The Quercy Local June-Sept 2012

June – Sept 2012 Issue 7

uercy Local The

The Region’s FREE English Magazine

Inside: Art and Music in Quercy The Cathars & the Siege of Penne D’Agenais The Wonder of Woad Summer Outdoor Feasts The Walled City of Carcassonne

The London-based theatre company returns to perform A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the Quercy region from 7th – 16th August See p.31 or www.ad-tour.com

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Farmer Gilles For a Professional Approach Contact:

Gilles BETOULIERES LA LANDETTE 47470 CAUZAC

TEL: 06 81 50 65 18 - English & French spoken - Septic tanks & drains - Interior & exterior excavation - Any digging project undertaken - Foundations / swimming pools

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4 • contents

W

elcome to the summer edition and I hope that by the time you read this, the bizarre (and not altogether pleasant) weather 2012 has brought us so far, has long gone!

This little magazine continues to evolve we hope in a way that reflects some of the life that goes on in this wonderful (and often overlooked) corner of France. This progression owes a great deal to the hard-work and enthusiasm of our regular contributors, so a huge thank-you goes to them.

Our aim is to try and continue to provide a magazine that is more than ‘an advertising leaflet’ we want to produce something that people want to keep hold of; we know that we already have some avid collectors!

The magazine’s long shelf-life increases the benefit to our advertisers and without them there would be no magazine at all!

18

It is possible to subscribe and get these magazines delivered to your door and (whilst stocks last) we are able to offer the newly legislated for breath test kits to our subscribers; more details of this can be found inside the magazine and of course on our website.

So I wish you all the best for a summer of warmth, good-company, peace and the chance to make the very best of the region and all it has to offer.

Anna

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CONTENTS Introducing Charlotte – the magazine’s representative in the East of the region Breath Test Kits & Subscription Offer New Rules on Inheritance

8 10 10

Local History and Culture

16-26

Local Arts, Music and Events

28-39

Animals and Wildlife

42-46

Quercy’s Wine and Food

51-55

54

For all enquiries please email – info@quercylocal.com Do remember that a directory or our advertisers can be found on our website – www.quercylocal.com This magazine is entirely funded by advertising, please do try and support our advertisers whenever possible and do mention that you saw their advert in The Quercy Local.

NOTE – Copy deadlines for the October edition: Editorial – 25th August, Changes and renewal of existing adverts – 5th Sept.

New Advertising deadline – 7th Sept. (or sooner if lack of space dictates) The cover picture has been taken from a larger image by Belinda Berry of the hamlet of Rouillac in the commune of Montcuq (www.imagefrance.co.uk).

Belinda and her husband Graham offer photography holidays and courses. Find details of their local exhibition in our ‘Local Art, Music and Events’ section.

ARBRESERVICES Matt Strawbridge Tree Surgeon Elagueur Arboriste

tours 47340 cassignas 05 53 95 80 27/ 06 45 25 65 58 matt@abreservices.com www.abreservices.com siret no. 5025222200004

The Quercy Local ISSN: 2116-0392. No part of this publication may be copied, used or reproduced without the written consent of the proprietors.

No responsibility is accepted for any claim made by advertisers. All content accepted and printed in good faith. The Quercy Local is published by Red Point Publishing Ltd, (reg. in Eng. and Wales, No. 761556) redpointpublishing@gmail.com.

Editing in France – Anna Atkinson; French admin – Rachel Verne; Distribution managers (47) – Lorraine & Pete Knowles; UK admin/accounts – Vicky Byram. Regular contributors; Angela Clohessy, Lisa Stanton, Karina Knight, Paola Westbeek, Angie Richards.

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Quercy Builders (82150) Stone work and all aspects of renovation Subcontractors to the trade and a professional service to the public References available No obligation quotations

info@quercybuilders.com www.quercybuilders.com 06 52 24 49 95 06 52 49 03 57

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Introducing Charlotte Introducing Charlotte Buckingham – Charlotte is going to be managing the editorial content for a new section of the magazine ‘Quercy Est’ so for events and editorial material from the region East of the A20 do contact Charlotte on charlotte@quercylocal.com

I

“ don’t care what the weather man says if the weather man says it’s raining… you won’t hear me complaining!”

It is not strictly true. It is April. It is raining… and pouring. My fingers are crossed that all these April showers are going to bring some fabulous May flowers! I’m not sure I ever imagined France could be so wet but then the thought of moving to France never really seemed like a possible reality either.

It all happened by accident. I came on holiday with my family to Saint Antonin Noble Val six years ago, we fell in love with a crumbling town house ‘A Vendre’ (as you do) and after a few bottles of the old vino we decided to invest in a holiday home here for all the family. Soon after, I had a baby, and the thought of traveling to the South of France and staying in a falling down house with a wriggly, crawly baby with a desire to munch every nail, spider and flaky piece of wallpaper did not really appeal. As a result I didn’t spend more than a week in St Antonin and NEVER stayed in the house until we moved here 8 months ago.

Like all parents, having my daughter completely changed my life. I thought very long and hard about what kind of world I was bringing my daughter into and what kind of life experience she was going to have. We were totally immersed in city life in the UK and whilst I appreciated the many opportunities that brought – the dance schools, French classes, yoga for children, I still felt empty and every opportunity or experience cost… a lot! Poppy was also exposed to mass consumerism, advertising on a huge scale and our lives became focused on the Disney Princesses. It was really difficult not to fall in to the trap of; If only I bought this product… Our lives would improve. We were surrounded by supermarkets, cheap food, cheap clothes, cheap everything… but no sense of independent trade, artisan produce, ethical, fair trade and no real sense The Quercy Local • June-Sept 2012

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of community. Environmental issues were also became more important to me, I wanted to teach Poppy sustainable living and about all things green.

As the story goes…The motivation to spend more time in St Antonin was actually my younger sister, she and her husband chose to get married here and my daughter and I were her bridesmaids. After that it was `simple… it was sunny, hot, I fell in love with this French piece of paradise and the house all over again. Independent businesses thrive here, butchers, bakers, candlestick makers. There are lots of artisans, local producers who sell their goods at the Sunday market, in the shops in town. The sense of community here is very strong and it is easy to live a life I could only dream of in England. When it came to the end of the holiday and catching a plane back to Bristol, I couldn’t think of a good reason to go home. I enrolled my daughter in the local Ecole Maternelle, rented out my house in Bristol and sorted out a couple of pet passports for my cats.

My next challenge was finding a way to live out here.

For a single mum, without a job but with a head full of business ideas- I was desperate to find a solution.

After several months here, I realized that it is difficult to find good quality, affordable, good value for money clothes for children, without flashy graphics or heavy branding.

In Bristol I had wanted to sell organic clothes and handmade toys for children and so it seemed like a natural progression to open a shop here that did just that. When I was looking for shop premises I talked to a friend and local English business woman Jane Pascoe, who already had a beautiful toy shop called “Petite Etoile” in St Antonin, she invited me to share her shop space and we now run a boutique for children. We sell traditional, wooden toys, gifts, decorative items for the home and clothes made from organic cotton by companies who operate in fair trade/ equitable commerce. I sell a Cornish brand Frugi, who grow their own cotton from seed. The clothes are completely ethical. The cotton is beautifully soft, easy to wash at 30 degrees and kind to sensitive skin. The designs are wearable/ practical but designed with little people in mind adorned with brightly coloured applique.

I also sell a French brand La Queue du Chat, again this company take a spend a great deal of time and energy not only designing beautiful clothes but achieving 100 per cent equitable commerce, they give back to producing communities and the environment. It was very important

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for me to find products which are good for children but also for the producers and the environment.

I chose the products for their commitment to their cause and quality.

I am working on an online shop and I hope to grow my range of products, including more artisan and specialist goods for children. At the same time I am continuing my work as a researcher, writer and illustrator for children, (previously for TV, online and animation).

I am currently working on a series of texture books for children with visual impairments. I have also been writing for an English monthly magazine on French property news.

When I am not working I am looking after my little girl (who makes an excellent shop assistant) generally meandering aimlessly through cobbled streets (for the meantime with umbrella in hand) amazed by how lucky we are to live in this beautiful region.

Details of Charlotte’s shop / website and range of children’s clothing will soon be available on www.quercylocal.com so do check there for details. Some information will also be going out with our summer newsletter so when you visit our website do sign up for the newsletter and then you receive full details. Remember you can always contact Charlotte via this magazine on charlotte@quercylocal.com.

Auberge de Miramont (Chez Bernadette) 82190

A very popular restaurant serving local specialities in lovely, cosy dining-room and in summer on the beautiful terrace.

Great atmosphere and food.

Popular for Great value lunches and special evening meals – reservations recommended Stephane & Karen look forward to welcoming you.

Miramont de Quercy

0563946557

www.aubergedemiramont.com – check opening hours

Gifts, Furniture & Antiques Just outside Tournon in a converted barn, Viviane has an amazing display of furniture, antiques, and many different gift ideas (large and small). You are welcome to come and just have a look around.

The gallery’s interior both welcomes and inspires – so for that perfect present or pieces of furniture for your French home do come and have a look.

Planning a project? Viviane imports antique doors, furniture, interior trims and friezes, many are on display in the gallery.

See the website for more information: www.bastidegallery.com

route de Cahors 47370 Tournon d’Agenais tel: 05 53 41 36 92 info@bastidegallery.com To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

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New Breath-Test Kit Rules From the 1st of July all drivers of vehicles and motorbikes (bikes under 50cc are exempt) will have to carry a breath test kit in their vehicles.

There’s no requirement for the kits to be used, the police can’t require you to use one if you’re stopped, you simply have to have one with you (and in working order). Anyone stopped by the police and found without a kit will face a fine of e11. If you intend to use the kit then you need to ensure you’ve two kits as you’re obliged to have one ready for use following any earlier use (they cannot be re-used). Although this logic could be extended to the need for many more kits in case you have multiple sudden reasons for using a test!

The same rules apply to foreign visitors to France and to those hiring a car in France, so it’s worth making sure that your visitors, friends and family are aware of the rules.

The kits themselves must be kept between 10 and 40o so keeping them in your car may not be possible! Perhaps the kits will have to be removed from vehicle when parked and carried in your bags or pockets!

A period of grace exists and the fines will not commence until 1st November. The kits should be replaced every 2 years

and bear the logo NF (Norme Française). There’s already a shortage of kits and manufacturers are now backed up with orders.

Magazine Subscription Offer…

We’ve secured a supply of NF breath-kits and are offering to send one or two kits out to people subscribing to receive the magazine in the post. Stocks are limited and as soon as we’ve exhausted our supply we’ll make this clear on the website. We’ll be mailing the kits in October; you cannot get fined until November and as the kits are only valid for 2 years it seems pointless to send them any sooner.

To receive your copy of the magazine by post please visit www.quercylocal.com or www.gasconylocal.com and follow the link to Breath-Tests Kits / Magazine subscriptions – submit your order, we’ll email an invoice which can be paid for by bank card or Paypal, on-line. This will reserve the kits for you, which will then be mailed to you in October. If you’ve any queries about subscriptions then please email: subscriptions@localinfrance.com.

Inheritance Rules for French residents – and proposed EU changes from 2015 As I hope most of you already know, under French law, if a French resident individual has children, they cannot leave assets to who they wish. Strict inheritance rules mean that children have certain rights to their deceased parent’s estate.

For someone with one child the reserved portion is 50%, 67% for two children and 75% for three or more children, split equally between them. The remaining percentage is considered the unreserved portion and may be left to whomsoever the owner pleases.

Whilst the French forced succession rules are not changing, new EU rules on succession have recently been agreed, and once finally adopted (expected in the summer of 2012), will come into force 3 years later, in 2015.

These new regulations will give expatriates the right to opt for the succession law of their country of nationality to apply on their death.

Without an appropriate will, the French succession rules above would continue to be applied to a French resident’s estate.

However, with a correctly drawn up will, it should become possible from 2015 to opt to use the law of the country of your nationality. For British nationals, this should mean that you can opt to use British rules – leaving your assets as you wish via an appropriate will.

It is vitally important to understand that, whilst it will become possible to choose to use UK law for the distribution of your estate, it is only this that has changed, as the new regulations will not apply to tax issues.

For example, whilst it will become perfectly possible to leave all of your assets to your spouse in the first instance, assets left to be divided between children and step-children would still result in the step-children facing a punitive 60% The Quercy Local • June-Sept 2012

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French inheritance tax on anything over a minimal allowance of e1,594.

At first glance it would appear that this will be a significant advance, since inheritance issues are the main concern of most British residents in France. However, in many cases, using the many techniques available under French law to ensure that your wishes are met and taxation is kept to a minimum, is likely to be the preferable option, so no action should be taken without professional advice.

Marjorie Mansfield – Regional Manager of Siddalls France, Independent Financial Advisers specialising in investment, pension, tax and inheritance planning for the British community in France since 1996.

05 56 34 75 51 or visit us at: www.siddalls.fr

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Open Days, June 23rd & 24th 10am – 7pm

Ferme de Lacontal Touffailles 82190 Come and learn about lavender production and see the fields in flower. There’ll be stalls and paths marked to walk amongst the lavender.

05 63 95 78 12 www.lacontal.fr At Touffailles, follow the signs ‘Bienvenue à la Ferme’

Free Entry – A great day out!

