As you stroll through the Armagnac region, you’ll see plenty of vines. One presumes that all is destined for brandy, yet, with a global glut of wine, an out-of-fashion drink like armagnac may not have the production levels of former times. I got the impression the industry there is under some pressure. Perhaps the Gascons [...]
Archive for the ‘G. ARMAGNAC VIA LITTLE TUSCANY’ Category
EAUZE: QUITE A PAST
Posted in G. ARMAGNAC VIA LITTLE TUSCANY, Uncategorized, tagged Eauze, Saint-Luperc on June 29, 2010 | 2 Comments »
MONTREAL-DU-GERS. LOVE YOUR ARCADE.
Posted in G. ARMAGNAC VIA LITTLE TUSCANY, Uncategorized, tagged Capetians, Montreal-du-gers, Pont d’Artigues on June 29, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
We leave Condom – still heroically resisting jokes about that name! – and head toward Montréal-du-Gers. The department is Gers, which is also a local river, and the traditional name for the wider region is Gascony. Just so you know. Today starts very differently to yesterday: in a lush forest in damp weather. A famous [...]
A CHAI IN ARMAGNAC
Posted in G. ARMAGNAC VIA LITTLE TUSCANY, Uncategorized, tagged armagnac, chai, Condom, d'Artagnan, panis angelicus, sheep cheese on June 28, 2010 | 4 Comments »
From La Romieu, for a while the soft rolling country gives way to immense flats which could be part of the black soil country of the Darling Downs. And another Aussie touch a bit later. It needs repeating: walk for a day in this part of France, in France Profonde, and you’re in a different [...]
CLOISTERED CATS
Posted in G. ARMAGNAC VIA LITTLE TUSCANY, Uncategorized, tagged Angelique, cats, cloisters, Jean V of Armagnac, La Romieu on June 28, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
There’s a connection. I’ll tell you later. *** West from Lectoure, the country looks fatter and richer, especially in fine weather and high spring. Is this Gascony yet? Today’s trek brings us to an enormous abbey. It was built by a local boy who rose to be cardinal. Perhaps he knew the extra size would [...]
LECTOURE: A HIGH OCCUPANCY RATE
Posted in G. ARMAGNAC VIA LITTLE TUSCANY, Uncategorized, tagged Lectoure, Little Tuscany, Saint-Gervais-Saint-Protais on June 27, 2010 | 1 Comment »
On the road west, and a bit south – toward Spain! Well, that’s how you feel at the start of a day, with the Aubrac, the Aveyron and Quercy behind. Lingering at an ornate little church at Castet-Arrouy, I encountered some Swiss with whom I would never actually travel but often socialise. A large group, [...]
TO THE GERS, AND LITTLE TUSCANY
Posted in G. ARMAGNAC VIA LITTLE TUSCANY, Uncategorized, tagged Flamarens, Garonne, Golfech nuclear, Miradoux, Richelieu, Saint-Antoine on June 27, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Did I mention we’d crossed the Garonne before the ascent to Auvillar? Looking toward Agen – where prunes grow and where little Sainte-Foy was martyred – and the confluence of the Tarn and Garonne, one can see the Golfech nuclear reactors. They’re big! I’m told the main limitation is the water temperature of the river. [...]
AUVILLAR: ANOTHER HIGH BEAUTY
Posted in G. ARMAGNAC VIA LITTLE TUSCANY, Uncategorized, tagged Auvillar, Lourdes, Tarn on June 26, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Moissac lies low on the Tarn River, and was hit worse than any place by the catastrophic flood of 1930. Its situation is more evident as one leaves the town to head west. (There is a high road, but your correspondent knows nothing of optional high roads.) Yes, I took the road that leads along [...]
