Saturday – Sunday 4th/5th June Chauvigny

Chauvigny is an ancient fortified town on the banks of the Vienne, quite a way upstream from L’ile-Bouchard and 20 km due East of Poitiers.

We stayed at Camping municipal de Fontaine, which is a site next to the public park and at the foot of a short but steep climb to the medieval city. There are 5 castles on the skyline overlooking the campsite; very impressive. The castle on the left is the Chateau d’Eveques; the bishops castle. It has lost a few of its walls and is particularly striking. There is a display of large birds in this chateau at weekends so we saw vultures and storks soaring over the city walls, and a selection of raptors performing within the chateau.

There was a festival of painting on this weekend so we saw painters everywhere. There was a steel band in the square overlooked by the Donjon; one of the castles. We had supper here in the cool of the evening. We were served by maids and serfs in medieval garb. My fashion sense is a year or two behind everyone elses- or so she tells me- so I fitted in quite well.

Bishop's Castle

Castles from the campsite

One of the chateaux

Another Chateau

Bishops Castle from the Park

Window in Chauvigny (taken by the artistic one, not me)

A parade of classic cars which appeared when we were walking through old Chauvigny

Un chat. Not a chateau.

A chateau.

 Nia asked me to upload the following. I have no idea what she is talking about.

Lizard Man

By Nia

On Saturday it was blistering. It was frying eggs on pavements sort of weather. My husband, ‘Monsieur Ants en le Pants’, who can’t sit still in the sun with a glass of something containing ice to cool you down, decided our party should walk up the steep path from our campsite to the medieval city of Chauvigny to watch a display of birds of prey.

Now Chauvigny is without a doubt a stunning place, five castles stand in a line along a precipice, it is beautiful and haunting; well worth a visit but it was also a vertical climb from the campsite. The climb was a struggle for me. Colin was dragging his feet with that “Bloody Hell, not another medieval city” look but my husband, the cold blooded Lizard Man – he who thrives when the temperature reaches the mid 30s and if it is any cooler, needs two jumpers and a coat – was off up the path like a …. well actually just like a lizard.

After a beer for resuscitation at the top, we walked to the ruined Bishop’s Castle for the bird display. As with everything in France, dogs were admitted and those of us with normal sensitivity to the heat sat and panted - that included the dogs, me and even a number of French people but the lizard sat and basked.

After the birds of prey gave an excellent demonstration we returned to our café for another beer and once revived, we had an excellent meal, steak for the dogs and me (we always share) and a galette for the lizard.