On this trip, we travelled to different areas in the Limousin to villages we'd never seen before. I'm showing only three places we visited in this post, otherwise the post would be too long and this is long enough!
Éymoutiers & The Abandoned Stone Village of Clédat ~
L: Church Tower in Éymoutiers, France
R: Stone Building in Abandoned Village of Clédat, France
W&N watercolors, Micron Pen & Ink in Moleskine sketchbook
May 2012 ~ Éymoutier & Clédat, France ~ Corrèze, Limousin
Drawing copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong
Éymoutiers
The drawing on the left (above) is a view of the church tower in the town of Éymoutiers. I was interested in the two banners hanging out of the ports in the tower top and the blanket (or duvet) hanging out of the window in the house below the tower. I suppose those banners in the church tower might be the town's "colors"... but I don't know for sure. Éymoutiers is in the Corrèze dept. of the Limousin
Abandoned Village of Clédat
The drawing on the right (above) is of what I think is the communal bread kiln in the abandoned village of Clédat. This village was not easy to find! We drove high up into the forested mountains of the Plateau de Millevaches area of the Limousin (also in the Corrèze dept.), on logging roads and then just dirt roads - finally, we found the stone village of Clédat. We were the only ones there!
La Chapelle Ste. Magdelene in Abandoned Village of Clédat
May 2012 ~ Clédat ~ Corrèze, Limousin, France
photo copyright Auke Nijholt. all rights reserved.
Originally founded ca.1160, by the Bishop of Limoges, the village and chapel were intended as a resting place/post for travellers and religious pilgrims. On occasion, special services are still conducted in this chapel.
Actually, I found it quite a nice, peaceful place to be and the day was gorgeous!
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La Roche L'Abeille ~
Perriers at "Au Vieux Château" Bar/Restaurant
W&N watercolors, Micron Pen & Ink in Moleskine sketchbook
May 2012 ~ La Roche L'Abeille ~ Haute-Vienne, Limousin, France
drawing copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong. all rights reserved
Another day in May, we went to the village of La Roche L'Abeille (the rock of the bee) which isn't too far from Château-Chervix. We had a short walk around the village, stepped into the lovely small parish church and then stopped for something cool to drink at the bar/restaurant on the town square.
Here, I am drawing the view above ... with a bit of the Eglise Paroissiale de L'Assomption de la Très Sainte Vierge (Parish Church of The Assumption of the Most Holy Virgin) on the left of this shot.
La Roche L'Abeille, France ~ May 2012
photo copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong. all rights reserved
These are the beautiful stained glass windows above the front entrance to the church. The windows were created in 1905.
Stained Glass in Parish Church at La Roche L'Abeille
May 2012 ~ Haute-Vienne, Limousin, France
photo copyright Auke Nijholt. all rights reserved.
Depicting, from left to right, : St. Louis the IX King of France, St. Andrew and St. Joan of Arc. The church was founded in the 13th century.
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In early June, we took a road trip to the town of Argentat. Located in the southwest corner of the Corrèze dept. of the Limousin, the town is situated on the Dordogne River. Argentat's borders are on the edge of three regions of France: the Limousin, the Midi-Pyrénées and the Auvergne - though it is considered in/part of the Limousin.
Bridge over the Dordogne in Argentat
W&N watercolors, Micron Pen & Ink in Moleskine sketchbook
June 2012 ~ Argentat ~ Corrèze , Limousin, France
drawing copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong. all rights reserved
The impressive Dordogne River divides the northside from the southside of Argentat. While sitting on the northside quai (quay), I was drawing the houses on the southside, the river, and the massive viaduct bridge Le Pont de la République. The bridge connects the two sides of Argentat. There are several cafés/restaurants along the northside quai and, on a good day, you can while away the hours looking at the river ... which is what we did!
It's a long way down to the river via the steps on the Ruelle Saint Claire in Argentat ...
Kermits on the Ruelle Ste. Claire in Argentat
June 2012 ~Argentat ~ Corrèze, Limousin, France
photo copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong. all rights reserved.
After convincing my Kermits it wasn't such a great idea to fling themselves down the ruelle (alleyway or little street), they agreed to settle down and have a "picture moment" at the top of the Ruelle Saint Claire. ;o)
A lovely view of the houses on the southside bank of the Dordogne River, in Argentat ...
Houses Along the Dordogne in Argentat, France
June 2012 ~ Argentat ~ Corrèze, Limousin, France
photo copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong. all rights reserved.
We hope, some day, to take another trip down to Argentat.
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At the House in Château-Chervix ~
I've drawn this shed at the rental house so many times before, but I still find it an interesting subject. This trip, at the end of May, there were "bluettes" in bloom on the corner of the shed.
Bluettes by the Shed
W&N watercolors, Micron Pen & Ink in Moleskine sketchbook
May 2012 ~ Château-Chervix ~ Haute-Vienne, Limousin, France
drawing copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong. all rights reserved.
And that's what I did on my late spring/early summer vacation.
:o)
Link to Part 1 - ~ The Food
Link to Part 2 - ~ The Flowers
* Now, I am now exhausted!
tot ziens,
Judy
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