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RACHEL VERNE Secrétariat – Saisie Comptable Tous Travaux Administratifs Français/Anglais All assistance and paperwork In French or in English Tél. : 06.99.43.46.30 – email : rachel.verne@wanadoo.fr

Over 25 years experience in helping businesses stand-out from the crowd DESIGN • MARKETING • PUBLICITY • WEB Marketing advisory service for holiday rental properties

La Forge 82150 Roquecor T: 05 63 94 58 31 M: 07 88 55 81 03 andy@studiocreative.fr

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studiocreative.fr

grow your business!

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Within the context of your French property purchase, the Crédit Agricole Nord Midi-Pyrénees would be pleased to accompany you. Offering service and advice from purchase and renovation mortgages to building and contents insurance, we may assist every step of the way.

Beginning with an initial discussion to collect all of the information needed in order to study your request, we work with you to find a solution adapted to your specific financial needs. Do you prefer a fixed or variable rate? How about a flexible loan offering the possibility to modify your monthly payments as life evolves?

Once a solution has been agreed, a mortgage file is created. The requirements may vary depending on the type of

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either on the day of purchase or at a later date in the case of a renovation mortgage.

mortgage you choose, however the most common items include proof of your income, current outgoings, ownership of or the intention to purchase a home in France, and any renovations to be made.

If your file is approved, the offers are sent to your home address to begin the formal acceptance process. French law requires that you first respect a mandatory reflection period allowing you to legally sign the offers 11 days after receipt. The mortgage is then registered by your notaire

In addition, within the context of the mortgage, your notaire may ask for a certificate regarding insurance coverage of the house. The Crédit Agricole gladly offers this complete service so as to make your purchase process as seamless as possible.

Your personal advisor will have the pleasure of remaining your financial partner in France for all of your additional French banking needs. Current accounts, savings, investments, and a wide range of insurance coverage are always close at hand.

For further information, please contact us today on 05 65 75 75 33 or caonline@ca-nmp.fr

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16 • Local History and Culture

The Wonder of Woad

By A Atkinson

A

n unlikely source of wonder this miraculous crop is both weedy and inconspicuous and is even related to the humble cabbage!

Isatis Tinctoria maps a route through history starting as far back as the Neolithic period; it’s then glimpsed in Egyptian times and again throughout the Middle East and Europe during almost every period ever since. Woad (common name) is a plant that links Leonardo Di Vinci to Napoleon Boneparte and both of them to the tribes of ancient Britain. Commonly known as ‘pastel’ in France woad has cured the sick, terrified the warlike, inspired artists, distinguished armies and generated architectural splendour.

Woad throughout history.

Woad is, in fact, an English name for this plant; the French had different names including Guède, Pastel des teinturiers or Herbes du Lauraguais. Before the term woad was brought into use in England, the English name was ‘wad’ leading to the term ‘wadders’ for the people involved in the production of the dye. In England there are many place names that suggest a local history of woad production including the towns of Waddicar (Lancashire) and Waddon (Dorset and Surrey).

In the Renaissance-period as crops of woad appeared in Europe it soon became apparent that it was more than your average ‘cash crop’. In France it was the area around Toulouse, Albi and Carcassonne that became synonymous with the growing and processing of the woad plant and at that time much of the region’s wealth was directly attributable to this crop and the growing class of woad merchants. So impressive was its influence that the region became known as ‘Pays de Cocange’ (a land of milk and honey) a place where you could simply watch your wealth accumulate as you dried your harvested crop. The The Quercy Local • June-Sept 2012

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personal wealth accumulated by these merchants was a catalyst for a whole new architectural style which became known as ‘pastellière’; a great example of this style can be found in Toulouse – the Hôtel Delfau built in 1495.

What was the pigment used for?

In ancient Britain woad was used as war-paint to strike fear into enemies of battling tribes. Perhaps, even then they had discovered the pigment’s ability to deter insect life, making it particularly useful as a treatment for wood (blue shutters) and historically even cows’ horns.

Perhaps these ancient Britains also realised woad’s medicinal potential. It’s been seen as having healing properties and it was once suggested as a cure for jaundice. More recently, the Isatis Tinctoria plant has been found to produce glucobrassicin (which deters cancer tumours) as a defensive mechanism, when its own leaves are damaged. Oil produced from this plant contains 40% essential fat acids, vital to healthy human cell membranes and increasingly used in products to help control skin moisture. Although presumably without the use, in this instance, of the blue pigment!

Currently there’s a revival in the popularity of woad which had previously been in decline due to indigo dyes from other parts of the world. This revival is not unsurprising as it’s an entirely natural product with many additional useful qualities above and beyond the wide spectrum of shades of blue it provides. History has seen other revivals of the plant’s fortunes, for instance, Napoleon Bonaparte, drawn by the intense blue the plant produced insisted on its use to produce the vivid blue of his army’s uniform. It was this interest which led to the modernisation of the production processes.

As well as being used as a textile dye, woad is today used to produce soaps, skin treatments, specialist water-based paint for woodwork, and art materials (inks

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and pastels) linking current artists to those of the time of Leonardo de Vinci who was also known to have used the pigment all those centuries ago.

How was woad obtained?

It’s amazing that anybody first considered that this inconspicuous plant might hold the secret to such an intensely blue pigment. With its bright green foliage and a bright yellow flower this cousin of the broccoli and cabbage plant almost perfectly hides its ability to yield a pigment that produces its now famous and alluring shades of vibrant blue. It’s only as the leaves become ready for harvesting that a small tell-tale tinge of blue appears at the leaf tips. Even with this hint of its potential use, it’s hard to imagine how early civilisations then worked out the processes required to produce pigment from simple leaves.

Historically, the process meant harvesting and then crushing the leaves into a paste and leaving them to ferment for several weeks then moulding the paste into tennis-ball sized balls (known as cacagnes). These would then be left to dry until they darkened and shrank to the size of golf balls. There then followed a further series of fermentations (with the aid of workers’ urine, which in the 15th century had a suitable P.H. level.

Incidentally, modern diets would not produce the same required P.H.), grindings and drying of the product, drawing the process out for months and months.

In these historical times it was believed that growing the woad crop exhausted the land and so it was necessary to move to new areas at least every two years (there appears to be no scientific evidence or explanation why this crop would have exhausted the land). So Europe saw the development of a nomadic work-force, with small wooden villages (often with a mill) appearing and disappearing as the crop was re-located. One acre of land would produce (in a one year period) 2kg of woad powder, by cropping 10 tons of leaves, twice a year. Modern woad production isn’t seen as damaging to the land and modern agricultural techniques don’t require such particular crop rotation.

Woad – from ancient to modern!

The production of woad balls was discontinued by Napoleon who was unwilling to wait so long for the blue pigment; he introduced a system of wet fermentation which speeded up the process considerably. Producers in England continued to use woad balls for some while longer. Napoleon in his modernising also pioneered the use of lime-wash to help recover solids from the watery solution.

The major processor of woad in France today is based in Lectoure, situated in the northern Gers.

Bleu de Lectoure has developed modern and efficient

processes to produce the pigment on a larger scale.

Lime-wash is no longer used and the modern producers make use of highly technical methods of oxidation to achieve the solid residue. All plant crops are now managed by farming cooperatives and the valorisation of the pigment is now handled by an efficient extraction unit able to process several tons of the green leaves every day.

The work undertaken by Bleu de Lectoure marries perfectly the centuries of local tradition with the expediency of modern methods to increase the availability of this (importantly) ‘entirely natural’ resource. It’s this untainted and natural quality of the woad extract along with the exquisite and highly desirable shades of blue it produces that’ll surely ensure its continued popularity with the modern consumer.

The technical processes involved in the production of the blue pigment are beyond the scope of this article.

It’s sufficient to say that those involved in its production have chosen to tackle one of the most complex procedures possible. In the end, however it’s the amount of sunshine that the crop receives that affects the intensity and colour depth of the final pigment, which is why different global regions can end up with a different intensity in their pigment. Working with woad represents the chance to combine an extra-ordinary level of know-how and modern technology with one of nature’s most powerful natural tools – the sun.

You can visit the workshop and shop in Lectoure or many of the products can be purchased on line from – www.bleu-de-lectoure.com. Bleus de Pastel de Lectoure, Ancienne Tannerie, Pont de Pile, 32700, LECTOURE Tel 05 62 68 78 30 BleuLambert@aol.fr Opening hours: Mon-Sat.: 9h30-12h30 & 14h00-18h00. Sun. and holidays: 14h00-18h00 Closed between Jan 01-Jan 15.

Readers presenting a copy of this magazine at the shop will be entitled to a 5% discount at the till. (valid to 31 12 12).

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18 • Local History and Culture

Carcassonne (The Walled City)

By Angela Clohessy

I

f you were approaching Carcassonne in France would be excused for supposing that you are coming into a fairy tale world. This beautiful fortified city stands majestically on a hill overlooking the lush countryside in the Aude department, in the former province of the Languedoc, and the distant Pyrenees Mountains.

The closest large city is Toulouse approximately 60 miles to the northwest.

Carcassonne history goes back as least as far as Roman Gaul; parts of the city’s fortifications date from 1st century AD. Located at the strategic intersection of two historic trade routes, from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean and from Spain to the center of France, Carcassonne’s defenses were strengthened by successive owners. In the 5th century, the Visigoth’s extended the Roman defenses and for many years after Carcassonne Castle proved impenetrable to invaders.

It is divided into the fortified Cité de Carcassonne and the more expansive lower city, the ville basse.

Carcassone was founded by the Visigoths in the fifth century, though the Romans had fortified the settlement earlier. The fortress, which was thoroughly restored in 1853 by the theorist and architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1997.

Carcassonne became strategically identified when Romans fortified the hilltop around 100 BC and eventually made it the colonia of Julia Carsaco, later Carcasum. The main part of the lower courses of the northern ramparts dates from Gallo-Roman times. In 462 the Romans officially ceded Septimania to the Visigothic king Theodoric II who had held Carcassonne since 453; he built more fortifications at Carcassonne, which was a frontier post on the northern marches: traces of them still stand. Theodoric is thought to have begun the predecessor of the basilica that is now dedicated to Saint Nazaire.

In 508 the Visigoths successfully foiled attacks by the Frankish king Clovis. Saracens from Barcelona took Carcassonne in 725, but King Pepin the Short (Pépin le Bref) drove them away in 759-60; though he took most of the south of France, he was unable to penetrate the impregnable fortress of Carcassonne.

In 1067, Carcassonne became the property of Raimond Bernard Trencavel, viscount of Albi and Nîmes, through his marriage with Ermengard, sister

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of the last count of Carcassonne. In the following centuries, the Trencavel family allied in succession either with the counts of Barcelona or of Toulouse. They built the Château Comtal and the Basilica of SaintNazaire. In 1096, Pope Urban II blessed the foundation stones of the new cathedral, a Catholic bastion against the Cathars.

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Carcassonne became famous in its role in the Albigensian Crusades, when the city was a stronghold of Occitan Cathars. In August 1209 the crusading army of Simon de Montfort forced its citizens to surrender.

Raymond-Roger de Trencavel was imprisoned whilst negotiating his city’s surrender, held in his own dungeon and allowed to die. Montfort was appointed the new viscount. He added to the fortifications.

Carcassonne became a border citadel between France and the kingdom of Aragon (Spain).

Carcassonne France came under control of the French crown in 1247. King Louis IX (St. Louis) and his successor Philip III further strengthened the fortifications of Carcassonne Castle and built the “new town” outside the defenses. English troops laid siege to the city during the Hundred Years War, but once again in Carcassonne history, the fortifications proved impenetrable.

In 1659, the Treaty of the Pyrenees transferred the border province of Roussillon to France, and Carcassonne’s military significance was reduced.

Fortifications were abandoned, and the city became mainly an economic centre that concentrated on the woollen textile industry, for which a 1723 source quoted by Fernand Braudel found it “the manufacturing centre of Languedoc”

One legend from Carcassonne history is the attempted siege by Charlemagne in the 9th century.

According to the story, Madame Carcas cunningly fed the last of the city’s wheat to a pig in full view of the invading army. Believing that the besieged townspeople had an inexhaustible supply of food, Charlemagne retreated from the walls and the town was renamed in honor of the ingenious lady. Carcassonne France took its name (or a version of it) even before the Roman conquest of Gaul.

For the next several centuries of Carcassonne history, the fortified walls were allowed to fall into disrepair. In the mid-19th century, the French government proposed demolishing the walls. A popular uproar saved Carcassonne Castle and the architect and historian Eugene Viollet-le-Duc was commissioned to restore the medieval fortifications. (Viollet-le-Duc also restored the famed Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.)

The restoration, though not strictly authentic, proved a great success. Today, over three million visitors come to Carcassonne France every year. The double walls stretch over 2 miles around a maze of medieval streets and museums. Over 50 towers rise from the fortifications to overlook the River Aude River and the surrounding green countryside. Admission into the walled city is free for visitors.

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20 • Local History and Culture

Crusades against the Cathars Siege of Penne D’Agenais

By Angela Richards

D

uring the 12th and 13th Centuries France was not the country we know now. The west and south- west was dispersed into a separate territory owned by the King of England: Duchies of Aquitaine (called Guyenne), Gascony, Brittany and Normandy, including smaller Counties, Bishoprics, Viscounties, and Marquisates.

