the Quercy

The roads of Quercy are really pretty. Quercy is an historical region in the south west of France surrounding the city of Cahors, where the Malbec originates from.



At this time of the year, flowers are barely blooming in the bright green fields. You can see completely white cherry trees at almost every corner.
You can't drive for very long without entering a village where all the buildings are made of stone.
This one is called Parisot:

In addition to the stone walls, some features are almost always founds in towns of Quercy. A statue of a local Saint or of the Virgin Mary,

A market "hall": here are 2 examples, the first in Puylargarde, the second in Parisot. You can see on the first picture holes in the wall. They were used to measure grain.



And a castle or fortified building, here in Puylagarde


and St Projet (called the castle of Queen Margot because she spent a night there).


In villages, houses are tightly clustered together. It is also true out of villages. "Hameaux" are small clusters of homes in the countryside, usually a few farms grouped together. These are often not farms anymore, but have become secondary homes for city people in need of fresh air,or even primary homes for folks from England or the Netherlands.
My chocolate provider's house is one of them.

Tipically, the living room is actually the kitchen, with a large fire place.


Here is his British neighbor:

A perfect place to rest and recover...