I have to admit that my nearby tiny town has always been a bit lacklustre in what it had on offer.
Despite being a very beautiful 13th C Bastide town, it has refused to be overrun by tourists, and keeps itself very much to itself.
However, there is young blood afoot, and there is change in the air. The tiny Saturday market remains much the same (eggs, wine, veg', bread), but its commercial life is beginning to come alive.
We now have two good bakers, a couple of general stores, a sort of deli, a butcher, and a local-speciality food store. There a few cafés, a few restaurants, and a hairdresser. One can buy cigs and newspapers, and there is a seasonal antique shop.
Whereas we used to refuse to shop there, we now try to go once a week. The shopkeepers are friendly, and there is a younger feeling about town. One can buy almost everything one needs.
I shall still go once a week to my favourite supermarket, but in future we intend to be good citizens, and shop locally at weekends.
It's not yet perfect. The place is often empty, and at midday one hears nothing but the clinking of cutlery on plates; siestas last until 3 pm.
Our friend Vicky is partly responsible for the re-birth; she's in charge of all the activities and publicity. Yes, we're beginning to rather like the place again.
24 comments:
I love that place. I would shop there too. Is "Brocante" a restaurant?
Greetings Maria x
Brocante is Antique Shop. The main restaurant is further down to the left.
It sounds like the sort of charming little french town anyone would want to discover and dream of living in. You live in such a delightful area. I can understand why you've stayed for forty years
I rather like the look of those pillars with the curved, tapering blocks.
We only visit the supermarket about once every three weeks so often pop to the local shops to pick up the odd item mid week. Not forgetting the wine and egg men on a Saturday! I love the place.
It is a nice little town. It even has a brand new medical centre.
It's a beautiful building; still used quite often.
We should shop there more often. We shall go tomorrow for the market.
glad to see your locality keeping alive.
It does need all to take part..too many complain and do nothing
You're quite right; it only comes right if we all make an effort.
I would think Marlborough would be a close equivalent of it in England, but there are many tired market towns coming back to life these days.
Bringing a proper market into the middle of towns helps. A good market is a treasure.
We have the Guildhall covered market. 200 years ago it was the largest dedicated meat-market in the world, with over 700 traders and its own abattoir. Hard to believe now.
We have what are known as butter markets around here in many of the small market towns and villages. There is rather a nice one about a mile from here. They are restored and used for shelter at least or tourist information offices at most. It is a shame but they do not seem to fit into consumerism as it is today.
Butter markets are a thing of the past. Rather like milking maids.
Shopping local helps your neighbors, your environment, and often your pocketbook. That town looks lovely and hopefully, it won’t change too much and lose its charm. That has happened here.
It's a beautiful town. I support and shop local rather than chain stores. Our downtown core is going through a resurgence and I make a point of going. Most owners are young, local entrepreneurs. It's good to see.
Up until quite recently the shopping here was awful. They never had anything we were after, and we were obliged to go to our quite 'upmarket' supermarket. Now things are changing, and if we shop carefully we can have the best of both worlds.
Your local town sounds a bit like ours; young blood realising that big cities aren't always best.
Looks lovely. And free of snow *sigh*. I read once that the difference between Europe and North America is that Europeans think 100 km is a long distance and we think 100 years is a long time. I was almost overcome when visiting Erfurt, Germany with its 900 year old houses.
Our little cottage is about 300 years old; it doesn't seem that ancient to us!
Beautiful photos of your town. So nice that it is coming back to life.
cheers, parsnip
We shall be going there this morning; market day!
It does look rather a pleasant village. Would the buildings in the photos date to around the 13th century?
Post a Comment