The Royal French domain was also made up of lots of territories mostly to the north and east and consisted of either royal land or land owned by friends swearing allegiance to the King. East of the Rhone River, and to the south including present day Provence was the Kingdom of Arles under the rule of the Holy Roman Empire. The County (Comté) of Toulouse which covered the entire Languedoc area was basically an independent region ruled over

by Raymond VI with allegiances to Aragon in Spain through marriage. The Agenais region also had ties to Toulouse by marriage with Richard the Lionheart’s sister Jeanne to Raymond VI. During this period the Agenais area stretched as far as Marmande.

Penne d’Agenais was much more important and with the chateau situated up on top of a hill overlooking the Lot River, the local Lord had strategic control of the entire local area.

The spread of the Cathar religion was based on a mix of Christian, Manichaeism, Greek and Oriental religions mainly based on the original simplicity of Christian ideas.

They did not deify Christ and the The Quercy Local • June-Sept 2012

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sacraments, and fought against the control of the Church in Rome rejecting the hierarchy of the priesthood and church buildings.

They said that the Church of Rome had betrayed the real doctrines of Christ and that their religion was the true Christian religion which would go back to its primitive beliefs.

Their ‘priests’ took the form of male and female perfects (parfaits), wore simple black robes with leather belts, had long hair, were celibate, lived in poverty and never ate cheese or meat.

They condemned murder, even in times of war. There were two Gods, one the Good God and the other evil called Rex Mundi/Satan.

They believed their souls had been trapped in a human form by Satan to suffer and that when they died they would come back indefinitely until such time as they were allowed to enter into heaven for eternity. This belief in reincarnation also included that they could come back as an animal (hence never eating meat).

Unlike the Catholic religion, sins would only be pardoned once, by a ‘parfait’ placing their hand on their head. This would normally be done at the time of death and was called ‘consolament’ after which time the person was forbidden to drink or eat till they died – which sometimes led to people who could have regained health dying of thirst!

The Catholic Church in Rome began to realise that the Cathar religion (also called the Albigeois/ Heretics) was beginning to pose a serious threat as it was officially recognised in France and other countries, which included Italy and

was spreading fast. In order to combat and undermine the Cathars, they used persuasion or the threat of excommunication not only to the heretics but to those who gave them shelter.

When one of the Papal Legates was assassinated in 1208 this gave Pope Innocent III the excuse to call on the Bishops and Lords in the north of France to start a Crusade against the heretics in the south (called the Albigensian Crusade).

All the land and chateaux owned by the Cathars were promised to them as their reward along with indulgences if they joined the Crusade on a forty days contract, which for the participants was much less risky than a Crusade to the Middle East. This was to cover the entire territory from Montpellier to Bordeaux.

In 1209 a strong army of 20,000 Crusaders met in Lyon and descended the Rhone valley under the command of the Abbot, Arnaud Amaury. They arrived outside Beziers and slaughtered the entire population, then took Narbonne, Carcassonne and other towns without encountering any further resistance until the following year.

There is a famous conversation that has been passed down since this period. When asked by a Crusader how to tell Catholics from Cathars once they had taken the city of Beziers, the Abbot supposedly replied, “Kill them all, God will know His own” – “Neca eos omnes. Deus suos agnoscet”.

In 1212 Simon de Montfort, promoted to Commander in Chief of the Crusading Army, was given

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Local History and Culture • 21

Carcassonne. He was requested to assist the Bishop of Agen who wished to be liberated from the control of Raymond VI of Toulouse.

After crossing the Quercy area, he took Montcuq (which had been evacuated), and Tournon d’Agenais before arriving at Penne d’Agenais.

The defence of Penne was given by the Count of Toulouse (Raymond VI), to Hugues d’Alfaro, a Spaniard from Aragon (his brother in law), who was the Steward of Agen.

Learning that the Crusaders were near he set fire to most of the town that could not be defended and closed himself into the chateau with some of the inhabitants, several neighbouring lords and a troop of 400 paid soldiers. The siege of Penne started on Sunday 3rd June 1212, though the date of 15th June is also suggested. It is thought that the battle of Penne finished at the beginning of August.

The crusaders set up their battle machines at the foot of the chateau but these were ineffective due to the steepness and angle. The defenders were able to get a clear shot at the attackers with their own machines and arrows. The elevated site of the chateau gave the defenders the advantage. At the end of June, getting nowhere, Simon de Montfort called his brother for reinforcements. This brought in new forces that were able to attack the walls vigorously with more machines but they were still

unable to breach the walls. Simon de Montfort therefore decided to construct a new model, much bigger and stronger than the others.

While he was constructing the new machine, the Archbishop of Rouen, and the Bishop of Laon and their companions completed their contracts of 40 days and were due to leave. As other soldiers had already started to depart they were asked to stay just till more troops arrived from Carcassonne. By the time the new machine was ready to be put into action the Abbots of Saint-Remy de Reims and Soissons with the Archdeacon of Chalons and others had arrived.

Inside the chateau they were running out of provisions and their water tank reserves were empty.

The besieged asked if their women and children could leave but Simon de Montfort refused without pity.

After two months of siege and due to the heat, with only their wells left as a source of water, these were insufficient to supply enough to quench their thirst. They realised that they would not be able to resist much longer and that when taken they would all be massacred, they requested to relinquish the chateau as long as they could leave with their arms and save their lives. Some reports state that although the terms were agreed to the militants were hung and the heretics burned. So Penne fell into the hands of Simon de Montfort

and was left under the control of the Crusaders. Other towns in the area taken around this time were Montcuq, Tournon d’Agenais, Moissac, Le Mas, Chateau of Biron, Castelsarrassin, Cahors, Casseneuil and Marmande. (see map below).

Raymond VI of Toulouse and his brother in law the King of Aragon also suffered a serious defeat at Muret, near Toulouse in 1213.

The crusaders had won the war but the local population remained hostile and gradually retook their towns and chateaux despite being terrorised by stories of the extermination of the populations of Casseneuil in 1214 and Marmande in 1219.

Simon de Montfort was killed in 1218 at the foot of the walls of Toulouse while trying to reconquer the town. In 1223 Raymond VII, son of Raymond VI, came back to lay siege against Penne which was still held by the Crusaders. Amaury de Montfort, son of Simon de Montfort and new chief of the Crusade, attempted to give support to the besieged, but was beaten in the valley of Boudouyssou.

Raymond VII was about to try and retake the entire Midi when the King of France, Louis VIII, became Chief of the Crusade and with much superior military forces than those of the Count of Toulouse (Raymond VII) forced him to sign the Treaty of Meaux, which included the following: – T o cede to the King most of the chateaux which included Penne – this would be given back to him ten years later, but Raymond VII would be responsible for paying for its upkeep during that time.

– T o recognise the new frontiers of his region, which had two thirds removed.

– T o marry his daughter Jeanne to the brother of the King of France, Alphonse de Poitiers, with the understanding that if the couple

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22 • Local History and Culture

Map of major sites in the Lot & Garonne (and part of Tarn & Garonne) during the 12th and 13th Centuries involved in the Albigensian Crusades

died without having children, that the Comte de Toulouse would be reattached to the crown.

Under the pretence of a war against the heretics, the Albigensian Crusade became a war of conquest to reunite the Midi as a Royal domain.

The Church of Rome was aware that there were still many Cathars left in hiding. They decided to set up the Inquisition to hunt them out.

Raymond VII of Toulouse was obliged to approve the Inquisition but was excommunicated because of his suspected sympathies towards the Cathars. When he fell ill in Penne where his doctors suspected he may die, he called an official from Agen to ask for the excommunication to be removed. After promising to pay for his wrongdoings against the church, and if he survived, to work to remove the heretics from his territory, he obtained absolution on 14 March 1242 in the presence of the Steward of Agen and several witnesses. To prove his sincerity he asked the Bishop of Agen to use the Inquisition against the Cathars. He then forged a coalition with the King of England and several local Lords. The Chateau of Penne fell into the hands of the French army, but Raymond VII retook it again quickly. It was nevertheless required to remain subject to the King of France.

Penne was to be fought over in many skirmishes during the 100 years war, when ownership crisscrossed between the French and English.

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Despite the severity of the Inquisition, for several decades, the resistance organised secure shelter for the Perfects so that they could continue their religion clandestinely. Believers assisted the fugitives with collections from sympathisers. But little by little the population started to detach itself from Catharism because of fear of reprisals even to someone only sympathetic to their cause. To be found guilty of putting someone up for only one night would result in their house being demolished and a perhaps either a prison sentence or a St Jacques pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostella, or another destination nearer to their home. It is believed that at least 500,000 Cathars and Christians were killed during the Albigensian Crusades.

Nowadays, the small perched town of Penne d’Agenais, overlooking the Lot valley, once of great strategic importance a thousand years ago, has been beautifully restored to attract tourists to its paved picturesque streets, with the relatively recent Basilique de Peyragude (started in 1897 but not finished till 1948) replacing previous churches going back to medieval times, prehistoric grottos, and the last remains of the fortified tower of the chateau.

Source ‘Histoire de Penne et de sa Région’ by Marcel Garrouste, and the assistance of Michel Daynès (AA47).

For details of the 800th Anniversary Commemoration for the Siege of Penne 1212 organised by the Penne Tourist Office, see our What’s On page.

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the quercy local • 23

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24 • Local History and Culture

QUERCY’S ROMAN ROADS PART III

By Angela Richards

F

rom Les Tricheries the Voie Romaine is underneath the D656. However, after the new roundabout that goes left to Frespech and right towards Beauville on the D122, the Voie can be seen departing off at an angle on the left under a line of small trees.

mill, where it loops out behind a house at the hamlet of Castagneret then goes across the fields until it reappears near the outskirts of Lacardeyre/Blaymont.

We are now in the vicinity of Massels Roman Villa owned by John Massey, which was detailed in a previous article in The Quercy Local. (The dig is now finished).

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This continues roughly parallel with the D656 but where the main road goes towards St Victor the Voie passes through the hamlet of Douat, on the left and crosses over the D656 beside a large house for sale, just after the large bend. It is at this point that the Voie forks off in two directions, the main Agen/Cahors route continuing now parallel with the D656 on the right, with a deviation that passes down into the Beauville valley going past Menut, Bayole and Merline. This will be reported in a separate article.

So to continue along the Voie, just after leaving St Victor many of us who regularly use the D656 will recognise an old stone house set back from the road without realising that this was constructed right beside the old Voie Romaine which is clearly visible – the ridge along the skyline.

Nearby in Blaymont which is situated on the other side of the plateau where the Villa was found, is Blaymont Church. This is built above a fountain or source (now privately owned), which was dedicated to St Apollonia, an early Christian Martyr. This fountain was known back into pagan times for its healing properties.

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The Voie then disappears in the fields and runs underneath the D656. According to old maps the Voie leaves the modern road in the area of the old The Quercy Local • June-Sept 2012

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The Voie now runs parallel to the D656 on the right through the village, and for a short distance before it veers off to the right through the fields following the slightly higher part of the plateau. Seen here John Massey and Harley about to follow the Voie north of Lacardayre/Blaymont.

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Local History and Culture • 25

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This next photo shows the sign at the end of Lacardayre on the D656 and the group following the Voie.

At this time we need to remember that the whole region of the Lot & Garonne and the Dordogne was inhabited by a number of Celtic tribes (going back thousands of years – the cave paintings of Lascaux are world famous). So the Romans appear to have adapted the track ways that were already in existence. They also tended to keep their roads as high up as possible, following the ridges and plateaux.

Presumably to keep dry, and to be able to see where they were going!

The group following the Voie.

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The Voie is marked on some maps in places as the old Agen Cahors road, (Grande Route d’Agen a Cahors) and is used by tractors and walkers. It is also called Chemin Appelé de Bourniquel, which is named after Queen Brunehaut (see Roman Roads Part I).

This sketch shows the route where it weaves back and forth across and under the D656, and as this map and the photos show, the Voie is clearly not straight.

The reasons for this are because of the contour of the terrain which falls away steeply on both sides of the plateau. Although the Romans tended to build their roads as straight as possible, we believe that in this area the roads were already here and just adapted by the Romans after the invasion around the second century BC.

The border between the Lot & Garonne and Tarn & Garonne.

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Seen here on the walk from Lacadeyre to St Amans de Pech, David Neville, David Marshall, John Massey, Michel Daynes, Fiona Neville, (and not visible in the photo Romain Raphael-Leygues, Brian Gauntlett and Angie Richards).

We have just crossed over the department border into the Tarn & Garonne and lost the Voie’s route as we did not have evidence on old maps or the terrain, which To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

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26 • Local History and Culture

has been ploughed. We visited the Mairies of St Amans de Pech, Roquecor and Montaigu de Quercy, to study the old Napoleonic maps in an endeavour to determine whether the Voie was still visible at that time. This was a marvellous experience because the old cadastral maps are the originals done by hand with ink drawings, and placed in very large folders.

D656 into the field on the other side of the road, where we will pick it up in the next issue.

Our next article will cover the area near Roquecor, with the Voie forking off before Tournon d’Agenais and travelling north of Montaigu towards Couloussac and into unknown territory...

