightclub”

This church has stairs at the back of the nave which is quite unusual.

Steve and I snuck through the crypt...but I don't know who this is,,,

Back above ground, there were relics of Saints. Very successful marketing tool to bring congregants into the fold in the old days.

Poitiers

Our last country city was Poitiers. Vern, Sybil, Dennis and I ventured by train to check out this area, while Steve stayed back with Seri and Selene feeding bamboo to the baby goats by the river. Poitiers was beautiful. Clean and captivating. Two churches dominated the ‘must see’ tourist lists, the oldest, Notre Dame Le Grande, is covered inside with ancient paintings on almost all surfaces. The larger and newer Cathedral was plain by comparison, but impressive in size. 

Walking the old centre was a pleasure, after we had climbed our way up from the train station to the top of the hill it was easy to saunter to all the sites our tourist map suggested. Unlike many other places, Poitiers was very populated and I’m sure had more than it’s share of tourists and I can see why. 

This was Napoleon III house when he was in town.

The town square was gorgeous. This building is the city hall.

Vern, myself and Sybil.

There is just something about art nouveau design that is so French.

A palace in town.

Joan of Arc was big in this area.

The oldest church in town at the top of the hill. Notre Dame Le Grande.

Another statue of Joan of Arc, and also the window below.

Marble tiles, mostly of thanks (Merci), lined some of the walls.

Some of the roads were labelled 'first century,' this little pretty is for sale. Might need some updating.

Joan  with the Crusader's cross.

A side chapel.

Unusually modern book holders suggests a vibrant congregation.

Ah, the pipe organ.

St. Michael up in the rafters.

Outside, a soccer ball jammed over the doors seems to be making this guy sick.

I would return, but not to revisit yet another copy of the Statue of Liberty with a very unsympathetic light attached to it! 

So that’s a not-so-brief recap of the past couple of weeks. We celebrated our last evening in Bellac with delicious burgers from the pub down by the river and another game of Bugger Your Neighbour at the kitchen table. We had fun playing with the French deck of cards that has a 1 and no ace and a V,D,R, instead of Jack, Queen, King. I'm bringing a deck home. Can’t wait to see the boys again at Thanksgiving to relive our memories.

I am writing this onboard the TGV (high speed train) to Paris. We take over our two-bedroom apartment tonight and await the arrival of Kevin and Evie on Sunday morning. We are so blessed because this has been a great trip so far, and there is so much more to go.