Travel in France, The Millevaches Plateau

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The day dawned grey, overcast, chilly, and with rain in the air. Coffee and croissant in bed and another Elliot Pattison book, Water Touching Stone, and then a late morning start with a visit to Meymac and a drive around the Millevaches Plateau. How I wished I had packed a fleece jacket and winter trousers!

A Benedictine Abbey was founded in Meymac in 1085, and on the same site the Abbey of St André dates from 11C-12C

Meymac

 

Abbey of Saint Andre

The Market place in Meymac, adjacent to the Abbey.

The covered Market adjacent to the Abbeyurch
View down the main street.

The main street in the old town, Meymac
The main street in the old town, Meymac
Chateau des Moines Larose
Chateau des Moines Larose

The Ventadour town house.

The Ventadour Mansion
The Ventadour Mansion, Meymac

The 13C Clock Tower was once at the entrance of the castle gate.

13C Clock Tower

15C and 16C sculpted doorways.

On a street corner.

Meymac
Meymac

Hydrangeas seem to love the climate in this area and I am seeing beautiful heads of flowers in all colours.

Hydrangea paniculata
Hydrangea paniculata

After Meymac we drove along the Belvedere de Route des Hêtres, with towering beech trees and wonderful views. The road also passed through the Douglaseraie des Farges, a state-owned forest of towering pine trees planted in 1895. We had a distant view of the Viaduc des Farges (1881-83) in an area of rolling hills, meadows and forests. On a sunny day the countryside would be even more beautiful.

Beech trees on the Routes des Hetres
Beech trees on the Routes des Hetres
Beech trees on the Routes des Hetres
Beech trees on the Routes des Hetres
Beech trees on the Routes des Hetres
Beech trees on the Routes des Hetres
Douglas Pine Trees
Douglas Pine Trees
Douglas Pine Trees
Douglas Pine Trees
Viaduc des Farges
Viaduc des Farges

Countryside to the west of Meymac

Barsanges is a tiny hamlet with a 12C Church and beautiful flowers. I think the building in the background of the first historical photograph may be the chapel.

Barsanges

Barsanges today gives no hint of the hardship of life in this area a century ago.

Flowers in Barsanges
Flowers in Barsanges

You may be interested in
Meymac
Photographs of Meymac
Models of the Abbey
Viaduc des Farges
The Reforestation of the Millevaches
A walk near the Viaduc des Farges

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