Anyone interested in joining us please contact Angie (angerichards@aol.com) or John (johnvmassey@gmail.com)

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Restaurant ‘La Sirene’ Place de l’Hotel de Ville Montaigu de Quercy (82150)

Unfortunately although part of the Voie can be traced on the right behind the houses, the part back between there and the border follow the modern road which appears to have been the same on the old maps but we were not convinced that this included the Voie because of a line of trees leading away from the D656 just before St Amans.

Our group is fortunate to have been joined by John and Patricia Richardson, both are pilots. They have volunteered to take aerial archaeological photos of missing areas on our route which include the part mentioned above, along with other stretches that have been ploughed out, to hopefully give us visual confirmation on parts that we were not able to do on foot. Their services will also be invaluable once we cross into the Lot. This photo shows the Voie reappearing on the northern outskirts of St Amans de Pech. This starts to curve and after a short distance crosses back over the The Quercy Local • June-Sept 2012

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Varied cuisine and a warm welcome guaranteed in this beautiful 16th century Quercy timber & stone building.

Pretty terrace overlooking old square and pretty local houses Open: Tuesday to Saturday for lunch and Friday and Saturday evenings. From April open Thursday to Saturday evenings.

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28 • Local Arts, Music and Events

Musée de Cahors - Henri Martin

By Karina Knight (www.karina-knight.net)

T

he Henri Martin art museum is a hidden treasure, entered through a charming portico in Rue Emile Zola (no. 792) which is parallel to the Boulevard Gambetta.

Once inside the courtyard of what was originally a residence of the Bishop of Cahors you find the architecture of the mansion but with very 21st century graphics and sometimes installations. It became a museum in 1833 with the bequeathing of various donations. While you are there it is always worthwhile taking a stroll around the charming 19th century ‘Park Tassard.’ which is adjacent to the Museum.

The Henri Martin collection of rural pointillist paintings is housed in specially designed room which was required for his large scale triptych painting ‘Monument du mort’. You can approach close to the works as well as seeing them from a distance to see exactly how they were painted. Henri Martin (1860-1943) was an impressionist painter who was born in Toulouse and ended his working life in Labastide du Vert (46140).

As well as his paintings there is also an eclectic selection of rare objects from a wide range of periods and places, from Polynesia, Egypt, Etruscan artefacts as well as local Roman and medieval objects. You will find a changing, often very inventive display. The museum curator, Laurant Guillaut, wants the art to speak to all using lighting, music, video and static displays.

He presents a range of different exhibitions with contemporary artists mixing with historic presentations.

One panelled room has recently been renovated to its former glory and this contrasts with the white cube spaces and the lively presentation of the classic objects in the collection.

In the last couple of years I have really enjoyed a wide selection of objects and artworks, including an installation of fabrics by Beatrice Casadesus, which related to works of Henri Martin and the naive art of a Lotois woman. Maria Espaliieu, with figures from the farm, animals and models of furniture all made out of old bits of wood and painted.

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At the moment you will see classic paintings depicting power, narrative and romanticism including a room devoted to the male form and many masks and small sculptures from the animist tradition of the Dogon from Mali.

The next exhibition (15th Sept – 26th Oct) is about the Lotois artist Louttre B. The work of Loutte B (born 1926) expresses simply and powerfully his astonishment at being in the world, a return to childhood and discovery.

Although he started as an abstract painter (like his father) he felt the need for a more figurative approach to anchor his works in the poetics of reality. It was an honest response but not limited to copying the reality.

Loutte B’s love of the region was confirmed in his statement – ‘’I think we’re very fortunate today to live in the Lot, or more specifically in the Quercy. It is a land barren and healthy formed canyons and hills forgotten by the wind. It is a space covered with stars, tracks and walls, caves and cairns, oak-moss and colour of wheat fields sown with poppies. This is a mosaic of plots clustered around “oustals” as big as pocket handkerchiefs, dotted with shrines, oratories and low houses whose lintels are decorated with suns, roses and checkerboards.’’

The association, ‘the friends of the museum’ organises talks and trips so you can be even more involved that just popping in while out shopping or showing visiting friends the historic sites of Cahors.

There are also school visits and workshops for the young. The museum is open every day (except Tuesday) 11-18h, Sundays and bank holidays 14 – 18h The museum is free for under 18s on the first Sunday of each month and normal tariff is 3e , half price for over 60s and 18-25s. Guided tours can be arranged for groups of more than 10 people (bring your own translator for the group). Keep up to date – www.mairie-cahors.fr/musee, 05 65 20 88 6, musee@mairie-cahors.fr

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Local Arts, Music and Events • 29

Contemporary oils in the ancient Church of Ste. Foy, Pujols

I

f you haven’t been to Pujols (close to Villeneuvesur-Lot) before or perhaps you’ve not been there for a long time, then Corrine Vilcaz’s art exhibition this summer might be the perfect opportunity to change this and take the time to visit this extraordinarily-beautiful, floral and ancient village.

Corrine, has permanent exhibitions of her work in Japan, the United States, across Europe and notably in Paris where she also takes part in the annual Carrousel de Louvres. She has also had temporary exhibitions of her work in many of France’s regional exhibition spaces.

Whereas actually has her own workshop and gallery in located in Villeneuve. Four years ago, Ste Foy Church, in Pujols housed one of Corinne’s exhibitions and she’s delighted to be back to what is one of the most stunning settings for her work.

The exhibition will take place between the 6th and the 18th of September the art work will be leaving France directly from the exhibition for exhibitions in both Switzerland and Japan, so it is worth making a note in

your diary and getting along to see the work whilst it’s so close to hand.

What can you expect to see? Corinne’s work is largely oil on canvas with a wide range of sizes; they are in both a figurative and an abstract style that plays with form and colour which suggests a wide variety of subjects from floral, landscapes and even marine. These subjects can be identified amongst the intense, contrasting colours and Corinne’s very particular use of balancing vertical lines. This style will appeal to both the lovers of abstract works but also those that seek some realism in what they see. At this summer’s exhibition in Pujols, Corinne will also be presenting the book of her art, with images, text and her own biography.

So once the intensity of August has passed and you are looking for a peaceful day out to recover from a month of visitors then maybe head to Pujols and the Church of Ste Foy. Wed and Fri: 3 to 6.30 pm; Sat and Sun: 10 to 12 am - 2 to 7 pm. Vernissage : up to 6.30 pm Saturday the 6th of Sept. Corinne can be contacted on 05 53 41 49 69 www.vilcaz.free.fr

‘Kaléidoscope’

G

raham and Belinda Berry present “Kaléidoscope” A photography exhibition at the mairie in Montcuq (46) from Sat. 11th Aug. to Fri. 24th Aug. 2012.

The word “kaleidoscope” is derived from the Ancient Greek kalos “beautiful, beauty”, eidos “that which is seen: form, shape” and skopeo “to look to, to examine”, hence “observer of beautiful forms.”

Graham and Belinda run photography courses and holidays from their home in Montcuq (see www.imagefrance.co.uk) and have been exhibiting photographs locally since 2008. This exhibition will

bring together a wide variety of their images, drawing on the richness and beauty that they see in the world around them and particularly here in South West France.

Details of opening times etc. will be available later at www. grahamberryphotography.com/kaleidoscope/

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30 • local arts, Music and events

Aboriginal Art

‘Art is important for communities; it is a lifelong journey to respect our culture and stay strong and for our children to learn two-ways.’

Roquecor hosts some original work and Michelle Debuf explains (ANKAA Value statement [Association of Northern, why this art is important...

Kimberley and Arnhem Aboriginal Artists] Australia)

had gone out of his country and into France. I encourage you to visit the Café du Centre to view the collection.

Opening night: Monday 18th June 6.30pm.

The exhibition continues till July 15. All paintings are for sale.

D

uring February 2012, I was privileged to be able to visit the aboriginal artists of ANKAA. I met the artists and saw them at work. I witnessed first-hand the creative input, skill, time, costs of materials and cultural significance of the work. The artists earn their livelihood from painting and sustain their families and community with the income earned from art making. I personally chose original and culturally significant pieces for this exhibition.

ANKAA Chairman Djambawa Marawili AM said: The senior artists are giving us a number one important message. If they die before finishing their teaching, the knowledge, the patterns and designs will be destroyed and we will have nothing.

We must look after those old artists properly, with proper health care and conditions. They are making the art for the benefit of the clan, for the black fella for the land and for the sea. They are showing us this is who we are, this is what has been passed on… when I focus and reflect my mind, I can see the story on the land, and on the sea. I have the patterns and design, and the names of those people are still alive. We still use their names and are passing them on to a new generation coming behind us… my patterns always come from my country. When we go across into someone else’s country we need to ask first before we can paint it.

That is what I learnt from my father.

The paintings in the exhibition are either acrylic, ochre or a mix of both mediums. Each painting has a Certificate of Authenticity, the artist’s description of the painting and a profile of the artist and in most cases their photo. Some of the artists included in the exhibition are JuJu Wilson whom I met personally, Bevan Tjampitjinpa, Deanne Peters, June Peters, Dora Griffiths granddaughter of Alan Griffiths a wellknown aboriginal elder of the Kununurra region and Eddie Blitner. Last year I sold Eddies paintings at a private exhibition, he was thrilled to think his work The Quercy Local • June-Sept 2012

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Café du Centre Roquecor 82150 tel : 0563952178 www.caferoquecor.com

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11/05/2012 16:25

Local Arts, Music and Events • 31

Antic Disposition – bringing Shakespeare back to Quercy

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his August, London-based theatre company Antic Disposition return to the Lot and Dordogne valleys for the eighth year running with A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Shakespeare’s ever-popular tale of the chaotic events that occur one moonlit night, when a handful of mortals accidentally stumble into the magical world of the fairies.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is one of Shakespeare’s most enduring and appealing plays; a perfect blend of exquisite poetry and broad comedy. In the topsy-turvy world of the Athenian woods, Shakespeare shows us how even the best intentions and most carefully laid plans can go astray, but how love, loyalty and a little bit of magic can ensure that everything turns out all right in the end.

The play was probably penned in 1595, and was an instant hit. It was published twice during Shakespeare’s lifetime, before appearing in the First Folio of 1623.

It fell somewhat out of favour in the late 17th century (Samuel Pepys famously pronouncing it, ‘The most insipid, ridiculous play that I ever saw’), before returning triumphantly to Covent Garden in 1840, with music by Mendelssohn, including the famous wedding march.

The play has held the stage ever since, with notable 20th-century outings including Beerbohm Tree’s 1900 Haymarket production featuring live birds and rabbits, and Peter Brook’s legendary acrobatic 1970 production, in which the fairies swung from trapezes. Film versions have included big-budget Hollywood treatments in 1935 and 1999, but neither quite caught the plays theatrical magic, which seems to defy celluloid.

Imaginative, poetical and entertaining, A Midsummer Night’s Dream is above all a beautifully crafted play.

Perfectly balanced between the mortal and fairy worlds, the secret to its enduring popularity is that it has something in it for everybody, young and old alike.

Antic Disposition’s fast-paced and colourful production recently completed a sell-out, critically acclaimed run in the spectacular Elizabethan setting of Middle Temple Hall in London – the location of the very first performance of another of Shakespeare’s great comedies, Twelfth Night, in 1602. The production now makes the journey to southwest France to be performed in a range of stunning open-air locations.

On the cobblestones of medieval village squares and against a backdrop of vineyards and sunflower fields, Antic Disposition’s Dream combines madcap comedy,

lyrical poetry, evocative music and visual spectacle, offering an enchanting evening of entertainment for the whole family.

“Beguilingly lucid and engaging ... Deliciously fresh and spirited ... The company convey the story with infectious zest. This imaginative and unpretentious staging would make an admirable introduction to the play for a child or teenager, while taking the cognoscenti back to the bounteous basics” The Independent, UK A Midsummer Night’s Dream will be performed around the Lot and Dordogne valleys from 7th – 16th August 2012.

7 August Loubejac Centre du village 8 August Lauzerte Place des Cornières 10 August Monflanquin Place des Arcades 13 August Montcuq Espace Nino Ferrer 14 August Belves La Halle 16 August Puy l’Évêque Théâtre de Verdure Tickets: e20 – e30. Free for children under 13 For more information and to book tickets, please visit www.ad-tour.com

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32 • Local Arts, Music and Events

Mystery, excitement and emotion in the Nuits de Lauzerte

T

he theme for this 13th year of the Lauzerte nights is ‘Passages’. On one level, this reflects the classic grid layout of the medieval part of this historic village, closed to traffic and transformed into an atmospheric candlelit circuit. On another level, the various and varied professionals - musicians, dancers, installation artists, street actors – performing in gardens, courtyards and public spaces dotted around the circuit, are sure to interpret Passages in many different ways. As will the public, who are invited to take part in interactive events, by writing messages, creating light patterns, or even going on the catwalk ‘passage’ of an impromptu DIY hat parade!

Contemporary but accessible art in a historic setting: such is the ambition of this extraordinary festival.

Park at the bottom of Lauzerte hill and take the free minibus up to the main square. Here, with live music, you can choose between a restaurant meal, bar food and the popular “pick ’n’ choose” formula, buying different good things to eat and drink from different stalls and sitting down at long tables, village fête style.

