Hi everyone,
Just a little update about our little gite. It’s really very cute – beautiful stone walls, low ceilings, lots of character! It’s in Saint Sulpice, a small village near the Loire River. The river is about 1 kilometre away – the flood plain is currently full of corn, sunflowers, asparagus etc, but in winter it is more like a swimming pool. The river floods and the water comes up to the edge of the village – actually covers the road in front of our gite. People who live on the flood plain move upstairs during the winter – only returning to the downstairs of their homes when the water has gone. Just a part of their lives!
The road we live on follows the Loire for many, many kilometres. It’s an ancient route through France and its history goes back 6000 years – first as a dirt track, then a cobbled road, and now bitumen. The villages along this road are very old – many churches and houses were built a thousand years ago or more. Our little gite is at least 700 years old and was originally the village bakery. The bread oven extends out the back of the cottage. The front of the bread oven opens out into the fireplace in our living room – still has some very old fragile oven doors. Small boys from the village had the job of bending bunches of sticks so they could fit into the oven. The local word for boy is ‘margotin’ and so Herve and Marie-France (our hosts) have used it as a name for the property. Herve enjoys telling us all these bits and pieces and it’s a great way to spend an evening – a history lesson while enjoying some lovely food and wine. We are trying to cut back but we can’t be rude to our hosts!! Anyway to continue. After centuries as a bakery the cottage became the house kitchen. Herve and Marie-France used it when they first moved here over 20 years ago. The cottage was then renovated and became a gite – lucky us!
One of three original village wells is next to our front door and though not used anymore it’s still in good order and has a consistent supply of water. Also in the garden is an open drain originally built by local monks. Some of the its original stone walls are a thousand years old. St Sulpice has many interesting houses and a large walled manor on the edge of town. We’ve only had a quick look around so are keen to see more. The evenings have been beautiful and I am sure a few long walks would be beneficial! There have been many indulgences in recent times.
Much love
Di and Reg