The tiny village of Montcabrier is about 10 kms from our house. The village itself is nothing special; it's quiet, a bit hilly, and littered with empty 'second homes'.
I visited a nearby vineyard yesterday with the boys, to stock-up on wine, then made a brief detour via Montcabrier to buy some of their delicious pain au levain (sour-dough bread) on the way home.
I can't believe that this window (above) was originally designed for this very modest house; it looks more suited to some grand château. I suspect it was looted.
This much grander house has a rather carbuncle-like 'turret' stuck on one corner, I imagine it's a lookout and defence device; the small slits probably designed for shooting arrows at tax collectors, or over friendly maidens' fathers.
For such a small village, the church is quite grand (aren't they all?). It has a massive bell tower, and this spectacular carved doorway. The interior is quite dull, and no doubt offers nothing but hell and damnation.
Montcabrier is a nice little village but with one major flaw; in Summer the drains stink to high heaven.... French municipal plumbing at its worst.
Carved window 10/10. Baker 10/10. Church doorway 10/10. Drains 0/10..... You can't have it all.
Drains are important! Especially in summer.
ReplyDeleteAin't that the truth!
DeleteIt looks delightful but I can just imagine the smell from those drains - yuk!!
ReplyDeleteI love that small window but not the carbuncle and definitely not the drains.
ReplyDeleteDrains?
ReplyDeleteWith the odor in summer, I can understand why there are empty second homes.
ReplyDeleteThat window certainly says "Ta Daa!!"
ReplyDeleteI like the church doorway. I might as well go in and ask for forgiveness but I fear I am too late as i head for hell and damnation.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful architecture. Thanks for the tour.
ReplyDeleteAnd does no-one do anything about those drains? Rather like our road into town today, where there is a fallen-in manhole cover protected by traffic lights. Both sides of the lights have been at red for the last two days and no one has done anything about it - everyone just ignores the red light and creeps past the oncoming vehicle.
ReplyDeleteI imagine it might involve digging up the whole village.... probably beyond the public purse.
DeleteAnother interesting Montcabrier snippet is about a woman who recently discovered that her neighbour was stealing her water. She was so annoyed that she shot him, and she's now doing 'life'.
Oh no, I thought that only happened in America. It looks like such a pretty little town.
DeleteI think the woman WAS/IS American.
DeleteSo, Montcabrier would be a three-season place to visit, then.
ReplyDeleteYup.
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