And when night falls, enter the candlelit circuit for three hours of sensation! Feast your eyes and ears on contemporary dance, street performances, giant sculptures, huge photo projections, music for organ and violin, and more … in all, no less than fifteen artists or groups performing non-stop 10 pm to 1 am, so that you can take it all in at your own pace and following your own preferences.

Don’t miss it, it gets better every year!

Fri 3 and Sat 4 Aug., 10 pm to 1 am (with open access to restaurants and live music on the square before and through the evenings). Free parking and minibus from the bottom of Lauzerte hill. Tickets 13e The Quercy Local • June-Sept 2012

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for 1 night, 20e for both nights. Children free under 14 (circuit includes a special “children’s corner”).

Advance purchase from July recommended from www.nuitsdelauzerte.fr or Lauzerte tourist office (05 63 94 61 94).

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11/05/2012 16:25

Local Arts, Music and Events • 33

Quercy Unplugged

By Mike Jones

F

or new readers here’s a summary of what Quercy Unplugged is all about – all you veterans can skip this bit and read on.

Long story short… for just over a year we’ve been hosting a free concert featuring local groups (usually duos, trios etc), recording the concerts and broadcasting them on our local radio Antenne D’Oc every second Thursday at 4pm. The musicians are a mix of nationalities and not only have we continued to see new faces in the audience but also groups are coming to play from as far away as Limoge.

There are usually three groups per concert each playing for around 40 minutes. In this way the musicians have time to settle in and show us what they are all about and the audience knows that, if they aren’t too keen on one group then another will be along soon. We run the concerts at a quirky little café/bar –the Puits du Jour- in the old square at the top of the bastide town on Lauzerte. We start at 8pm and finish before 11pm. There’s no need to book, we don’t charge for entry, the musicians play voluntarily and so the audience have responded by each putting in 5 euros when we pass the hat.

The musicians benefit in a number of ways. They achieve radio, and now internet, exposure and we create a good deal of awareness both before and after the concerts but, perhaps just as important, after the concerts we mix the music for the radio and give each group a CD of their performance which they can use to promote their group. If you have a group or simply want to get involved in any way then do contact us at quercyunplugged@gmail.com We got off to a late start this year due to the bad weather conditions in February and we had to reschedule the concert. Our ‘Live’ Internet presence only began in March. This was very successful and so you can now listen to the concerts – warts and all- live on the internet wherever you are in the world- go to the web radio site lagrossetambouille.com and when the little dot next to ‘Le Puits de Jour ‘is lit up then we are ‘on-air’ - from 8.15 pm on the night of each concert.

Perfect for cheering yourself up when you are back at work after your holiday in France!

We now have a website at www.quercyunplugged. com. There you can check the concert dates, find out who is booked to play and read a profile of the performers along with their contact details. If it is legally possible we’ll put their recordings on the site and perhaps enable you to download their songs and of

course we’ll give you details of any other music events in the area.

This year’s concert dates (all Thursdays) are planned to be as follows but do check this on our website just in case there has been a change of plan.

May 24th,June 7th, September 6th, October 4th, November 15th, and December 6th.

Antenne D’Oc frequencies; between 88 and 105 Mhz throughout the Lot. (To hear archived programmes follow ‘emissions’ and ‘quercyunplugged’) My thanks again to everyone who makes this project a success – our audiences, the musicians, the staff at the Puits du Jour staff and Radio Antenne D’Oc. I’m off to plan the next concert …. See you at the Puits de Jour, on the radio or on the Internet….’bye for now...

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34 • Local Arts, Music and Events

‘Back to Church Sunday’

B

ack to Church Sunday’ is always the last Sunday in Sept. This year at Terre Rouge (Cahors) it’ll be Sunday 30th Sept. at 10am “Would you like to come to church with me?”

– Millions of people who don’t go to church would say yes to an invitation from a friend. What if you were that friend? Who would you invite?

“Back to Church Sunday has caught on in churches everywhere because it’s so simple.

Since 2004 250 000 people have said yes to the prayerful invitation of a friend. Each year more churches take part and more people come back per church. In 2011 in the Church of England, 20 more people came to each church – across all denominations about 77,000 extra people altogether. At its heart it’s the oldest idea of all, the one that made shepherds leave their flocks, fishermen leave their nets, and tax collectors climb out of trees. Someone invited them. Back to Church Sunday can help you take the shortest step in evangelism: inviting someone you know to something you love.”

Info – Chaplaincy website www.escotc.com and if you’d like to receive an invite for ‘Back to Church Sunday’ – please contact us via the website.

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11/05/2012 16:25

Local Arts, Music and Events • 35

What’s On – in and around the region...

SPEED TALKING in Cahors email: aalec@orange.fr Come and practise French with French people while having a drink. 7mn in French, 7mn in English and you change table! It’s a fun way to improve your French and make some friends. 17h - 18h the last Sat. of every month. Bar Le Bordeaux. 06 12 25 06 61 Various activities and loads of bargains, all year round at the Cat Charity shop in aid of Chats du Quercy, in the fantastic medieval village of St Antonin Noble Val( 82140 ) nestling in the Gorges of the Averyon. Well worth a visit, check opening hours on www.chatsduquercy.com Marché Gourmands Every Tuesday Evening in July and Aug, Bourg de Visa (82190) Contemporary Art Exhibition and Art Market 46120 Lacapelle Marival. All in the various rooms in the 13th century chateau from July 1 - 31 August open every day. 10.30-12.30 and 15-18.30, 05 65 40 85 93 Art Exhibitions in the old convent, Belaye, 46140, next to one of the best views in the Lot with drinks and light meals available. Call David 06 77 81 00 97 to reserve food. June & Sept – Tues - Sun – 11am to 7pm. July & Aug – Every day – 11am to 7pm. Programme of exhibitions can be seen on www.carre-dart.fr (click on “calendrier des expos” and look for Exposition à Bèlaye)

JUNE Goujoun’Art EXHIBITION 46250 GOUJOUNAC 2 – 9 June - 30 selected artists in barns and gardens in this delightful village www.goujounart.com See website for timings.

Champions of Le Boulvé (4th year) French vs

Etrangers Friday 8th June, 8pm. La salle des fêtes, Le Boulvé, 46800. Reservations: 05 65 22 71 64 / michael.jones@alsatis.net. 3 course meal – wine included in the price, Price 12e adults, 8e children under 12.

Orchestre de Centre Philharmonique – The Gipsy Baron by Johann Strauss, June 6, Verteuil d’Agenais (47260); June 7, Casteljaloux (47700); June 8, Puy l’Evêque; June 9, Bergerac (24100); June 10, Penne d’Agenais. Adults 20e: 10e 12–18, unemployed etc; under 12 free. Tickets at the door or reserve 05 53 41 91 49. Enquiries 05 65 36 45 98 www.ocp-verteuil.com.

The 800th Anniversary Commemoration for the Siege of Penne 1212 organised by the

Penne Tourist Office. Saturday 2 June Medieval dinner at the château (by reservation.)

Friday 15 June Inauguration of the ‘quinzaine du livre d’histoire’ Friday 22 June 18 h. Conference in French

by Pierre Simon: “L’Agenais au début du XIIIème siècle”; 19 h. Conference in French by Anne Brenon: Le Catharisme; 21 h. Concert Temps Clar Saturday 30 June 18 h. Visit to Casseneuil; 19 h. Music and fabliau (short stories/verse) of the Middle Ages. Information and reservations via Penne Tourist Office, or your local Tourist Office.

Lavender Farm – Open Weekend

– 23 & 24 June, 10am - 7pm. Ferme Lacontal, Touffailles, 82190 www.lacontal.fr

Midsummer Hog Roast with live music from Bluestrain. Raising funds for Poorpaws Dog Rescue and Cancer Research at ICR. Apero and two course supper included. 29th June, 19.00 at St Pantaleon (46800) Salle de Fete.

Tickets e20, reduction for under 12s contact: patricia.lockett@orange.fr Catwalk Fashion Show and Lunch

Les Amis des Chats email: secretaire.ladc@gmail.com – midday, 23 June at the Salle des fêtes, Roquecor 82 (reserve. essential 05 63 95 20 29)

JULY Summer Fête Les amis des chats email: secretaire. ladc@gmail.com, 8th July from 2.30 pm, place de la Mairie, Beauville (47), lots of stands including arts and crafts, books, clothes, cakes; BBQ and bar.

AUGUST A Midsummer Night’s Dream

by Antic Disposition. 6 - 17th August – various locations – see www.ad-tour.com

Graham and Belinda Berry present

“Kaléidoscope” – A photography exhibition at the mairie in Montcuq (46) from Sat 11th Aug to Fri 24th Aug. Details of opening times etc. will be available later at www.grahamberryphotography.com/kaleidoscope/

SEPTEMBER Back to Church Sunday 30th Sept 10am at Terre Rouge (Cahors) see www.escotc.com

OCTOBER QUIZ Les Amis des Chats

email: secretaire.ladc@gmail.com Sunday 7 October 4pm at the Cafe du Centre, Roquecor (82); raffle, bar, snacks, best to reserve your table 10 euro/table 4 people

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36 • local arts, Music and events

Orchestre de Centre Philharmonique (OCP)

F

or lovers of operas, oratorios, lyric and symphonic concerts or simply ‘music’, the OCP has brought all these to life in intimate locations, to the delight of local audiences for the last 20 years. So close to home you can catch performances by classical musicians and vocalists from all over Europe.

Richard Beswick, artistic director and co-founder of the OCP, is a concert entrepreneur who leads the orchestras, composes and makes events accessible and enjoyable to all. It’s his desire that people put aside any pre-conceived ideas and quite simply come and take from the music whatever they personally enjoy. Richard believes that the OCP is building a bridge between those involved in the community of ‘Philharmonic’ (meaning – music-loving). These include the chorus (amateurs who’ve committed incredible energy); the musicians and soloists (many at the conservatory, or newly qualified and looking

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for experience); and the public (sometimes regular audiences but also those coming for the first time).

Staging events is expensive, OCP recovers about half their costs from ticket sales but rely also on memberships and sponsors. The OCP are determined that their future is positive – with many stunning performances yet to be staged! You can contact the group at www.ocp-verteuil.com.

The next performances – The Gipsy Baron by Johann Strauss, June 6, Verteuil d’Agenais (47260); June 7, Casteljaloux (47700); June 8, Puy l’Evêque; June 9, Bergerac (24100); June 10, Penne d’Agenais (47140).

Adults 20e: 10e 12–18, unemployed etc; under 12 free. Tickets at the door or reserve 05 53 41 91 49.

Enquiries (Eng) 05 65 36 45 98 The OCP expects to perform its usual orchestral concerts around the All Saints weekend in early Nov. Please check the website nearer the time for details.

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11/05/2012 16:25

the quercy local • 37

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38 • the quercy local

The Quercy Local • June-Sept 2012

The Quercy Local June 2012.indd 38

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11/05/2012 16:25

local arts, Music and events • 39

Local author, Andy Frazier, combines his love of

farm animals and a good tale in the new children’s book ‘The Amazing Adventures of Oinky Grub’

A

ndy Frazier moved to South West France five years ago, where he now shares his life with his partner Wendy, a flock of sheep and some powertools which he is afraid to switch on! “Writing children’s novels is a very enjoyable way to get out of doing real work,” says Andy, who in more recent years earned his living as an IT consultant until it nearly bored him to death.

During his years growing up on a farm in the English Midlands, Andy Frazier had a pet baby pig, which he named Oinky Grub and used to take for walks in the local village.

Quite a few years later, after an eclectic selection of careers which

including grooming cows for the rich and famous, Andy somehow ended up as a children’s author, living on a smallholding in S W France.

Andy’s books for children have generally centred on farm animals, with previous heroines including Princess (a bullied half-breed calf that goes on to overcome many hurdles and great adventures). In his latest novel Andy introduces young readers to Oinky Grub – a small but very brave piglet. If you are looking for a different and original read for your children or grandchildren then maybe you should introduce them to this new and local character.

The Amazing Adventures of Oinky Grub In this novel, aimed at readers 10 and upwards, Oinky gets his tail chopped off, sold on ebay and has a short career as a racing pig, among other things. Towards the end of the story the villainous Dick Pyle (who in real life runs the Truffle Tree www.truffle-tree.com) spots Oinky in a Toulouse marketplace with his young owner, and introduces him to truffles. Spotting that the pig has a fine nose,

Champions of Le Boulvé (4th year)

French vs Etrangers – Friday 8th June, 8pm.

La salle des fêtes, Le Boulvé, 46800 Reservations: 05 65 22 71 64 / michael.jones@alsatis.net 3 course meal - wine included in the price Price 12e adults, 8e children under 12.

A light-hearted, general-knowledge quiz where the questions are the same for the French and the Etrangers.

Questions are asked both in English and in French.

A combination of a pub quiz and French repas.

Une soirée sympatique est trés conviviale!

Vegetarian option available ‘par commande’ Organised by l’Association Le Boulvé International and hosted by Mike Jones and Elodie Guerard.

Dick coverts Oinky in an attempt to help him dig truffles from his orchards. Without spoiling the ending, the threat of a bbq emerges to hilarious and somewhat chaotic consequences.

