Heritage weekend

The first weekend we were here was Heritage Weekend, apparently a European event, though I don't think I've noticed it in England. All manner of buildings and artifacts are open which are not normally accessible and many paying ones are free. We went to Montolieu on the Saturday where there were loads of craft stalls and workshops. Among the most impressive was a conglomerate of local blacksmiths working on a joint artistic design.

One of the two design boards

They had five furnaces going and a design chalked on wooden boards.

The communal forge

Each wrought iron piece was worked on separately, holding it periodically against the drawing to check the curves were accurate.

Checking the curve

It was a weekend's work so we didn't see the finished article unfortunately.

On the Sunday we went to Malves, the next village to us, where the chateau was open exceptionally. Only last month when a plaster ceiling was removed, a wonderful painted wooden ceiling was revealed, as fresh as new and dating from the 17th century.

Here you can the fleur-de-lys some of which were painted over.

The circle is symbolic of the countryside and the square of industry.

There were other painted ceilings also and even frescoes on the walls of an attic room.
Interestingly, on the most recently discovered and best ceiling, the guide pointed out rough green painted patches in places, which date from the revolution and covered up fleur de lys decorations as symbols of the discredited aristocracy.

Later we visited a tiny roadside preRoman chapel with frescoes on the walls but in a sad state of disrepair. Often when attention is drawn to such things, the most important first step is to repair the roof to prevent further damage and it often stops there for lack of funds.

The little chapel with its lovely new roof

Ancient wall frescoes