Roquemaure - the village

This photograph was not taken by me!

You may remember the photo of our Mayor Christian HOT that I posted earlier this month. Christian is a big fan of flying around in his microlight aircraft, and as he passes overhead he gives you a ‘hong hong’ on his horn to let you know it’s him. He sent me this photograph of the village of Roquemaure which together with the photo I posted yesterday will give you an idea of just how big the village is.
Mind you having a Mayor who can fly around and check how things are in his rural domain is not a bad idea at all.

Cette photographie n'a pas été prise par moi !

Vous vous rappelez la photo de notre maire Cette photographie n'a pas été prise par moi !

Vous vous rappelez la photo de notre maire Christian HOT que j'ai signalé plus tôt ce mois. Christian est un grand fan pour voler dans son ULM – Ultra Léger Motorise - et quand il passe au dessus de nous il nous klaxonne d’un « hong hong »

Il m'a envoyé cette photographie du village de Roquemaure, avec la photo que j’ai publie hier vous aurez une idée le la grandeur du village. Comme le village est étendu et les fermes éparpilles pour vérifier si tout se passe bien. Christian avec son ULM surveille son petit monde. Quelle bonne idée !

Roquemaure Church

This is (for us) a close up view of the church in the village of Roquemaure that we see from a distance across the valley.

Michael and Kerstin

What do you do when you take friends out who are keen photographers? Well there is really only one thing and that is to to take lots of photographs.

The 'photographers' photographed at the village of Puycelsi in the Tarn, France.

Puycelsi

Puycelci is one of several well preserved Bastide villages from the middle ages. There are quite a number of these villages to visit in the Tarn area. These walled settlements, with grid-pattern streets and remarkable squares, are now beautiful reminders of the great conflicts of another age.

Now a pleasant walk around hidden lanes filled with flowers one can begin to feel the pull of ancient times.

For my friends in the USA Memorial Day will be held on the 29th of May this year. Each year ceremonies are held today, Sunday, in cemeteries all over France to remember the fallen. I have posted a photograph taken at, Romagne sous Montfaucon which is in remembrance of those who died.

Smell the Flowers

On our last full day with our friends we visited oneof the villages that are entitled to use the designation ‘Un des plus beaux village de France’ - ‘One of the most beautiful villages of France’ Puycelsi in the Tarn.

This was a wonderful day of exploring the small streets and stopping to smell the roses and all manner of flowers that are in the prime of spring bloom. It was a pleasure to stroll along and enjoy the mixed fragrances in these charming winding streets.

Our friend Ute getting pleasure from the perfume of a red rose.

Washing Machine

Now all we have to do is throw the dirty clothes into the washing machine. There was the time when the women did their weekly wash at ‘La Lavoir’ an area either fed from a spring or water diverted from a nearby river. They would kneel and do the washing the hard way. It was also a place where news and gossip was exchanged.

Those who where financially better off would employ other women to do their washing and these women were called ‘Les Lavandiéres.’

As you travel through France you are likely to see these in towns and villages, well if you have any dirty washing now’s the time!!

This one was photographed in L’isle-sure-Tarn.

Sign of the Tarn

The village of Roquemaure sits on the south side of the Département (county) of the Tarn, bordering with the Haute Garonne. This old sign we see when we drive down to our nearest little town of Bessieres as we cross from one Département to another.

It intrigues me because it comes from another age before the change to the present system of numbering Départements. Now the Tarn is number 81 and the Haute Garonne is 31. On the sign they are 18 and 22. I am not sure when the changes took place.

In France there are a total of 96 Département situated in 22 Régions. I think I have my numbers correct, but I also like the lovely view over the Valley of the Tarn.

Sculptured Gardens

I wanted to post a photograph of showing just the colourful sculptured gardens outside of the Toulouse-Lautrec museum which are set within the magnificent grounds of the Bishop's Palace, which overlooks the River Tarn.

It is a place you can wander round an enjoy the lovely scenery and stroll along vine covered walkways and image yourself in another age.

The Tarn at Albi

A view of the bridges over the River Tarn at Albi which was taken as we stolled around the gardens outside of the Toulouse-Lautrec museum.

Albi Cathedral

The capital of our Departément, (county) of the Tarn is Albi and it is nice to venture out of the calm countryside to the city, albeit a beautiful city like Albi.

Amogst other things Albi is famous for its Cathedral and the Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec museum.

The "Ste-Cécile" cathedral was built in 1282 and is now considered to be a masterpiece of Southern Gothic style architecture. ts very sober brick exterior is in striking contrast with its lavish interior and its fresco depicting the Last Judgement in particular.

As for the Toulouse-Lautrec museum, it displays the largest existing collection of the Albigensian artist's paintings within the magnificent setting of the Bishop's Palace.

This photograph is taken inside the cathedral

Atelier de Peinture

A picture within picture, and where does reality stop?

