View from the bridge over the L'Isle
Lesley and I found ourselves wandering around St Astier today when we had an hour or so to kill before an appointment we had arranged. St Astier sits overlooking the river L'Isle where its fortified church, dating from the 11th century, dominates the skyline. We'd been to St Astier several times before but apart from having been to the markets and having had a rather excellent lunch at the town centre La Palomberie we had not paid it too much regard. So today whilst avoiding scattered showers and broken sunshine we took some time to have a more serious look. Besides the fortified church St Astier also hosts the National Gendarmerie training centre and I've heard it said of a Saturday night one can observe a fair smattering of fit, young, shaven-headed males frequenting the local hostelries. One of the most striking aspects is a run of mediavel buldings which climbs the hill on one side of the church.
Run of medieval buildings going down the hill
To me they look slightly Basque in style; they are tall and constructed on a wooden frameworkud with a mud and straw infill . At the bottom end of this terrace, propping the whole run up, it appears, is one rather forlorn looking building. It is not clear whether a demolition or renovation is taking place. It has various signs pinned to it with the names of various experts, but I noted that one had the word 'demolition' on it.
Renovation or demolition?
Obviously the building is unsafe and it does overhang the main road that runs through the town, perhaps the reason that it has become unsafe. Anyhow we both hoped it the best as it has the impression of having been there for at least 400 years.
On the drive back home I noted a quince (coing) tree resplendent with an abundance of fruit. It was totally bereft of its foliage but was all the more striking because of this. What do you think?
Early winter beauty
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