Clisson

Clisson visit - April 12, 2011

A short ride from Nantes to Clisson, France

If you haven't figured it out yet, I really like that tree there.

 

The beauty of France is just startling, everywhere you go.

There's that tree again.

Nave of the local church

 While in downtown Clisson visiting the local department of tourism for brochures, etc., I ran into Mark, one of the owner's of John McByrne's Irish Pub in Nantes (a place with which I have some familiarity).  Mark lives in Clisson in a compound that's been in the family for four or five generations.  His brother has a vineyard producing several kinds of wine.  On Mark's suggestion we went and toured the winery and, of course, got a sample or two.  Mark's nephew gave us the tour and he was a great guy, very knowledgeable about the processes.

An old wine press near the winery

A Downtown Nantes Visit

Monday, April 11, 2011

Ron, Donna and I went downtown stopping by the main cathedral, the Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul.  Construction began in 1434 and was completed in 1891, a mere 457 years later.  As they say, something worth doing well is worth taking your time over.

Like all, beautifully constructed by artisans, not builders.

The faces are so varied and, often, puzzling, that one wonders exactly what they were trying to tell us.

And then, sometimes, there are no faces and you wonder if erosion, or disfavor, created the effect.










Inside the cathedral (courtesy of Donna)

The Nave

The Cathedral's view

The figure on the top of the obelisk is Louis XVI, one of only four commemorative statues of the king that survived the Revolution.












A short walk and we are at the Cháteau de la Duchess Anne de Britagne.  Anne is a revered figure in Britagne because of her efforts to maintain, if not the sovereignty of Breton, at least its political independence from the Kings of France.  To do this the girl married three times, two requiring annulments by the Pope.  Popes are convenient things when kingdoms and independence are concerned.  Her first marriage to Maximilian I of Austria, was by proxy one before her fourteenth birthday.  This didn't garner the Germanic protection for Britagne that her father desired and, after his defeat by Charles VIII of France and one of those convenient annulments by the Pope she married Charles VIII becoming Queen of France.  After his death, to again secure the political independence of Britagne, she married Louis XII after he obtained one of those convenient Papal annulments from his wife, Joan, daughter of Louis XI and sister to Anne's deceased husband Charles VIII.  Anyone have a scorecard at this point?

Atop the ramparts.

Inside the walls.

One of my favorite gargoyles

This was created to express my bewilderment upon discovering my brother shared many of the traits of Tim Conway's  half-stepping, shuffling old-man-in-slow-motion character on the Carol Burnett show.  You can time him through a 10-yard walk with a sundial.

A current resident of the Cháteau 

A local family in the moat.

Ron and Donna with Duchesse Anne

Ron and I at my favorite Nantes' watering hole, John McByrnes' Irish Pub.

Sunday Ride

Sunday, Apr. 10, 2011

Ron, Donna and I were up and out before the crack of noon.  After Le Croissic we thought we'd just tool around the local area some.   Stopped at the market at Talensac and picked up some great veggies and fresh rabbit for dinner tonight.  After dropping off the food we headed north-east up the Loire to see some France.

 A few miles up the river the village of La Chapelle Basse-Mer and the always beautiful church.

Love the gargoyles.  They're everywhere.

 Cat on a cool slate roof.  Not to be confused with Tennessee Williams' feline.




I frequently play golf at Ile d'Or on an island in the Loire River at La Varenne.  It's a beautiful setting so we drove over to check it out.  On arriving a treat: an antique auto club was just leaving after having lunch at the clubhouse.

Comin' at you

The Bridge to the island

We were so enthralled by the old cars we forgot to take pictures of the course, clubhouse, or Cháteau Clermont that overlooks everything.

We pulled out of La Vareene and headed up D761 to Champtoceaux.  This is a beautiful ride along the Loire.  Since I'm usually on Betsy whenever I make this ride I don't get to rubber neck like car passengers can.  Fortunately, Ron and Donna are champion rubber-neckers and they noticed a path along the bluff above us.  So, guessing correctly, I pulled into Champtoceaux and found the park overlooking the river. 

(In paths anyway)

 The path branched to an upper and lower section and Ron, as so often happens, took the low road, while I  took the high.

 

Pastoral to some.  Dinner to me.

(One of my best pictures)

We can't forget the wee ones, can we?

And, as always in France...the beautiful flowers.

We made it back to the flat with plenty of time to make up some great rabbit chilli with wine and the great French bread and a nice salad.  Welcome to France, Ron and Donna.