Le Château de Versailles and Red Marble. . . . . . . . . . .

Château de Versailles, on the UNESCO World Heritage List for over 30 years,

 is one of the most beautiful achievements of 18th century French art.

Started as a hunting lodge and gentleman's chateau, the young Sun King Louis XIV took over and transformed the palace into the most splendid building and court of its time, hosting many famous and infamous people including Madame Pompadour and Marie Antoinette.The opulent staterooms, the famous Hall of Mirrors where several treaties were signed, and the royal apartments are quite breathtaking. The château lost its standing as the official seat of power in 1789 but acquired a new role in the 19th century as The Museum of the History of France. 

I know many of you who have traveled to, even lived in France, have visited Versailles. For some reason, most likely time restraints during Paris visits, I didn't visit until last October, when we were on the river cruise with friends from California and England. Although it's always exciting to see these amazing historic buildings, oohing and aahing over the opulent furnishings all whilst shielding ones eyes from the brilliance of the crystal chandeliers and gold reliefs, I was really on another mission here - looking for less ostentatious red and pink marble!

Follow along as I take you on a quick visit and show you what is just a smidgen of the most famous French château ~~~~~~~~

The Hall of Mirrors

Personally, when tramping through these immense palaces, I really enjoy looking at the more simple things such as doors, also windows, with well worn handles, hardware, their lock boxes and keyholes. Have the keys survived? Who now has them, could modern locksmiths make new ones to fit if they're missing?  Look at the exquisite little royal crown carved into the brass above the keyhole on the left. I wonder what the knob underneath the box is - another way to lock the door perhaps. Who actually turned these handles and entered these magnificent room in years gone by?

Above and below - lovely somewhat distorted views through wavy glass windows.

Why my interest in particularly the red and pink marbles used at Versailles?

Quarrying of many of these marbles happened around the medieval village of Caunes-Minervois where my brother has lived for many years. Located in the Languedoc region, this was Cathar Country and is full of amazing history. It is known that quarrying there has been ongoing since the 17th century, and there is a possibility that small quarries were even exploited in Roman times as red marble capitals and other details are evident in Languedoc churches dating from the 8th century.

The marble quarry brought prosperity to Caunes especially as outcrops held workable volumes of marble, some over 15M (about 50') in height. The Carrière du Roy (King's Mine) is named for it's most prestigious client, Louis XIV, and he obviously had a lot of the marble brought to Versailles.

When I first visited the site of the quarry closest to Caunes some years back it had closed, however one close to the Carrière du Roy is now operational, as well as a second one a couple of miles away. The marble blocks are now taken to Italy for finishing and then shipped around the world.

Model of the Palace of Versailles. It stands approximately 10 miles southwest of Paris.

The day of our visit was cool and sunny - perfect for a walk through the gardens.

Photo of us (left) with our California friends Kim and Rob, taken by Paula.

I must say I was thrilled to visit Versailles at long last during our trip in October.

The Honor System. . . . . . .

In a small French village such as Caunes-Minervois where my brother

lives, things stopped me in my tracks during walks along the narrow

 winding streets.

The 'honor system' is one which makes me smile.

I recalled this doorway from my former visits, always something on offer - veggies

 or fruits - sitting outside with the scale at the ready to weigh some freshly

 harvested bounty from a nearby garden or allotment. 

On this particular day in October there were apples and tomatoes. 

Weigh, put into your market basket, leave the money.

Honesty counts!

Many village houses sit right on the street such as this one. They may have some 

type of garden area in the back, if not they can rent an allotment space to grow

vegetables, fruits and flowers.

  A large allotment near the 9th Century abbey in Caunes - each day we saw people

 working in the October sunshine.

My brother's front door, original to the house I believe, opens onto a beautiful
 two level garden - quite unusual in a small village. It was the corn merchant's house
 and is 200 years old.

Mostly all vegetables for the family are grown on the lower level garden - these

 photos show what was still available (plus potatoes and salad greens) during

 our October visit. My brother has become quite the gardener.

All around the village are vineyards and rolling countryside. . . . . .and beyond,
 the Montagne Noire (Black Mountain), an area rich in Cathar history.

Buildings are old, both the country and village houses. Who knows what interesting

 homes and gardens are behind lovely old gates one passes on a walk.

Caune's river, the Argent Double, almost dry in October, did have some
 high water marks on the walls - I've never visited when it's been that wet
 or seen water gushing under the ancient bridge.

The village is quiet, peaceful and home to approximately 1500 people. 

I think the honor system works well in this setting.

Could I live in a small place such at this? 

I look at the thousands of cars now clogging the roads where I live, the

 constant movement of people relocating to the city and surrounding suburbs,

 the massive push for construction - more office buildings, shopping centers,

 apartments and houses.

Now, at this time of life, I'm pretty sure I could!

This will be my final post on our time in the village of Caunes-Minervois.

 I do still have lots to share from other beautiful places in France. . . . . .will

 be working those soon.

Living the French village life. . . . . . . .

This is the medieval village in the Languedoc region where my brother,

 his wife, and my niece have lived for many years. My niece recently

graduated from Glasgow University in Scotland and is now working for a 

well known international company in England. . . . . . I know she must miss

the quiet French village life, at least a little bit.

Caunes is within the medieval area of the Aude Pays Cathare - just 20 mins. 

from Carcassonne, the largest walled city in Europe. An hour south and you 

hit the Mediterranean beaches, and a beautiful 2 hour train trip brings views of the

 Pyrenees mountains, the coastline, and then you arrive in Spain, which we did at

 the end of our trip. I'll have lots to share from Barcelona later.

My family's house is gorgeous, and the garden produces much bounty in the way

 of vegetables which my SIL preserves to stock her large pantry. My brother is 

now quite the farmer I must say, and his wife a really wonderful cook.

These pix were taken two weeks ago and as you can see the tomatoes were still 

coming in and the onions being dug. One evening John dug

 potatoes an hour before preparing dinner - you can imagine the fresh flavor!

As you can see, the weather continued to hold after we left the river boat in 

Provence and headed to Caunes for a few days. After all the wonderful meals

Alison prepared in her beautiful kitchen, and sampling many great wines chosen

 by John, we headed into the vineyards, les Montagnes Noire (the Black Mountains)

 in the distance, and walked for several miles each day. . . . . . you can guess why!

Some views from around the village where a small population of approx. 1400 live

 the true French life. They are surrounded by acres of vineyards, now in their

 Autumn colors following the recent harvest.

Bob and I walked often up and down the narrow streets to the village ramparts,

 checking all the places we'd seen on previous visits, but which remain of great interest.

Also located nearby the village is the great red marble quarry which has supplied

 beautiful stone to build some of France's most amazing landmarks, such as the

 Palace of Versailles.

An annual red marble carving contest in the village produces amazing statues - Bob

 here with a huge bull.

The 8th century Benedictine Abbey, across from the house,

 provides a lovely view from the upper garden level where there is a pool

and many exotic shrubs - even the Morning Glories were still blooming.

Yes, the entrance to the garden from the lane does have have one of 

those wonderful, so European, Fatima's hand door knockers - and I can't begin to
 tell you how many photos I've taken of French doors sporting these knockers all

 around the country on this trip! 

Happy weekend to all my dear readers. We remain so busy here trying to catch
 up with everything after such an extended trip.
 We are also celebrating Birthdays - granddaughter Jasmin turns 19 tomorrow,
 and yours truly will welcome yet another 'golden year' as I do my best to blow out
 seventy two candles on Monday - well hopefully nobody arrives with a cake with
 quite that many - I do want to make seventy three and many, many more!