The Monday 29 June 'petite balade' (short walk) was a circuit from Barrou. Here are some photos from along the route.
This house was used by salt smugglers in the past. It is right by a ford on the Creuse River and the salt tax was lower on the other side than our side, so cheap salt was smuggled in via this route.
These young hounds were keen to greet passing walkers.
Annual Woundwort Stachys annua (Fr. Épiaire annuelle), a rare plant associated with arable crops that I only identified after consulting with a couple of botanist friends.
Soapwort Saponaria officinalis (Fr. Saponaire officinale), once used for washing hands, faces and delicate lacy things.
Wild Teasel Dipsacus fullonum (Fr. Cabaret des oiseaux). I love the way the spines appear as a sort of haze, then the flowers become a band which moves up and down the head over several days.
This Nettle-leaved Bellflower Campanula trachelium (Fr. Campanule gantelée) is growing in the middle of an actual Common Nettle Urtica dioica patch.
A charming rural house.
A derelict farm cottage.
Looking over the Creuse Valley at Barrou and Lésigny.
This variety of wheat is particularly beautiful.
This cat is able to survey all passers by from his basket, safe and warm on a conservatory shelf, allowing him to see over the garden wall into the street.
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For details of our private guided tours of chateaux, gardens, wineries, markets and more please visit the Loire Valley Time Travel website. We would be delighted to design a tour for you.
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We are also on Instagram, so check us out to see a regularly updated selection of our very best photos.
4 comments:
Your area has so many possible country walks. Is there a group or an individual who plans the walks?
These photos are a capsule of summer in France. The wildflowers, the ripening wheat, the view of villages and green fields, and stone buildings with blue trim and a climbing rose. The hounds and a pampered cat are a bonus.
Yes the walks we go on are planned by an individual on behalf of a group of walkers. I'm in charge of planning next weeks walk, this one was planned by someone who lives in Barrou.
Completely charmante! Thank you.
Glad you liked it.
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