Visit to Loire Valley, France (May 2005)
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The Basketmakers' visit to France in May was most enjoyable. We were
blessed with sunshine every day, a very interesting itinerary and
we relished some wonderful food and scenery. The group did something
different each day and the planning and organisation was meticulous.
On our first full day we visited a troglodyte house built into the
cliffs and were shown around by someone who grew up there which made
it even more fascinating as he was welcoming us into his home. This
simple cave existence could not have been more different to our next
venue where we enjoyed a splendid lunch in the Chenonceau castle (see
right) which was very majestic with landscaped grounds. |
In the evening we boarded a river boat and went back to the castle
but this time sailing under it in the sunset whilst we had dinner.
Left, photo of PW Richard Bundock and PPW John Robinson sailing in
front of Chenonceau castle. |
 The
next day we visited Villaines les Roches, a unique basketmaking and
troglodyte village. Many of the dwellings in the Touraine region are
carved out of tufa rock, the region's stone, which keeps an even temperature
all year round. We had an opportunity to see every aspect of basketmaking
from cultivation, to stripping, to the finished basketwork products
in the shop. We all made a simple basket, though I dare say that those
in the session before lunch possibly had some straighter models than
those of us who attended after! (Photo of Basketmakers Lucy &
John Clarke at right) |
Lunch was a delicious and jolly affair held in the home and garden
of Judy and David Drew, the only English Basketmakers in the village.
Their welcome and hospitality was much appreciated and enjoyed by
all.
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There are several huge basket structures in the village, this giant
shopping basket is outside the basketmaking centre...
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...and this enormous sculpture is in the town square
Many of the houses have these
basket signs hanging outside
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The evening was spent at our wonderful home for the week, the Chateau
de Razay, where caterers were organised to provide an evening meal.
We enjoyed canapés in the grounds on a balmy sunny evening
and had a group photo taken before taking our seats in the grand
dining room for a splendid four-course meal.
(left, photo of our group)
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On Saturday we visited a museum with an exhibition of around 30
crafts of the area which showed some extraordinary dexterity and
variety of skills. Following a stop-off at another chateau we visited
the world renowned gardens at Villandry (right). The gardens are
planted with vegetables instead of flowers - anyone for salad?
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Our evening was spent at the home of Valerie Faccini who with PPW
John Robinson, was mainly responsible for organising such a fantastic
trip for all of us to enjoy. Valerie's local knowledge, from finding
a suitable chateau for us to stay in, to her fluent French, to finding
suitable restaurants and organising the itinerary, was very much
appreciated by us all.
On Sunday we dropped in on Amboise market (left), a real treat,
especially for food lovers. We then visited the home of Leonardo
Da Vinci where he lived for the last 3 years of his life. It was
an opportunity to see life size models of 40 of the extraordinary
machines that da Vinci had sketched 400 years ahead of their time
as well as his paintings and illustrations.
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 Another
day, another Chateau; on Monday we visited the Chateau Chaumont (right)
and visited the historical town of Montrichard which we had passed
regularly on our excursions. Our final day was spent in the historical
town of Loches. We visited the Castle of Loches where Joan of Arc
came to implore the Dauphin Charles to be crowned at Reims. Loches
is wonderful little town with a welcoming atmosphere. |
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Every time our chariot coach took us off from our home for the week,
the Chateau de Razay (pictured below) on another adventure, we enjoyed
stunning rural scenery. I had no idea that there were so many chateaux
in the region and the basketmaking day at Villaines les Roches was
very special. This Loire region is somewhere we will revisit. Our
thanks to the Prime Warden, Richard Bundock and Diane, assisted
by Under Warden, Olivia Elton Barratt and husband John, who together,
worked so hard with Valerie Faccini and Past Prime Warden John Robinson
to make this trip such a success. Amazingly, despite all our wonderful
meals, trips, gallons of wine! and finale of a gourmet meal at a
two starred Michelin restaurant on our last evening, there was still
some change from our £800 to put a donation to the Basketmakers'
Charitable Trust which we all gladly did. A wonderful holiday with
some wonderful memories.
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