The Amazing Adventures of Oinky Grub (ISBN 978-1470985141 – Chauffour Press) is available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle. www.andyfrazier.co.uk For more information, please contact Andy Frazier on andy@andyfrazier.co.uk

Atelier-Galerie Corinne Vilcaz Chemin de massanès 47300 Villeneuve sur lot www.vilcaz.free.fr Summer Painting Courses see website.

Visit Corinne in her gallery/workshop Opening hours: Thurs: 2 pm-5.30 pm Fri/Sat: 10 am-12 pm - 2 pm-18.00 pm Sun: by appt. 05 53 41 49 69

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The Quercy Local June 2012.indd 39

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40 • the quercy local

Mick Bates – Monflanquin (47150) General Electrician

Certified & Registered Business in France for all Electrical Works | New & Renovation Works Plumbing | All works guaranteed | Free quotation

Tel. 05 82 95 05 73 Port. 06 27 71 94 51 Refer to this advert to receive a 10% discount

Michelle Jones

is offering French lessons from September Ex UK Head of a successful Modern Foreign Languages Department

l

17 years teaching experience

l

Qualified to teach French up to A-level standard

l

If you want to learn in a relaxed friendly atmosphere, then these courses could be for you!

Telephone:

05 63 30 56 62 / 06 05 16 91 30

Specialist Quad Bikes

SSV and all accessories

Agents for POLARIS spécialiste Quads SSV et accessoires

82200 Montesquieu Benoît Decaunes 06.82.94.89.98 email: benoitd@frejabise.net

Email:

michelle.jones0311@orange.fr The Quercy Local • June-Sept 2012

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11/05/2012 16:25

the quercy local • 41

Hello and thank you for taking the time to read this, my name is Mark Wilson and I moved to France with my family ten years ago and have since then continued my profession as a tree surgeon in France.

As tree surgeons we pride ourselves on having a vast knowledge of all tree care including felling, pruning and planting.

Every job is different so every time we receive an enquiry we will visit your site and give your job an expert individual assessment it needs and give our expert advice.

info@roots-shoots.fr www.roots-shoots.fr Tel: 05 53 75 05 48 Mobile 06 89 79 05 02

Tree surgery is not only our livelihood but our passion that means we always deliver the best, professional service possible to you the client.

Health and safety is our top priority not just to ourselves but to your property. With this in mind you can have confidence that we carry full public liability insurance.

Using our own wood chipper and stump grinder – keeps our prices highly competitive!

We are happy to provide a free quote in your area.

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The Quercy Local June 2012.indd 41

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11/05/2012 16:25

42 • aniMals and Wildlife

3 Kindly souls rescued from the meat trade

I

n March, Jan (from Liberte des Anes) heard about some abandoned mules and ponies. They were elderly and had always lived together, sadly these 3 were in a butcher’s yard and there seemed very little hope of a reprieve.

Jan made the trip to rescue them, hoping she’d soon be able to re-home them and make the remainder of their lives more hopeful. What she found was three kindly and timid souls, with poor coats and a little confused with what the world was doing to them. One of the mules had (and still suffers from) a nasty injury to her jaw but, other than this, most of their ills were nothing that time and care could not sort out.

Oh, if it was as simple as that! These new recruits needed immediate attention from the farrier, vet and dentist. They hadn’t had inoculations, been wormed nor did they have the required micro-chips, passports or paperwork. All of this costs a great deal of money and put an immediate strain on an already over-stretched rescue centre for needy donkeys.

Jan now reports that Miracle, Miri and Maggie (as they are now called) are now improving in both health and confidence and she hopes that soon she’ll be able

to find homes (or preferably one home together) for this little family.

Liberte des Anes, holds regular open days during the summer – so do keep an eye on their website and see if you can go along and meet some of the many residents. Jan is always looking for ways to help fund the sanctuary, the on-going costs of 26 donkeys/mules/ ponies living at the Shelter are significant.

If ever you’ve thought how much you’d like to keep a donkey but know it’s not a practical possibility then maybe helping those donkeys in need is the next best thing! Donations always most gratefully received.

Cheques (£ or e) payable to: Liberte des Anes, La Volvene, Belvéze, 82150. Alternatively, you can make a one-off or regular donation via the society’s bank account FR76 1120 6201 3509 2864 3616 657.

Thankyou www.libertedesanes.com

LE BEFFROI Restaurant, Café, Hotel

In the heart of a beautiful bastide town Open all year Lovely terrace for summer dining We can provide banquets & seminars English spoken

Place de l’Hôtel de Ville, 47370 Tournon D’Agenais Tel. 05 53 01 20 59 lebeffroi.tournon@free.fr www.lebeffroi.fr

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11/05/2012 16:25

animals and wildlife • 43

Drive, Determination and Dartmoor Ponies!

W

hilst in the Quercy area you may have noticed the occasional paddock with a relaxed-looking, tail-swishing native pony or two. Many of this region’s native ponies are not dissimilar to some familiar British breeds but if you do happen to pass a field of what appears to be Dartmoor ponies then your eyes may not be deceiving you!

Sue Deseyne and her husband Rudy brought their family of Dartmoor ponies from England to Cazes Mondenard (82110) in 2008. Moving to France, can prove a shock to the system but the process was stress free for Sue’s ponies who, born to cooler and harsher open moors they adapted to the local extremes of climate. Sue arrived with 11 ponies in total, including her two championship driving ponies (Truly Scrumptious and Corndonford Fleur) some have been re-homed here in France and are spreading the good-word about this astonishingly calm and willing little breed.

Whilst Sue’s ponies coped admirably with the move, they didn’t avoid the administrative problems that await new arrivals in France. Indeed there’s a whole layer of ‘pony administration’ ready to catch out new arrivals.

Sue’s ponies were registered as Dartmoor Hill Ponies in the UK but have had to accept their new status of ‘unknown breed’ on their French paper-work. It is not possible to be identified as a particular breed in France unless you can trace the parentage for 7 generations.

This inevitably causes a problem with ponies bred- wild on a moor! Clearly you’d have to be very lucky to prove a foal’s exact sire.

Those involved with the protection of the breed could tell you which herd a pony came from as each herd has developed its own characteristics. Free-living on the side of a wind-swept hill-side does mean that when a pony leaves home shores it may have to accept

some rather unflattering French administrative labelling.

None of this has dulled the enthusiasm of Sue and her ponies who’ve gone on to prove themselves ‘Champions of France’ with their regular competing in driving competitions, both locally and further afield.

Usually as a pair (but occasionally single) Sue soon got involved with local driving clubs. It was necessary to start to understand what French judges were expecting to see, particularly with the dressage events. Sue had been highly successful whilst competing in the UK, leaving on a high note with a 3rd place for her girls at the Carriage-House Indoor Horse Driving Trials Championships at Keysoe in 2008.

Anyone that has ever been involved with the showing or competing of horses will understand that understanding the judges expectations is paramount; these can vary from county to county in the UK, so clearly you’d expect a hugely different set of criteria between two countries, each with its own proudlyguarded, equestrian tradition.

Traditionally this region’s driving ponies include Landais (with a strong Arab influence), Meren (similar to a British Fell Pony) and Camargue ponies along with a tough little pony from the Pyrenees (similar to a Dartmoor) called a Pottok. The diminutive Dartmoors caused quite a stir when they started competing locally, being different to the ponies already competing audiences soon took these dynamic little ladies to their hearts and willed them to greater success. For such small ponies they show great bravery and Sue explains that they are wonderful driving ponies because of their ability to show great calm, level-headedness and immediately rise to the challenge of speed and daring.

As well as being a familiar sight at driving competitions in the Midi Pyrenees (being crowned the Champions of the Midi Pyrenees in 2011), Sue and

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By A Atkinson

The Quercy Local • June-Sept 2012

11/05/2012 16:25

44 • animals and wildlife

Back in the UK this tough little pony is believed to have inhabited the moors for almost 2000 years.

The ponies have developed different types (largely determined by the area they inhabit on the moors) with the smaller ponies being found higher up and the larger animals a little lower down. The ponies come in different colours but are most often bay, chestnut or roan. Some herds have coloured ponies and even (but rarely) a spotted pony or two.

her girls also qualify for French National Championships.

So in 2009 Sue and Rudy took the long route to Lamotte Beuvron (near Orleans) where they achieved a huge winning margin. The ponies did their best ever dressage test and received a huge response from the 25,000 strong crowd. Sue and her little English dynamos won the week and brought home the trophy to Cazes Mondenard.

It would be hard to find anyone tougher or more determined than these ponies, but the other half of this success story is maybe just that. Sue has spent her life working with horses and ponies and she is highly competitive and determined that her team will succeed. This determination has seen Sue recover from a number of very serious injuries and go straight back to her sport. On one occasion Sue found herself in Stoke Manderville Hospital after breaking her neck.

On discharge she planned and executed a sponsored horse-ride, from Edinburgh to London and raised around 2 million pounds for ‘Spinal Research’. With this sort of spirit and big-hearted ponies it is easy to see why this team is a winning one.

Interested in going along to see some driving contests? Sue suggests that the contest near Caussade (Castel Haut, Caussade, 82300, 05 63 93 22 23) on the 23rd and 24th of June is a great one to visit.

Would a Dartmoor Hill Pony would be right for you?

Sue may be able to help you decide and maybe locate the right pony; if you’re thinking of a finding a child’s pony or driving pony then a Dartmoor Hill Pony shouldn’t be overlooked!

Sue and Rudy not only have their ‘champions’ (Truly and Fleur) at home, there’s also the roancoloured Dartmoor called Cider and the striking Wendy (who’s a coloured Dartmoor pony). Rudy has some elegant Spanish horses and Sue has a selection of larger riding horses. This all takes some time and so if there are any local, capable riders (with their own transport) who’d be interested in helping Sue then they should get in touch. Maybe there’s a rider out there who’d like the chance to learn to drive ponies!

Sue can be contacted on: sueup@ymail.com The Quercy Local • June-Sept 2012

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In an attempt to achieve the qualities that are now synonymous with this hard-working breed the ponies were originally crossed with Thoroughbred, Arab, Hackney, Welsh and even Fell Pony stock. Evolving then down two different lines, the Dartmoor pony has become a popular show pony renowned for its beauty whereas the Dartmoor Hill pony which has been developed for practical purposes; including working down the mines and as weight-carrying and driving ponies. These tough little animals were also noticed by those looking to produce polo ponies; when the ponies were then crossed with Arab or Thoroughbred stock.

Many readers may have read about the plight of the ponies that are sadly sold at market for little money and end up in the meat trade. Slaughter men have reported a huge rise in the number of, otherwise healthy, ponies they are required to destroy. Many of these unwanted animals end up being sent to zoos as animal feed. The rise in the numbers of ponies being destroyed is in part due to the owners/ commoners being required to reduce numbers on the moor and also the very low value that the ponies achieve at market making their breeding non-viable.

Attempts are being made to use sterilization to avoid foals destined only for slaughter. The number of ponies on the moor is greatly reduced and many people fear that this native breed could end up extinct. The Dartmoor Hill Pony Association is working to reverse this terrible situation but they have recently lost any funding help from Natural Britain. You can find out more about the ponies (and donate) on their website www.dartmoorhillpony.com The Dartmoor pony’s style of grazing (and desire to eat gorse) is vital to the maintenance of the moor’s ecology they’ve played a large part in carving out the stunning scenery that continues to awe visitors to the moors. Even Steven Speilberg was reportedly overcome by the beauty of the region when choosing to film ‘War Horse’ there recently.

The plight of these ponies is in no way a reflection on their value as both riding and driving ponies. Sue’s winning pony, Truly Scrumptious, was bought from Chagford Sales when she was around 5 months old; she cost Sue £5 and had been on her way to the meat wagon!

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11/05/2012 16:25

aniMals and Wildlife • 45

THE CARAVAN OF HOPE 2012

T

he SLL White Horses charity will be setting out again on the 9th of May 2012 on the third ‘Caravan of Hope’ journey, taking French and British young people from disadvantaged backgrounds or with sociological problems and help them to get their lives working by enabling them to care for and ride the horses during the gruelling six month journey’.

The charity buys horses in the Camargue and then ridden from the Saintes Maries de la Mer across the whole of Western France, then from Cherbourg on to London arriving mid-October 2012. The horses are then donated to RDA Centres in the UK (Riding for the Disabled Association) and to similar centres in France). The whole trip is undertaken with an ecological approach to travelling and living.

This year the Caravan of Hope will include two covered wagons for our ‘escort vehicles’, one drawn by 2 Franc Comtois draught horses, and the other by 2 Cobs Normand draught horses, 6 Camargue horses ridden by the young people and team leaders. Jakki Cunningham, Founder of the SLLASSOC said of the project “We rely heavily on donations, supporters and volunteers to enable us to run this project for which we are so grateful, however we are always looking for new sponsors and would love to be able to do this every year as it is such a privilege to see the way the children develop and grow their skills during the journey”.

Details about the charity can be found at: www.sllassoc.com.

The SLL White Horses charity is a Franco-British registered charity with humanitarian aims. Using horses, the charity helps the following two groups of people: – disadvantaged young French and British people – disabled people in France and the UK. CONTACT :00 44 (0) 207 482 5673 / 00 44 (0) 7946 098 442 / 00 33 (0) 6 21 63 00 35. Email: jakki@sllassoc.com

Cats - not just for holidays

W

ith the holiday season approaching “Les amis des chats” is calling on home owners and their guests to think responsibly about stray cats. It is one thing to feed these cats and befriend them for the holiday period but the very kindest act would be to make sure that the cat you have befriended is also sterilised.

