Decided we should explore our own village and the larger neighbouring village of Pontlevoy today.
Pontlevoy, we were familiar with due to a book that I purchased in Melbourne early in the year. It just happened be on sale in Borders, Camberwell.
It had photographs from the early 1900s so it was interesting to discover the village in the skin. They call the village a “Museum of the streets” because photographs from the book are reproduced
on the facades of the buildings showing what they looked like over 100 years ago. After a coffee in the local Café de Sports we walked the streets to the famous Abbey of Pontlvoy. It has a history that dates back to mid 800 AD.
The Abbey was founded by the French Knight Gueldin de Chaumont (970-1045). The 100 year war, War of religion, and WWII had caused varying degrees of damage but to walk thru the Abbey and the surrounding grounds, give one a moment to pause on the incredible history of the place.
Back to our village of Thenay to try out the local café for lunch. We seemed to look like the only customers that they might have until the roadside workers, local farmers and even the suits and ties arrived to where most tables were full. And no wonder when for 12 euro we had a salad buffet, bread, duck, cheese, desert and a small jug of the local wine, finished of with coffee.
Our hosts, Carol and Michael invited us over to their place for dinner which is about 30 minutes away.
A good night was had by all with several bottles of the local Gamay and Cabernet being consumed. Seeing the sights is the reason for travelling to the Loire Valley but meeting the
people is the big bonus. Our hosts have relatives in Australia and should they return, we have been told we must return to look after their cats while we are away.
Pontlevoy, we were familiar with due to a book that I purchased in Melbourne early in the year. It just happened be on sale in Borders, Camberwell.
It had photographs from the early 1900s so it was interesting to discover the village in the skin. They call the village a “Museum of the streets” because photographs from the book are reproduced
on the facades of the buildings showing what they looked like over 100 years ago. After a coffee in the local Café de Sports we walked the streets to the famous Abbey of Pontlvoy. It has a history that dates back to mid 800 AD.The Abbey was founded by the French Knight Gueldin de Chaumont (970-1045). The 100 year war, War of religion, and WWII had caused varying degrees of damage but to walk thru the Abbey and the surrounding grounds, give one a moment to pause on the incredible history of the place.
Back to our village of Thenay to try out the local café for lunch. We seemed to look like the only customers that they might have until the roadside workers, local farmers and even the suits and ties arrived to where most tables were full. And no wonder when for 12 euro we had a salad buffet, bread, duck, cheese, desert and a small jug of the local wine, finished of with coffee.Our hosts, Carol and Michael invited us over to their place for dinner which is about 30 minutes away.
A good night was had by all with several bottles of the local Gamay and Cabernet being consumed. Seeing the sights is the reason for travelling to the Loire Valley but meeting the
people is the big bonus. Our hosts have relatives in Australia and should they return, we have been told we must return to look after their cats while we are away.
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