A picture perfect picnic place!

Well we ended the day yesterday deep in the country, about half an hour north of Limoges. We had booked into a hotel that was an old farmhouse that had been carefully restored with exposed stone walls and timbers. It was very charming and we had a delicious dinner served in the former orangerie before falling into bed. Today we set out for the Loire and had lots of time to do the rest of the trip so we took a cross country route. It was a glorious day, bright blue skies and sunshine though much cooler than it has been in Provence. We followed the Vienne river and visited several picturesque towns along the way getting out for a little visit at each.                        . 

The Mill in La Trimoulle

The Church in Montmiron
But the best was the little town of Angles-sur-l'Anglin. Here the town tumbles down the hill to the river from the ruined castle at the peak to the watermill on the river at the base of the hill. Narrow cobbled streets lead up the hill to the haute village where the local specialty is lace, a centuries old tradition that is still very much alive. As it was lunch time (always a 3 hour closure) I had to be content to look at a few window samples and brochures but it certainly added to the interest of the place. We had a picnic lunch by the stone bridge by the river, looking up at the town and the castle and I could not imagine a better spot for a picnic.

The lovely Angles

 We were alone too, at the start. When we were just finishing our lunch a wedding party arrived to take photographs, not the traditional style but in medieval costumes! We left them in peace and then went on towards our new home for the next week, another converted farmhouse just outside of Saumur. This time we are living in the barn, actually just one end of it, but again, it has been very tastefully restored. It is a charming place, completely surrounded by roses with the vineyards just over the fence. It is very comfortable furnished and has all we need and will be a great base for our visit of the Loire Valley this week. 

The happy couple