Sadly good nourishment over a holiday period may make stray cats healthier in the short term with the result that females are more likely to reproduce. When holidaymakers leave there are potential problems as looked-after cats again become stray and feral, and, additionally these cats may now also have a litter of kittens to nurse, all of which adds to the population of strays.

The advice from “Les amis des chats” is to trap strays and take them to a local vet for sterilisation. The vet can give you additional advice and an estimate of the cost of sterilisation. The association can assist with traps, if required. Having stray cats sterilised provides a very positive way for holidaymakers and holiday home owners to contribute to the area and ensure the ongoing health of the cats they befriend. It is a tough life being born a stray cat and “Les amis des chats” hope that you will help to improve the lives of stray cats by intervening in this way.

Please visit the “Les amis des chats” website where you will not only find lots of useful information about cats but also information about the fundraising shops in Beauville, Roquecor and Lauzerte and forthcoming events.

The next two events are the Fashion Show on June 23rd in Roquecor (82) for which tickets are available: Tel 0563 9520 29; and the Summer Fete on July 8th in Beauville (47). www.les-amis-des-chats.com SIRET 502 066 608 00014 APE 9499Z Association Numéro W821000447 To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

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46 • aniMals and Wildlife

Wild Boar

By Asa Williams, (school, work-experience project)

W

ild boar (sus scrofa) or “sangliers” as they’re locally known are a sort of wild pig they range from Europe to India and have been introduced in Australia and America where they’re known as Razorbacks.

They’re the second biggest wild pig (after the giant African forest hog). The average size is 50 to 120 kg the equivalent of 110 to 264 pounds (8 to 19 stones) and a body length of around 6 foot 4 inches (193 cm). That’s small compared to a boar shot in Ardenne in1999 which weighed 227 kg (500 lbs or 35 stones) which is just over 2 times England rugby captain Chris Robshaw’s weight. The biggest ever wild boar weighed in at 320 kg (704 lbs or 50 stones – the equivalent of 2.2 sumo wrestlers), but that’s exceptional.

One of the most obvious features of a boar are its tusks, present on both males and females but are considerably smaller on the latter, the average length is between 6 and 12 cms. Boars live mainly in forests and woods but are also found in swamps (India) and scrubland (Africa and America). The sows live mainly in groups of around 4 and are led by the oldest. The males are solitary until the mating season in December when they join up with the females and follow them, driving away the other young males (also referred to as marcassins) and guarding the herd for themselves. The gestation period is on average 3 months, 3 weeks and 3 days.

Boars have few predators; only tigers, bears, wolves and reptiles (such as reticulated pythons and large crocodiles) are capable of bringing down a full-sized boar, but piglets are preyed upon by dingos, large birds of prey and where they’ve been introduced pumas and coyotes. Boars aren’t always the innocent victims, they supplement their herbivorous diet of roots, grass and tubers with meat ranging from fawns to lambs and they’ll also scavenge.

Originally found in Europe, boars have been introduced all over the world and have more recently been reintroduced to Britain where they had been extinct since the 13th century. On his voyage to America, Christopher Columbus took 8 boars with him and later more were released for hunting in the Caribbean and mainland America.

Wild boar is a traditional animal to hunt all across Europe. In England they were thought of as noble, the equivalent of a stag. Boars were hunted in two different The Quercy Local • June-Sept 2012

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ways, including pig sticking when the hunter (on foot or horseback) would spear the pig. According to Robert Baden Powell everybody, from the hunter, horse and the boar actually enjoyed the chase and the painful death of the latter. Knife-hunting is more popular in America where hunters let loose scent hounds to track the boar and then “catch dogs” such as bull mastiffs or bull terriers that would hold onto the boar by its ears until the hunter arrives and finishes off the pig.

Sometimes it is the boars that injure humans when they charge. Imagine a Sebastien Chabal with tusks and the speed of an olympic runner hitting you. The way to avoid this is not to approach the boars and dog-walkers should keep their pets on leads where wild pigs can be found and avoid dense vegetation. The most dangerous boar to approach is a sow with hoglets which she’ll defend; generally boars won’t attack without provocation or injury.

In the Quercy region boar hunting is organised traditionally and follows a strict set of rules: – Only the president of the chasse can organise a hunt.

– Before the hunt the laws of that sport are read out and safety is explained (no shooting near roads or upwards).

– Then the standing positions are explained and the hunters are told that they can’t leave until the hunt is over.

– The tracking dogs are released and are accompanied by the beaters who find and drive out the boar.

– Once a boar is shot the president blows (3x) on his horn to signal that the hunt is over and everyone can go home.

– The hunters can’t sell boar meat but instead give it away as pate (from older boars) or keep the best meat for themselves and the parties they host.

The wild boar is the last “megafauna” found in France and forms a huge part of Quercy’s history and culture.

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11/05/2012 16:25

the quercy local • 47

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48 • the quercy local

Amlot Building Services www.lasrazes.com anna@lasrazes.com 05 63 94 32 80 Truly peaceful B & B, wifi, pool, gardens, meals, snooker Touffailles (82190)

Based SW of Cahors (46) for all aspects of renovation large or small Neil 05 65 22 90 19 www.amlot.fr neilandmim@wanadoo.fr Siret 45263631900017

T. SEYS IMMOBILIER A different approach with an efficient and personal quality service.

As a vendor or a buyer, you can rely on my knowledge of the area and the market.

Feel free to call or e-mail for more information

Open Fri. 18h30-21h30, Sat & Sun 12h-14h & 18h30-21h30 until June 30th, July 3rd - Sept 3rd, Tue - Sun 12h-14h & 18h30-21h30 closed Mon. After Sept 3rd, open Fri - Sat 18h30-21h30 & Sun 12h-13h30 &18h30-21h30

Eat in our pretty garden or take away.

Only organic flour used.

www.immo-loustal.com +33 6 84 09 99 10 contact@immo-loustal.com

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Since 1998 – French/English/Dutch/German spoken

0563944968

– GPS coordinates: 44 ° 10’1 .62’’ N 0 ° 54’45 .54 E www.chez-mireille.com – for full menu and details.

Is drinking costing more than money?

Alcoholics Anonymous If you or someone you know has a drinking problem, there are now a number of English-speaking meetings of A.A. in the SW of France. A.A. is a Fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for A.A. membership and A.A. is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.

Contact Ewen 05 53 05 76 62, Ken 09 67 01 74 60 E-mail Publicinfo.swfrance@aa-europe.net Or check our website at www.aafrancesud-ouest.com for details of English-speaking meetings in SW France.

Benjamin Cuzange Real Estate, low cost and debt collection agent (Cahors) 09 79 05 78 30 / 06 86 78 31 25 www.minicomimo.com www.creancial.fr The Quercy Local • June-Sept 2012

The Quercy Local June 2012.indd 48

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11/05/2012 16:25

the quercy local • 49

We Create Beautiful Kitchens & Bathrooms!!

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TAC PROPERTY SERVICES ‘Think of us as part of you – working in partnership’ We are a property maintenance and cleaning company registered in France. We can provide a complete range of services to clients who either live here permanently or who own a second property in France.

TAC Property Services has had many years of experience as Property Managers; we provide a service that is competively priced, reliable and respectful of your property.

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Please visit our website to see the full range of services that we provide Contact: 05 63 39 55 97 email: tacservices@orange.fr www.tacpropertyservices.com To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

The Quercy Local June 2012.indd 49

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50 • quercy’s food and Wine

Fois Gras – Gastronomy and Animal Rights

By Angela Clohessy

T

he production of foie gras (the liver of a duck or a goose that has been specially fattened) involves the controversial force-feeding of birds with more food than they would eat in the wild, and more than they would voluntarily eat domestically.

The production of the pâté involves the forcefeeding of ducks or geese, known in French as gavage, to create fatty livers. The birds, usually made to swallow food through a tube, end up with livers swelling up to 10 times normal size. The practice is banned in Germany, though the consumption of foie gras is not.

Foie gras was first discovered by the ancient Egyptians when it was observed that after gorging themselves in preparation for migration, the livers of geese and ducks became fattened.

About 37 million ducks and 700,000 geese are slaughtered each year to make French foie gras. The force-feeding practice is said to date to 2,500BC, though it is unlikely the ancient Egyptians took to fattening their fowl on the industrial scale found in France, where foie gras and its controversial production method is enshrined in law as part of the country’s so-called cultural exception. France produces about 75% of the world’s foie gras; other sources include the US and China.

Foie Gras in France Ninety percent of France’s foie gras is produced in the Perigord in southwest France, by far the largest foie The Quercy Local • June-Sept 2012

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gras-producing region in the world. This still does not satisfy the French appetite for foie gras: France still imports about 20% of its foie gras from Hungary and about 5% from Bulgaria and a few other countries.

France produces over 16,000 tons of foie gras annually, which represents two-thirds of the foie gras sold in the world. The French consume 75% of the world production. Between 1992 and 2002, French production doubled, with 95% of the foie gras coming from ducks and 5% from geese.

Alsace in Eastern France with its capital Strasbourg also has a long tradition of producing foie gras and is known for its technical innovation. Small quantities are also produced in a few other regions of France.

Based on expertise borne of generations of experience, France has defined this business and set strict limits on what can be called foie gras in France. From the very old and highly respected firms to the many specialized local markets and the stays or cooking classes offered by small producers, foie gras in France is much more than business: it is a highly cultural aspect of life and society.

Animal rights and welfare groups Animal rights and welfare activist groups such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and the Animal Legal Defense Fund argue that foie gras production methods, and force feeding in particular, consist of cruel and inhumane treatment of animals. Specific complaints include livers swollen to many times their normal size, impaired liver function,

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quercy’s food and wine • 51

A farmer in France funnels corn into a duck in the production of foie gras paté.

expansion of the abdomen making it difficult for birds to walk, death if the force feeding is continued, and scarring of the esophagus.

This is not true. In fact, it has been shown the liver shrinks back down to its normal size when a bird returns to lesser amounts of food intake.

In modern foie gras production, force feeding takes place 12–18 days before slaughter. PETA claims that the insertion and removal of the feeding tube scratches the throat and the esophagus, causing irritations and wounds and thus exposing the animal to risk of painful and mortal infections.

In 2005, the organisations APRL, IDA and PETA released a video narrated by Sir Roger Moore showing footage the groups took inside the three U.S. foie gras farms and several in France.

PETA wants this practice, which they say is cruel, stopped. Various American celebrities have lent their voices to this public campaign. Most recently in April 2009 PETA released a letter written by the late television and stage actor Beatrice Arthur to TV chef Curtis Stone deploring the practice of Foie gras.

Animal rights groups support the humane treatment of all animals, even when they are raised for human consumption. There is no evidence that the tube feeding method used to produce foie gras is inhumane. Being fed through a tube may sound unappealing to humans; however, it is important to remember that the esophagus of a duck or goose is very different from ours. In nature, these birds are accustomed to storing fish and other foods in their esophagus, sometimes for long periods of time.

It is a shame that after thousands of years of foie gras production and enjoyment, there is a threat of limiting the accessibility of a product in which so many find such great pleasure.

Les CADURQUES (SARL), Métal 82190 LACOUR DE VISA 05 63 95 23 22 cadurques@wanadoo.fr www.cadurques.net Quality Products including: Foie Gras, Confit, Magret, Paté, Cassoulet de Canard, Chili de Canard, Magret Façon Jambonneau, Canard en Civet au Cahors, Canard aux Pruneaux.

Find us on the market – Roquecor, Lauzerte & Montaigu de Quercy Or visit our shop in Lacour de Visa or shop on-line.

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The Quercy Local June 2012.indd 51

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52 • quercy’s food and Wine

Wine without whining Domaine des Sangliers is an independent, organic vineyard located in the hills of picturesque Puy-l’Eveque, one of the best terroirs of the Lot valley. We produce AOC, Vin de Pays du Lot and Vin de Table wines. Family run, we personally undertake every step of the wine making process, from pruning to corking, all on the estate. Our aim is to achieve the highest quality product, naturally and ethically produced, at fair prices. For further information please visit www.domaine-des-sangliers.com Spring in the Lot valley has been an entertaining, if frustrating, and ultimately fulfilling season at the vineyard...

Snow Family commitments abroad put me on the back foot right from the start of the year. I was badly behind with the vine pruning.

Having finally got underway during a mild and uneventful February, forecasters unanimously agreed that arctic conditions were on their way. Some of us (thinking that we knew the area’s eco-climate better than the weathermen) anticipated a light dusting of snow, lasting a day or two at most. The commune flew into action, buses were cancelled and schools closed “just in case”!

The snow arrived as predicted, along with plummeting temperatures. For several days -26° C registered on our veranda. We thought that perhaps our rather old, plastic thermometer was on the blink, but sadly the engine of our car (protected with antifreeze guaranteed to -20° C) bore testament to the truth! Running out of firewood, burst pipes and being properly snowed in, all added to our woes. Fortunately, we are truly blessed with the world’s best neighbours, who saved us yet again.

