Visit to Vouvant

Cool, windy, and rain falling on and off.  We still decided to drive out to Vouvant and see what that little medieval town is all about.

 

Église Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption de Vouvant

 

This church was built in the XIth century and is an historical monument.

 

Close-up of the Roman portal

Going down into the crypt.  On one wall was a knight's torso carved in the XIIth century.

It is not dark and dreary as one would suppose it might be.  Since 2015, there is a video playing which depicts the various stages of the construction of the church.

 

Before leaving this beautiful church, we lit a candle for our brother-in-law Terry who is fighting a tough battle with cancer.  

 

In another wing of the church, there was an art exhibit of works by Jean-Michel Rocklebloom.

He calls it "Au Rythme de l'Eau" - To the Rhythm of Water.

He is the one who created this enormous wall mural.

The soft gurgling and whooshing of water.

 

 

When the time came for lunch, we stopped at "L'Auberge de Maître Pannetier".

 



My entrée was definitely the highlight of my meal.  It was two kinds of goat cheese whipped into a mousse with herbs and topped with cracked pepper and an edible flower.  It was set on a homemade cracker with honey and balsamic vinegar on the sides.  It was heaven!

Karl's entrée was ham and pork roast chunks with pickles.

We both enjoyed the same plat which was chicken with a "St. Hubert" gravy, ratatouille, and roasted potatoes.  Of course, a rosé wine that was a bit heavier than we are used to, but very smooth on the palate.

A dark chocolate mousse for dessert.  So good, we almost forgot to take a picture!

 

Karl's grand crème.

 

Now off to see "Le Château Fort de Vouvant au Moyen-Âge".  This is a medieval stronghold built during the Middle Ages by the Lusignan Family.

The Bail Square.  This is the inner courtyard.  The fortress and ramparts overlook the valley of the river "Mère", tributary of the "Vendée" river.

What views!

Karl practicing his archery skills.

A Lady at the Well.

 

A door leading to one of the towers, but it's boarded up and we don't have access.

Lower still, into the dungeon.

 

 



 

 

This is the Mélusine House.  It is said that Mélusine, with her magical powers, built it overnight.

 

Sidebar:  The Mélusine Legend

 

Mélusine is a figure of European folklore, a female spirit of fresh water in a sacred spring or river. She is usually depicted as a woman who is a serpent or fish from the waist down (much like a mermaid). She is also sometimes illustrated with wings, two tails, or both. 

 

The legend tells how in the time of the Crusades, Elynas, the King of Albany (an old name for Scotland or Alba), went hunting one day and came across a beautiful lady in the forest. She was Pressyne, mother of Melusine. He persuaded her to marry him but she agreed, only on the promise — for there is often a hard and fatal condition attached to any pairing of fay and mortal — that he must not enter her chamber when she birthed or bathed her children. She gave birth to triplets. When he violated this taboo, Pressyne left the kingdom, together with her three daughters, and traveled to the lost Isle of Avalon.

The three girls — Melusine, Melior, and Palatyne — grew up in Avalon. On their fifteenth birthday, Melusine, the eldest, asked why they had been taken to Avalon. Upon hearing of their father's broken promise, Melusine sought revenge. She and her sisters captured Elynas and locked him, with his riches, in a mountain. Pressyne became enraged when she learned what the girls had done, and punished them for their disrespect to their father. Melusine was condemned to take the form of a serpent from the waist down every Saturday. In other stories, she takes on the form of a mermaid.

Raymond of Poitou came across Melusine in a forest of Coulombiers in Poitou in France, and proposed marriage. Just as her mother had done, she laid a condition: that he must never enter her chamber on a Saturday. He broke the promise and saw her in the form of a part-woman, part-serpent, but she forgave him. When, during a disagreement, he called her a "serpent" in front of his court, she assumed the form of a dragon, provided him with two magic rings, and flew off, never to return.

~ Wikipedia

 

 

 

Bakery and Pastry Shop van with the name Mélusine.

 

 

 The entrance to the "Enchanted Courtyard".  Here we found a number of shops selling various arts and crafts: soap, printing, jewelry, knick-knacks, etc.

I particularly loved this jewellery, made with pieces of lace that are specially treated.  Don't you love the blending of metal and the softness and gentleness of lace.

Loved this assortment of metal roosters!





Houses on the street.

 

A French gentleman walking his dog.

 

 

 

We got home and the sky burst.  Lightening, thunder, and heavy rain. We were home safe and sound.   

 

***

 

 

"Where we have stopped dancing, singing, being enchanted by stories, or finding comfort in silence is where we have experienced the loss of soul.  Dancing, singing, storytelling and silence are the four universal healing salves."

 

~  Gabrielle Roth