Thursday, August 17, 2023

Chateauneuf-en-Auxois

The next plus beau village on our itinerary was Chateauneuf-en-Auxois (distinguishing it from Chateauneuf-du-Pape and other Chateauneufs-du-whatever). Chateauneuf-en-Auxois was nice enough, particularly some of its door and window sculpture, but its main attraction, to which we were indeed attracted, is the chateau itself. Next post. But first...

High ground

















Ancien washateria



Lots of door and window decor, mostly Renaissance

Outside the contemporary sculptor's studio

Apparently a refugee from Montana; or possibly just watched
Dances with Wolves too many times


Among the several gates



Not always in English too


Nice Green Man





Nice place...but the chateau is the thing...


Wednesday, August 16, 2023

To Chateauneuf

Granted, there are probably many Chateuneufs in France--it means "new castle"--but we were headed to the one in Burgundy. The drive, three hours or so from Oingt, was not without interesting sights.

"Wait! Stop! What's that!?"

Right here, July 13th...but we are so far from Paris, July 14th...?


















Just about any road in France

Damn! A Tupperware party, June 24! And we missed it!
Random chateau #1,306


Stop! What's that?!

Random chaeau #1,307

Among the great variety of vineyard vehicles

So we decided to pull over into a rest area for lunch; but this was 
a particularly nice French rest area, with platforms and lounge chairs

We are in the land of the great white burgundies, chablis,
and chardonnay and such, and you can stop here and rest and
watch them grow

Right out in the vineyards


Even Sweetie was impressed

Approaching Chateauneuf

Tuesday, August 15, 2023

Oingt! Oingt!

Next up was the beau village of Oingt, where we toured in the afternoon of June 26th and then spent the night at the town's aire de camping-cars

Pronunciation tip: the pronunciation of "Oingt" is identical to the sound that French pigs (les couchons) would make make if they spoke English (the "k," in English, would be silent). Similarly, the sound that French dogs make is woo! woo! FWIW. 😈

A bit of the countryside now well north of Lyon: vineyards, forests,
fields...

Entering Oingt

Not a single village or town we have ever heard of
in the region

But they have nice free libraries


Other than being another pretty little village, Oingt is celebrated
(!) for being the home Margaret of Oingt, a 13th century Carthusian
prioress and mystic; enjoying recognition now as one of France's
very earliest female writers; she wrote in both Latin (mystic and
theological treatises) and in the vernacular Franco-Provencal
(bodice-rippers)


Not a big place

Half-Romanesque door


And in English too

View of nearby village

More abut Margaret at the church


Interesting vaulting

More Margaret


Would that every Matthew church have a Caravaggio...

Next day, we are off, driving and diving ever deeper into Burgundy,
off the beaten path, but not off the pedaled path...note foreshadowing
yellow and green shirts...