Sunday 2 May 2010

Everywhere is closed on Saturday 1 May due to the public holiday.Unfortunately the weather puts paid to any plans to make towards the lakes or coast.
The only thing for it was an early lunch and kit up for a nice long walk. We walked to an ancient domaine called Cantelause, situated on a bend of the River Aude around two miles out of Trebes.
There have been people living at this site since Roman times.The landscape is essentally schist limestone with a few vineyards and olive groves.The Mas or farmhouse itself, is clearly located at a water source as there is an abundance of deep green Umbrella Pines and Cypress trees surrounding the ancient buildings and barns.
There is an abundance of rare vivid purple wild orchids growing on open land that used to be vineyards.The changing use of the land, in this area, has been very noticeable over the past five years.
A tremendous acreage of vines have been grubbed up to reduce the overall volume of wine being produced in the Aude.European Directives have provided a financial incentive for viticulturers to change the use of their land. Many of the fields have been given over to wheat, maize and sunflower production. Some of the fields have huge pires of ancient root stock piled up ready for disposal.The landscape is changing and to survive, the landowners are having to adapt to new methods of making an income.Some have converted barns into tourist accommodation and introduced local wine itineries.
There is still a strong emphasis on Sunday being a day of rest here in Trebes. Apart from the bread shops and tobacconists,which are open for only a few hours on a Sunday, everywhere is closed.
This is the time of year when the best "Vide Greniers" take place. People have "emptied the attic" and sell all manner of goods from small tables in the town squares. We visited Villalier and Palaja, two totally different villages situated two miles outside Carcassonne.
Villalier is an ancient village situated at the crossroads of an old Roman Road which runs from Carcassonne to Minerve and the Montagne Noir. There are still ancient ecclesiatical buildings that dominate the area and many have been converted into Gites. The Vide Grenier is established in the generously spaced centre square and there are at least two hundred sellers trading from the back of their cars and vans. Some are even trading directly outside their front doors with huge garage doors wide open.
Many are selling rather washed out second hand clothes and toys.A number of the elderly residents attract considerable attention as they sell antique furniture, china, post cards and war memorobilia.There is a strong sense of the past as numerous items of farming equipment are laid out on huge blue plastic tarpaulins.Massive hand tools such as lathes, wood planes and pitch forks have been lovingly restored and polished.Small price tags hang from these items indicating an asking price many times their original cost.
The air is filled with the smell of fresh saucisson being cooked over vine twigs in the centre of the square. A vendor sells small cups of wine and coffee at a nominal price.
We move on to Palaja, a commune nestled at the end of the Alairac Mountains. This is, relatively speaking, a new town. Thoughtfully laid out with a large recreation ground and play areas, it would, one would assume, be an ideal place to live for those who commute daily into Carcassonne. The single story walled villas have been built with modest gardens, some with small swimming pools.Many of the houses have been built with rendered breeze blocks and walled around the perimeter with five foot high walls. The huge car boot must have had at least five hundred sellers and traders all within a quater of a square mile.Large trailers opended at the side sell freshly baked bread, Pizza and doughnuts.A cafe area had been laid out to give a relaxing break to the visitors.
Sadly, some of the vendors tables' have nothing more on them then a few pieces of china,bric a brac and old vinyl records. Underneath, a few pairs of old shoes and magazines. There is poverty here, and these events are the only way some extra money can be earned. I am sure that there were current personal belongings being sold as being of no further use.

Interesting article in the Telegraph.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/expatproperty/7564344/Dream-locations.html

Number One - The South West of France.

Taking A Break.

Watercolour Challenge on the Canal Du Midi, October 2009.

With Margie, Kate and Moira trying to capture Le Pont De La Rode.

I'm Back.

It's been a while, so much has happened since I last posted. Anyway, all is well and here are some more of our photos taken around the Trebes area. Hope to be back in the town very soon.

Spring Visit.

It has been a beautiful mild Easter in England and it looks set to stay in the high teens to low twenties this week.Shock, horror, when I looked at Le Meteo forecast for the next week in Trebes, I was horrified to see that it's going to be wet,wet,wet.
I am flying out on Wednesday until Monday of next week.It's a shame that the weather forecast looks so average BUT I know that the Aude has had a very dry winter and that rain is needed.
We see that the Festival De La Cite at Carcassonne this summer has been organised and one of the top artistes appearing is none other than Robert PLAN!!! the ex Led Zep front man.
Two years ago BOWIE was due to open the festival but he had a heart by-pass operation and had to cancel. The festival doesn't seem to be able to attract that many world class acts considering its' international status.
The website is going well with nearly 2500 hits making it No 1 in the Google and Yahoo search engines. (www.trebes.co.uk).
I would love to know how to post some mini movie clips onto the website, any suggestions would be gratefully received.
Nevermind.....Car Boots this weekend - One at Alairac, One at Boutenac and One at Narbonne. Can't wait!!!
See ya.......M.F.T.D
x
P.S The photo above shows a lovely property situated by Le Moulin Restaurant in Trebes. I would love to know who it belongs to. What a fantastic B&B this would make.

Winter Festival at Limoux

 

Limoux

 

Limoux

 

Limoux

 

The Winter Festival at Limoux 2007.

 

The Roman Temple in Nimes.

The Maison Carree in Nimes. This roman temple built around 20B.C. has incredibly survived the ravages of time. 

Carcassonne - a view from the south.

 

Horseriders from the Camargue.

This photo was taken in the small town of Azille during the spring festival. 

The vineyards at Trebes

The four chateaux at Lastours in the Orbiel Valley near Trebes

View from Chateau Queribus with view towards the Pyrenees.

Cite de Carcassonne

John took this from the old bridge in May of this year, click here to see more.

Carcassonne Plage, 15th July 2006.

Carcassonne Plage, July 2006.
Originally uploaded by john8392.

The beach area at the Lac De La Cavayere was closed last summer because of a potential algae bloom in the lake.
Evereything's fine now and so the day after Bastille Day, (14.7.06) everyone made their way to the Lac.

Trebes, Port de Plaisance, July 2006.

Trebes, Port de Plaisance, July 2006.
Originally uploaded by john8392.

The town is really buzzing at the moment. Stage 12 of the Tour De France finished at Carcassonne on 12th July. A fantastic fireworks display over the cite rounded a wonderful Bastille Day.
Apparently there were 750,000 people in Carcassonne last Friday.