When in France... Blog 3

13/6/2014

Yet another blog about our stay in Cantal!
Today, I have pictures of castles for you...
Apologies, the links are mainly in French...

This is the delightful Chateau du Chassan.

This is the Chateau d'Anjony, located in the incredibly picturesque village of Tournemire.

Here's the Chateau de Presteil, above the village of Polminhac. We couldn't really go nearer the castle without paying...

This is the lovely Chateau de Vixouze, which is set in a truly enchanting spot. It was bought in 1990 by a painter, Andre Leonard, who turned it into a venue where the arts flourished. Unfortunately, I was disappointed to hear that it had been bought by a rich business family in 2013... It doesn't appear as inspiring somehow...

And now: ruins! First up, it's Apchon... They are precariously perched on a basaltic rock and look about to collapse onto the village below... Refreshingly, there's no trace of Health and safety measures... You could easily throw yourself from the top or it could collapse on your head. Bad luck! It was brilliant up there, though!

Painter Auguste Bonheur saw the romantic potential of the ruins and produced his "Ruins of the Chateau d'Apchon" in 1852.

http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/sudley/collections/morningroom/ruins_chateau_bonheur.aspx

The view at the top is great!

The drop was sharp... very sharp

I've kept the best for the end... This is the astonishing Chateau d' Alleuze. This is a thrilling, incredibly inspiring and intriguing location with a palpable atmosphere. There, you'll find the ruins of a 13th century castle associated with the tale of a cruel, pillaging "friend of the English", Bernard de Garlan - it was during the Hundred Years War between France and England - as well as a chapel, St Illide, and a small cemetery full of rusted gates and worn out tombs.