Languedoc-Roussillon, 2008

[htmb]

In June of 2008, I had the good fortune to accompany a dear friend to the Languedoc-Roussillon region of southern France. We stayed at a B&B in a little hamlet called Sonnac-sur-l'Hers. The lovingly restored home, Le Trésor, is owned by a wonderful young British couple, Tilly and Will Howard. Since the location is very rural, and because we had no car, I was forced to slow down and relax, something I hadn't done for a long time.  I decided to try out my new camera and take a few photos of the area. I have posted a selection of these pictures below. 

The majority of the shots were taken in an area approximately one hour southwest of Carcassonne, almost within sight of Andorra. Many were taken around the private homes we visited. Towards the end of my pictures there are labeled photos taken in the towns of Limoux, Mirepoix, and Toulouse.

I don't have much to report about the trip other than it was a unique and wonderful experience for me personally. The beautiful countryside, mixed with the very cool weather in the shadow of the Pyrenees, was the perfect place for me to be that summer.  

Sonnac is built around a small plaza. The church is on one end and Le Trésor (with green shutters) is opposite the church. There is only one entry into the plaza from the road. The surrounding area is mostly farmland where crops such as hay and apples grow.















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That is a wonderfully cute village, empty as usual!

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Empty except for one little old French couple and two farm families who live across from the entrance. Lots of Brits have bought homes in the area.

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Market day in Limoux





Mirepoix



Toulouse

[bixaorellana]

Reveling, wallowing, exulting in these images! Doesn't Languedoc have a reputation for magic and myths? Whether or not it does, you've imbued it with enchantment. You certainly had me already with that second shot -- the one of the fields seen through the bell tower -- and the pleasure just piled up from there. The views, the lovely closeups of plants, the solitude are all so lovely. But it's that picture of the painted branch arch & the vista beyond that thrilled my little fairy tale garden heart to the marrow.

I really love the way you put this together, with the introduction, then letting the pictures speak for themselves.

*happy applause*

[htmb]

Jul 26, 2012 5:04:28 GMT bixaorellana said:

Reveling, wallowing, exulting in these images! Doesn't Languedoc have a reputation for magic and myths?

Thank you very much, bixa. Yes, this is the land of the Cathars. A religious sect persecuted for their beliefs. There are tales of church doors being locked from the outside and buildings set on fire during worship, killing everyone inside. The legendary fortress of Montsegur is not far from here. The novel Labyrinth by Kate Mosse is about the legend of the Cathars.

[mossie]

A magnificent effort, thank you.

The very last picture told me that was not a Bristol hotel in Paris. Those room rates !

[mich64]

I would have loved this vacation. It has everything I would need. Serene surroundings, a pool to lounge by while reading, flower gardens, a market day and some lovely cafes and restaurants to have a leisurely meal.

Is that a quarry lake off in the distance in the picture that shows the pool?

The hamlet photos show a beautifully cared for town.

[bixaorellana]

Ah ~~ we simul-posted last night, Htmb, so I'm only now seeing all the pictures from #7 on down. So happy to have more of this surpassingly beautiful thread.

That view of the hills through the tamarisks(?) -- the gardens -- just lovely, and all the people out & about look so happy to be there.

Any idea what that plant might be in the 7th picture -- the one center right with gray-green leaves & floppy off-white spires?

[htmb]

Is that a quarry lake off in the distance in the picture that shows the pool?

I'm not sure, Mich. The pond was at the bottom of a hill below many acres of vineyards. I hope not, but I suspect it was that deep rich color due to runoff from fertilizer and whatever they were spraying on the vines . I was not able to walk down there, as it was not property owned by my friends.

You would have really enjoyed the quiet, but you wouldn't have gotten to the market without a car, as everything is miles apart. We were litteraly in the middle of French nowhere! We occasionally had transportation for the group, but nothing I had any control over.

The later photos showing the vinyards, pond, and pool were actually taken about 45 minutes west of Sonnac. I seem to remember it was the other side of the geographic point where rain falling on Sonnac runs into the Mediterranean and water falling on the second location runs into the Atlantic.

