French hospitality - a wonderful day in Saumur!

Chateau of Saumur

After a wonderful omelette made by Mark, we set out today in the rain seeking a yard sale recommended to us by Lorraine, the friend of the Stewarts who welcomed us to the farm house.  We drove to the village of Montreuil-Bellay which is along a small river (Thouet).  There, we strolled the antiques market and took photos of the beautiful chateau de Montreuil-Bellay, which was built around 1025!  It was added to over the years particularly in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Strolling with Comerais family

We returned to the farmhouse for lunch and, at 4 o'clock visited the family of Celine in Saumur.  There we found incredible French hospitality!  With their smattering of English (which was better than they thought) and with our smattering of French, we really managed to communicate.  First, we had tea and chatted about Saumur.  They gave us brochures plus some free wine tasting coupons and a great map of Saumur.  Afterwards, we took a wonderful walk, even  though Celine's mother had a fall on Wednesday and had a cane.  We strolled along the highest street in Saumur, where once there stood 14 windmills.  All that is left now are the bases (which rotated) and people have built houses around them.  Then, we walked around the grounds of the chateau which was built in the 14th and 15th centuries for the Dukes of Anjou.  It is the last surviving chateau of the Valois Dynasty.  It is being renovated by the city and the interior is closed, but we walked over the drawbridge and moat.  A bridge to the castle was rebuilt last year using only traditional methods.  This was explained proudly by Philippe, Celine's father, augmented by Jo'ann, Celine's brother who is on a week's holiday from his job in Nantes.  They also took us by an incredible old guild where apprentices take over 10 years to become master stone masons.  We saw examples of their masterpieces in the yard, slate-covered turrets.

Chloe and Biscuit

But, the highlight of the day was definitely the hospitality and warmth of the Comerais family which opened their doors and hearts to us for over four hours.  We returned to their lovely home where a feast of French desserts awaited us.  Chloe's godparents also joined us then.  (Chloe is Celine's 16 year old charming sister who spoke more and more English as the day progressed.)  Celine's mother had prepared half-baked chocolate cake (fudgy centers), cherry flan (my favorite!), chantilly creme, apple crumble and pineapple, complemented by sparking Saumur wine.  It was incroyable!

Full and happy, we made our way back to the farmhouse.  Mark built a fire in the kitchen where we sat, talked, and read until bedtime.

It was definitely one of our nicest days ever in France.