Lere, Guedelon, Aubigny and Chateau de la Verrerie, France

An old timbered building

Steve and Tom at the train station in Braire.  Steve was jet lagged but in excellent spirits

Nuclear power plants provide just under 80% of the electricity for France.  They also export power.  Rabelo is tied up on the left

 We drove to Braire to pick up our friend Steve who was visiting Rabelo for the second time. Once we had Steve on board it was time to explore.  We went to Lere where we visited Collegiale Saint Martin de Lere et sa Crypt.  The woman from the tourism office gave us a tour.  Kevin came along to help translate.  Lere is in the Berry Province.  Construction dates from the 11th century and around the exterior are characteristic signs of Roman art.  The oratory was built in the 9th century.  The remains of St Martin were hidden there from the Roman invaders (Vikings).  During that era the Loire River came up to the ramparts of Lere which was an important port.

Collegiale Saint Martin de Lere et sa Crypt.  The building goes substantially below the current street level.

Note the different designs in the stones

Two concentric circles over the door

The crypt ceiling has remnants of paint dating back to the 13th century.

This is the current ceiling in the church above the crypt

 After Lere we took Steve to one of our favorite tourist destinations Guedelon (which I have written about in the past).  It was time to check on the progress they have made since our last visit.  A brief summary is that Guedelon is a chateau being built in the manner with which construction was done back in the 13th century.  We knew we would visit numerous times this year and purchased season passes.

Close up of a squirrel cage. Two people can walk inside of a wheel which works as a crane and can lift up to 900 pounds.

Stones can be lifted to the top of the tower

We saw how bread was baked in the 13th century.  The sample I got was delicious.  I was surprised at how far back the oven went in the wall, and how many loaves were baked at a time.

The loaves that didn't fit in the oven were left to bake by the flames in the fireplace

Then came demonstrations on how wooden bowls were carved

They did cloth dying.  I bought one of their hand dyed scarves.  The wool fabric is immersed into vats of boiling dye.  Geese, goats and other animals run around the castle site.

When there is enough water in the lake they show how wheat is ground, all driven by a water wheel.

They make their own tools, just as they did back in the 13th century

 After Guedelon we went to Aubigny which surprisingly has Scottish influence throughout the town.

Chateau des Stuarts XVI Century

We need to get Tom a kilt and sword.  Artwork along the street

Steve taking a picture of art on the round-about

I just love photographing these guys whenever we come across them on our walks.

Steve gets to drive Rabelo with Kevin looking on.  Driving a 180 ton barge is serious business

The beautiful Chateau de la Verrerie dating XV, XVI and XIX Centuries.  It is currently a private residence with a great story about its history.

The back of Chateau de la Verrerie

 It was time to say farewell to Steve.  His brother Bryan and sister-in-law Carrie were due to arrive the next morning!