I was actually with a very small, private, international group of artists attending a weeklong workshop. Since I am not an artist I had to busy myself during the day while they were painting and drawing. I actually have twice as many photos showing people at work, but since this was their workshop, and I was just an extra guest, I didn't think it proper for me to post their photos on the Internet without permission.

[htmb]

Any idea what that plant might be in the 7th picture -- the one center right with gray-green leaves & floppy off-white spires?

Sorry, bixa, I have a hard enough time remembering the names of my own plants. I will defer to the plant experts. Perhaps someone else can answer your question.

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Jul 26, 2012 6:57:45 GMT mossie said:

A magnificent effort, thank you.

The very last picture told me that was not a Bristol hotel in Paris. Those room rates !

Thanks, Mossie. I would have liked to have spent more time in Toulouse. We were just there to have a quick bite to eat and then catch the train to Avignon. I'd love to go back there some day.

[tod2]

htmb - Just loving your report - and the photos! Just adding all the information to my already bulging "places I've gotta see"!!

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Jul 26, 2012 17:03:20 GMT tod2 said:

htmb - Just loving your report - and the photos! Just adding all the information to my already bulging "places I've gotta see"!!

Thanks, Tod. I posted the names of the little village and the owners of the B&B just for you. I figured it might be something you'd really like. No sailboats, though, but the Canal du Midi is very close.

I am enjoying your London garden posts very much! You have so many photos, its going to take me awhile to carefully view them all, but it sure is fun to log into APINS in the morning and see your posts!

[fumobici]

What a lovely report. Looks like a near perfect area to base a vacation in.

[mich64]

Thank you htmb, I thought it might be an old quarry due to the shape of it.

When we venture out out of the big cities such as Paris, Munich or Frankfurt, we will either leave by car or train. If by train, we like to arrange a rental at our destination as we like to visit the smaller towns and sites like castles, gorges, caves, etc. This way I am also sure to find some markets!

We are unsure if we will be able to travel this year, I am however, looking at last minute, just in case, and I was looking at a flight to Toulouse so I found your report especially interesting. Thank you!

[htmb]

I hope that works out for you, mich. I would return to Toulouse in a minute.

[lugg]

Htmb you have no idea how much pleasure ( and some mixed emotions) your report and your photos have given me.

This part of France holds some special memories, because it was beloved by my parents. After their retirement, they spent many Summers in Aude. The last time I went was to spend a long weekend with my Mum who was there after my Dads death, staying with friends. I am pretty sure that we sat and ate a meal at that restaurant in Mirepoix in your photos. Not long after that she was diagnosed with terminal cancer too and looking back I can see that she was ill at that time. Still we had a lovely weekend.

The other reason I love the area is that it has many similarities to my home county, so that I feel at home there. The pictures of the farmland you posted are so familiar and could have been taken close to my home, the Aude is even bordered by the Black Mountains, as is my home county. However I have to say Aude has several advantages over Herefordshire including the better weather and the easy availability of one of my favourite tipples , Blanquette de Limoux

[htmb]

Oh, lugg, thank you for sharing. I am sorry your memories are partially bitter-sweet. I can certainly understand. That might just be the very restaurant where you ate with your Mum as I don't remember there being many other restaurants in Mirepoix. We were there for the last night of our trip before going to Avignon and were only in Mirepoix long enough to eat a leisurely dinner. However, I've always thought I'd like to go back there to stay for an extended period. Did your parents rent in the Aude?

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Lugg, the restaurant was on the square, not too far from the church.

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Toulouse makes an excellent base from which to explore the area, but it's true that you really need to be able to use a car to give the region justice.

Thanks for this beautiful report -- my favourites are the scenes of the countryside with the bales of hay, the flowers, the old houses. I know how those fields smell in the late afternoon sun, the little sounds in the distance, from the church bells to the beeping of the merchants' vans announcing their arrival in the villages, the dogs barking and the cows giving voice to their observations.

There was a lovely film about the ambience of these villages a few years ago.

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Thank you, Kerouac. I will have to look up that film. It looks very interesting. I do remember that the priest supposedly came around only every few weeks.

I don't remember seeing any food trucks, though I know they must have been around, and I sat all afternoon one day just watching the farmers bale that field. The bells in the church sounded every quarter hour and then rang again a couple of minutes later in case the farmers hadn't heard the first time. Thank god they were switched off at night.