|
Mézin...and other delightful places to visit
Market
Day in Mézin.
Mézin
is in the Lot and Garonne Department (Department 47), close
to the borders of the Landes and the Gers, in the South West
of France. It is a vibrant little town (at times!). On Market
Day (Sunday), you will see the square bustling with locals and
visitors, buying and selling a variety of local produce - fruit
and vegetables, cheeses, honey, confit, foie gras, rustic bread,
clothes, leather goods, plants, hot dishes of food, oysters
and much more...
For
the rest of the week... Mézin
snoozes quietly, the peace disturbed only by occasional flurries
of activity. The town boasts four bakeries, two butchers, a
newsagent and tobacconist, three hairdressers, an antique shop,
a junk shop, three grocery shops, two electrical stores, a laundry,
funeral directors, shoe repair shop, two florists, a delicatessen,
three bars, one hotel, a theatre, a library with internet access...I
am sure I have forgotten something...oh yes...a Cork Museum!
Click
here to see a map of the area
Corks.
Mézin's
wealth came from a thriving cork industry, clearly linked to
the areas of wine production. Mézin is surrounded by
vineyards producing grapes for wine, Floc and Armagnac. Floc
is a local aperatif, red, white or rosé and Armagnac
is the delicious local rival to Cognac. Mézin
wine is available from the new modern "cave" in the
town and we are surrounded by local growers who will sell direct
after a prolonged tasting session!
Other
things to see and do...Pays
d'Albret.
Mézin is situated in the Pays d'Albret and is on the
pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. It is a
beautiful area of contrasting landscapes; undulating, terraced
hills, flat, fertile plains and the vast maritime forests of
the Landes. Plane trees line many of the country roads linking
bastide towns to hilltop villages and Romanesque churches to
Renaissance chateaux.
Nérac
is the Capital of Albret and is steeped in history. Situated
on the river Baïse it boasts beautiful, half-timbered houses,
elegant streets and passageways and the impressive Chateau de
Nérac. As you would expect, there is a wide choice of
restaurants and cafés and people flock from all around
to sample the fresh local produce and breath in the wonderful
atmosphere.
Then
there's...
-
Vianne, a 13th century English bastide town;
from the central square you can see the four gates, north,
south, east and west. A wonderful wood and iron bridge straddles
the Baïse river.
- The
Tours de Barbaste,
an intriguing monument, also from the 13th century,
whose four towers stand next to the river Gélise
to protect the flour mill, its millers and also the garrison
installed to defend the adjacent Romanesque bridge.
-
Larressingle, a
13th century fortified village, the smallest in France.
- Fourcés...a
picturesque village, famous for the annual flower show which
takes place on the last weekend of April.
Come
and see for yourself. What do I need to do?
For
information please contact:
Liz
Coleman
St. Simon
Mézin
47170 France
Tel: 05 53 97 36 98
Tel:(from
UK) 0033 55 39 73 69 8
More
details
Alternatively,
you can e-mail us at liz@houseonthehillfrance.com
Read
on
©
Copyright David Coleman.
ISSUE
05: NOVEMBER 2006.
|
