Le Vigan - 2 August

Frances, Chris and Dallas in Le Vigan
Market day-Le Vigan
Our accommodation-Le Vigan

Top of Mount Aigoual-Cevenne Mountains

Goats with bells

Breakfast at our B and B-overlooking a beautiful valley

Breakfast

Building progress for Chris and Frances


Chris and France's present cottage

New Cottage being built

2 August

This morning we started the day with a lovely breakfast served by Christine on the second story balcony looking over a lovely wooded valley and towards a village on the other side of the range. Then we went up to see Chris and Frances (in-laws of my nephew Steven), and looked over the progress of their new house. This is going to be a great place to live when it is finished-great views, a study each, open plan living-perfect.
We then went into the village and wandered around the local Saturday market – wide range a produce of all kinds plus the usual array of clothing, pottery etc. In the old streets and squares of Le Vigan, had a tremendous atmosphere. For the locals it is obviously a chance to shop and catch up on all the local gossip. We had lunch of local pizzas with Chris and Frances, and then returned to our accommodation for a short siesta.
Later in the afternoon Frances took us to the top of the mountain range that forms part of their terrain. Climbing to the top along beautiful tree lined roads, we arrived at the top of Mount Aigoual in the Cevenne Mountains. Stunning view looking back towards Montpellier, Versaille and in all other directions.
On the way up the mountain we waited while a herd of goats, some 800 or so, passed. The adults all had bells around their necks, and this made an absolutely beautiful cacophony of sound, very melodic, that then echoed through the mountains. Hard to explain, but this was an amazing experience that we happened upon by chance and would not want to miss.
We returned to Chris and Frances place around 8.00pm and again sat down to a tasty Provencal style chicken dinner, followed by a lovely range cheeses (sheep and goat), fresh berries and cream.
We said goodbye to Chris, Frances is going to call down in the morning before we head foe Aix en Provence.