On our way up to Paris we drove through beautiful farm land. There was one amazing vista after another. We stopped in the Bordeaux region to visit Chateauneuf. It was a Medieval Chateau or fortress surrounded by an equally ancient village. It was a fairy tale picture, the chateau on a hilltop dominating the countryside with the village huddled around it.
In one of the ancient homes near the gateway to the Chateau was a restaurant where we had a delicious lunch. One of the best parts of lunch was my dessert a tarte aux pommes with creme fraiche. Yummy!!!
After lunch we crossed the wooden drawbridge and entered the Chateau through the great arched stone entryway. Once inside we explored the courtyard, the great hall, the turrets, and the living quarters that were furnished in the style of different centuries. From the windows there was a magnificent view of the surrounding countryside. It was easy to see why a fortress was built in this spot.
The great hall was not only where the feasts were served but also where the lord of the manner sat to hear cases and mete out judgements. Roger admired the throne like seat. Everything about the hall was larger than life scale, the room itself, the ceiling, the table, and the lord's seat.
In one of the upstairs chambers we saw a bath ready to be filled for the lady of the manor to have a bath. It was a huge wooden tub lined with canvas type fabric. There were tapestries hanging everywhere upstairs.
We liked this poster advertising a "Pirate Race" on a nearby canal. The canals were one way to move goods in earlier centuries.
We decided that this was a nice little piece of real estate. We could just see ourselves standing here and welcoming our friends to a great feast in the Chateau!!!
Leaving the Chateau we passed all the picturesque houses of the village. Apparently there is a contest each year for the village in France with the best displays of flowers and this village has won that award in the past. I'm not surprised. It was magnificent!!!
Then it was time to hit the road again and head to Paris.
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