Another image from the craft fair that I visited last weekend in l'Isle-sur-Tarn there was just so many photographic opportunities.

Again I feel it is only correct to give details of the artist whose work I have turned into a photograph.

Marie-Hélène PIDOFF, Peintre Décoratrice, 29 Place Paul Saissac, 81310 L’isle-sur-Tarn.

More information about the Arts & Craft of the Midi-Pyrénées can be found on this website Créamip

Hare Today

Lisi mentioned yesterday about meeting the neighbors. Well in fact our closest neighbors are the animals that wander through the garden or in the fields around about. So here is Hare Today Gone………… yes I know terrible joke.

It’s my wife who has all the names of these lovely creatures and Mr Hare’s name I have forgotten but I will find out later today. He is called Jeannot!

He or she has also raised a family close by and last evening as I was watching Gorgeous George a young hare hopped by. As I was standing so still he did not even notice me, or perhaps though I was a tree or something!

Gorgeous George.

Gorgeous George the pheasant has been around the garden a long time and I often disturb him and he makes sure I know it with his loud cackling call of a male pheasant. We are used to each other now so he rarely flies off; I just give him a bit of time to wander off into the undergrowth.

We have watched George courting several females during the late winter and early spring and have been waiting to see the results.

We now have the special delight of watching Gorgeous George, his wife and eight little chicks do their rounds of the garden, mostly in the evening, but it is a sight it is worth waiting for. I will try and get a photograph of ‘The Family’ but it is proving difficult. Should I manage it I will certainly post it here.

Sign of the times

The old style road signs in France. This was taken in the town of L'isle-sur-Tarn. I think I will be going back it is such a lovely place and lots of hidden corners to explore.

These signs are of the previous generation, made of a base of concrete. But where would you want to go? Somewhere like Toulouse or one of those unpronounceable names (that is if you don’t speak French.)

Or would you like to open the gate to the secrete garden?

Wood Carver - Tourner sur Bois

This young man a wood carver, Guillaume Atrux, showing his skills at the craft fair at l'Isle-sur-Tarn

I have already posted a couple of images from this craft fair because it was an inspiring experience in an exceptionally beautiful setting.

This young man from Ste. Eulalie d'Olt en Aveyron listed as one of the most beautiful village of France, (site in French) made the most amazing wood carving. In this image he is making eggs cups but on a lathe he made himself.

Coloured Cups

I was so taken by the craft fair that I would like to post a few more images that were taken in the picturesque village of L’isle-sure –Tarn.

The talent and diversity of work I find inspirational for my own photographic work.

I will also, where possible, include their details as I feel then than I am not photographing their work just for me.

These incredibly vivid colours where created by:

Lorraine Grasset, Le Têt – Chemin de la Forêt, 31810 Venerque.

Silver Bra

Yesterday we went to visit the Sunday market at a Town nearby L’isle-sur-Tarn. It was our first visit and to our pleasant surprise there was also a craft fair.

As their web site says; l'Isle-sur-Tarn, a 13th century, fortified town situated in the heart of the Gaillac vineyards, enjoys an idyllic location half way between Toulouse and Albi.

There was so much to see and in such a beautiful setting it left us feeling wonderful. The workmanship (workwomanship) of glassware, wood carving, embroidery and jewelry was so good we wanted to buy it all.

On one of the stands was an eye catching silver bra which I just had to photograph. It obviously made people stop and look and of course attracted more customers – good attention-grabber - and the jewelry work was exquisite.

The jewelry is by Daphnès AKANTAR, le Château, 82230, Verlhac Tescou.

To appreciate the exquisite detail a larger image can be seen here: Silver Bra

Little house

This is the beautiful house we can see on the days when we head off down to one of the three market towns that surround us. It is like a dream house from a fairy tale and looks so serene and livable and although it has been maintained we don’t think it has been lived in for many years. It was while we were winding our way towards this little house we found our
shepherd -

“For months we have seen this little picturesque house. It sits way back from one of the country road we drive along and today we made our way along even smaller country lanes to find what may be described as the ‘Little House on the Prairie.’”

Poppy - Coquelicot

From all the greenness of the countryside the splashes of red make an attractive distraction.

Fields of poppies or a few by the roadside are always welcome.

J’ai descendu dans mon jardin
Pour y cueillir du romarin,
Gentil coquelicot Mesdames
Gentil coquelicot Messieurs

Vieille chanson française.

Valérie Thomas

We went out late yesterday afternoon for a ride on our bikes and stopped off at the Town Hall (Mairie.) In our rural community of Roquemaure the Town Hall is only open two afternoons a week. That’s enough for a population of 300.

As I had already photographed the Mayor it seemed only proper that I photograph the charming and always smiling Valérie. So this is the right hand of the mayor, Valérie THOMAS, the secretary who does all the work, or so she says.

Après une balade en vélo un bon moment de détente avec le bras droit du maire, la charmante et toujours souriante Valérie THOMAS.