The children, of course, had a marvellous time, flying at breakneck speeds down the hill on ladles (of course I meant to say on sledges, but my dubious grasp of French pronunciation led me to thoroughly confuse some French friends! That ou/u thing still gets me every time!). Snowman building is usually unheard of in the Lot, so we had to make hay whilst the sun shone, so to The Quercy Local • June-Sept 2012

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speak! And no whining, a spring cold snap is what every organic farmer wants – the perfect natural pesticide!

Snowman building is usually unheard of in the Lot, so we had to make hay whilst the sun shone, so to speak! And no whining, a spring cold snap is what every organic farmer wants – the perfect natural pesticide!

French Sunshine with an Aussie Accent The big freeze vanished, to be replaced with instant mid-summer temperatures and an influx of sunny Perthonians (answers on a post card if anyone knows the collective noun for those people from Perth!), both of which were very welcome. The vines had a sudden growth spurt and disaster loomed, as I fell further behind.

As good luck would have it, the Aussie families were keen to learn a bit about life on a vineyard and they, along with a few dear friends, turned up on mass, offering some most fortifying moral support, which helped me back up to speed. Having some distracting company whilst pruning, is as welcome as practical help (I spend a lot of time alone with my vines and not everyone seems to think that my chatting away to them is quite normal!).

Mme Aussie commented to me one day on the unusualness of French names, particularly those in our children’s class at school. I expected her to comment on boys called Michelle (Michel) and girls called Dolphin (Delphine), but it was the children called T-Bone, Undies and Nutter that had caught her attention! I wasn’t sure that I knew these kids, so she described them to me.

After a few minutes of hysterical laughter, I explained that she had in fact met Thibaud, Andie and Nathan!

French Bureaucracy Spring is often a busy month for wine exports, all of which are strictly controlled by French customs. This year the move was made to go to online export controls, allowing all of the EU to benefit from “a simple, fast,

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quercy’s food and Wine • 53

instantly accessible system” (their own words – I’m not sure many vignerons would describe it with quite the same vocabulary!).

I logged onto my customs account to prepare the documentation for a large export order due to leave in a couple of days, only to find that the system was down! Calling the helpline, I was politely informed that the “instant access” system was “having a few problems” and to try again in a couple of days! Repeated attempts later, and with a transporter due at my door in less than 12 hours, I began to panic. French bureaucracy has something of a mixed reputation (I’ve heard some quite unkind descriptions over the years!). What could I do? Resorting to desperate tactics, I drove to the customs office and burst into tears! Luck was finally on my side, happily robbing me of the opportunity to moan, and four of the most helpful and sympathetic officials that I have ever met (one in Puy-l’Eveque, one in Cahors, one in Toulouse and one somewhere out there in cyber-land) rallied to my aid!

I arrived back at the winery, export paperwork in hand, with minutes to spare and my faith in French bureaucracy fully restored!

Summer Anticipation Spring ended with a momentous event for me – my dear neighbour of almost 8 years and somewhat senior to me in both age and position, invited me to address her as “tu” and no longer as “vous”! This was a privilege that meant a great deal to me. When I got back to the winery I did a little celebratory dance, only to realise that a customer was looking at me through the glass doors (I’m not odd, just happy, honestly!)!

As I write, the fruit on the vines has not yet set, so the predictions for this year’s harvest are still open. Hopefully, you might meet me selling wine at the market this summer, in beautiful sunshine, telling you what a bumper crop is on its way!

You are welcome to visit us for tastings and sales. If we are at the property, we are open (between 2pm and 8pm). However, as we are working across 10 hectares of land and often at markets, please call ahead if you want to be certain of a reception!

Domaine des Sangliers – Les Sarrades – 46700 – Puy-l’Eveque Kim-Louis & Lisa Stanton – 05 65 31 61 25 - 06 04 03 34 12 info@domaine-des-sangliers.com www.organicfrenchblackwine.com To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

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54 • quercy’s food and Wine

Summer Outdoor Feasts The summer is the perfect time to get out and enjoy the outdoors. Why not take your picnic basket to a quiet spot under a shady tree as you listen to the birds sing and feel the grass between your toes while you walk?

Or enjoy lunch outside on a beautifully decorated table complete with pretty tea lights, your best silverware and bright shades of pink and green?

Here are three quick and easy to make recipes that demand to be enjoyed under sunny skies. The salad makes a perfect light lunch, the chicken is great for a sultry summer evening’s barbecue and the muffins will be the star of your picnic basket.

Bon Appétit !

Salade d’été During the warmer months, salads are not only healthy, but also deliciously refreshing. If you allow yourself to be inspired by nature and use fresh ingredients you will see that the variations in taste, colour and texture are as big as your imagination. Served with bread and paired with a good wine, they make the perfect light meal. Pure, fresh and bursting with vitamins!

This salad is truly summer-on-a-plate. The delicate flavour of the baby greens combined with the sweetness of the dressing form the ideal background for the rest of the ingredients: fragrant, crunchy walnuts, crusty bread topped with a creamy layer of grilled goat’s cheese, paper-thin slices of raw ham and as a finishing touch, sunny raspberries that with their deep ruby colour shine like edible jewels between the salad greens.

For 2 people (or 4, as a starter) For the dressing: 1 tbsp Dijon mustard 3 tbsps walnut oil 1 tbsp sherry vinegar 2 tsps honey fleur de sel freshly ground pepper For the salad: 50g walnuts, roughly chopped 2 slices pain de campagne 4 petits chèvre doux (soft goat’s cheese) 100g mixed baby leaves 100g fresh raspberries 6 slices raw ham (approx 60g)

The salad makes a wonderful, light lunch for two, but you can also offer it as an elegant starter for four. If you serve the salad as a starter to a barbecue, follow it with a grilled leg of lamb and rounds off the meal with a creamy dessert such a crème brulée dusted with a touch of lavender sugar.

Method Whisk all the ingredients for the dressing in a large bowl until they emulsify. Roast the walnuts in a dry frying pan until they release their delicious aroma. This usually takes 2-3 minutes. Spread the goat’s cheese on the slices of bread and place them under a hot grill until the cheese begins to bubble and brown in some places. Place the baby leaves in the bowl with the dressing and toss until each leaf is coated with dressing. Divide the salad among two plates and sprinkle with the walnuts. Top with the fresh raspberries and the ham. Cut each warm slice of bread in half and lay both halves on top of the salad. Serve immediately, preferably with a lively, aromatic Sancerre.

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Poulet en Crapaudine Making ‘poulet en crapaudine’ may appear difficult, but it certainly isn’t. The only thing you have to do is remove the chicken’s backbone and then press firmly on its breast so that it lays as flat as possible. If you don’t have a pair of heavyduty kitchen shears, than this is a job you might want to leave to your butcher. The chicken gets its tenderness and warm, rich flavour from a marinade of fresh herbs, garlic and lots of lemon juice. ‘Poulet en crapaudine’ is great on the barbecue served in combination with grilled green asparagus, crusty bread and a full, ‘fleshy’ chardonnay.

Serves 2-4 1 free-range chicken 1 lemon sliced in half 1tsp fleur de sel 2 tsps pink peppercorns small bunch of thyme small bunch of rosemary 3 cloves pink garlic (ail rose), thinly sliced a large, sealable plastic bag *Save the backbone for chicken stock

Method Place the chicken on a large platter, breast side down and feel for its backbone. Use heavy duty shears to cut down one side of the backbone and then down the other side. Turn the chicken over and press firmly on its breast and legs so that it lies as flat as possible. Squeeze half of the lemon over the chicken and sprinkle with the salt and the pink peppercorns. Sprinkle the herbs and the garlic on the chicken and put everything into the plastic bag. Squeeze the other half of the lemon into the bag, close it and massage the ingredients into the chicken. Allow the chicken to marinate in the fridge for 2-3 hours, remembering to take it out of the fridge half an hour before grilling it. Grill the chicken for about an hour, turning it frequently. You can check if the chicken is ready by making a small incision between the leg and the breast. If the juices run clear (no longer pink), the chicken is done.

Muffins with raspberries and pépites de chocolat For these muffins you’ll want to get yourself some wonderful raspberries, fresh from the market. You can also substitute blueberries and if desired, add a little dash of lemon zest.

Bonus: the muffins do not have any butter or oil! They do call for full-fat yogurt and two nice, organic eggs.

For 12 muffins 270g flour 2 tsps baking powder 100g white pépites de chocolat (feel free to just chop up a bar of white chocolate) 200ml full-fat yogurt 2 eggs 2 tsps vanilla extract 170g caster sugar 125g fresh raspberries

Method Preheat oven to 200°C. Prepare a 12-hole muffin tin. Combine flour, baking powder and chocolate morsels in a bowl.

In a measuring jug, whisk the yogurt, eggs, vanilla extract and sugar. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and gently combine everything with a wooden spoon. Gently fold in the raspberries. Don’t worry if they fall apart a bit.

Fill the muffin tin with the batter and bake for 15-20 minutes. Test after 15 minutes with a wooden skewer. Allow to cool on a rack before serving.

‘Francophile to the core, Paola Westbeek is a food writer and recipe developer. Besides writing, she also offers cooking lessons and organizes culinary/creative vacations in Burgundy together with her husband. For more information visit:www.ladoucevie.nl.

Hans Westbeek is a photographer, filmmaker and epicure. For examples of his work, visit: www.mediamedia.biz’ To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

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The Quercy Local • June-Sept 2012

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To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

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the quercy local • 57

Advertise your business here for from just 40 euro. Let the English speaking people in your region know about your business.

These magazines are not just thrown away – get your business noticed.

www.quercylocal.com info@quercylocal.com QUERCY GASCOGNE IMMOBILIER www.quercycascogne.fr

Welcome to the beautiful and sought-after Quercy region of South West France.

The FOURNIER-SABATIER family and their colleagues at QUERCY GASCOGNE offer a bi-lingual service and have all types of houses for sale from traditional stone-built houses to manor houses, châteaux and presbyteries, village and modern houses. We have offices in both Montcuq and Montaigu-de-Quercy covering a vast area including the Lot, Lot-et-Garonne, Tarn-et-Garonne and the Tarn. www.quercycascogne.fr Agence de Montaigu de Quercy 2 place du mercadiel, 82150 MONTAIGU DE QUERCY Tel : 05.63.39.54.59 Agence de Montcuq 10 rue de la promenade, 46800 MONTCUQ Tel : 05.65.22.90.31 Valérie SABATIER , agent immobilier ,carte prof N° 46183.

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

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The Quercy Local • June-Sept 2012

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To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

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www.designerspecsdirect.com Spectacles online in France at UK Internet prices.

Use your French or British Spectacle prescription.

Feuille de Soins can be supplied if you are eligible.

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

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The Quercy Local • June-Sept 2012

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To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

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DNA-TV offers a fast, friendly & professional service installing Sky TV, UK Freesat & French TNT throughout France with very competitive prices.

DNA-TV provides a complete range of services from simple dish adjustment to a full installation. DNA-TV are happy to give free quotes, information & advice. All work, material & equipment supplied by DNATV has a 12m guarantee and full after sales service. Decoders are covered with a manufactures’ warranty.

We supply a complete range of Digital TV systems from Sky TV with or without subscriptions (no UK address required), UK Digital Freesat TV and French TNT all in High Definition. Professional installers to Homes, Bars, Sports Clubs, Hotels, B&Bs, Apartments, Chateaux & Yachts.

For more information please visit our web-site or give us a call.

www.dna-tv.com

Approved installers with tous au numerique

With Sky+, you have a twin tuner which will enable you to record one channel while watching another.

Add to this the 5.1 surround sound, and you have the ultimate in home theatre experience.

With High Definition (HD) you also get 4 times better picture quality of standard definition, a truly great experience.

You can select from the 160 GB Hard Drive, or the gigantic 1000 GB, either way, you’ll never miss your favourite programmes again.

10% OFF

equipment prices with the Local magazines. Valid to 1st Nov 2012

I am very happy with the service and performance of DNA-TV. Arrived on time – did the installation work quickly and efficiently – at the quoted price. Everything working very smoothly – absolutely no complaints. I would recommend their services to anyone.

Just a quick note to say thank you again for you prompt and excellent service – much appreciated.

Mr & Mrs Newman – Dept. 47

Mr Ryan – Dept. 82 DNA-TV making connections throughout France. Siret no. 520 970 823 00016 To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

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Fingers & Toes Natural Nail Therapist Specialising in Shellac and Minx

Certificated “Beauté Fx” Natural Nail Technician, Semi Permanent Varnish and Minx Shellac and Minx either with, or without, hand treatments Men’s hand treatments Hand treatments with polish Catherine Wilson, Boslaroque, 47150 Lacapelle Biron T. 05 53 75 05 48 P. 06 79 75 99 93 cath@fingersandtoes.eu www.fingersandtoes.eu The Quercy Local • June-Sept 2012

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To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

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ht.CDOMiggers g i r W Sandy Wright ‘Boutadieu’ 47340 Tournon d’Agenais

Tel. 05 53 41 74 28 Mob. 06 30 83 35 22 (Eng) Mob. 06 84 91 05 68 (Fr) wrightalex1@aol.com

Nous donnons devis et conseils gratuitement!

We are happy to give ‘no obligation’ advice!

Fosses Filter Systems Déblaiement Site Clearance Piscines Swimming Pool

Démolition Demolition Allées Privées Driveway Aménagement Landscaping Siret No 48495504200011 To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

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