Chateau de Germolles

On Wednesday Margery, Gary, and I piled into Elisabeth's car and headed north to the chateau of Germolles. Along the way we stopped at one of my favorite lavoirs.

The old watering troughs have been filled with dirt for flowers though they look neglected this year. There is a well on the other side of the round wall and the wheel was to pump the water.

Not only is the basin oval, but the roof above is open in the center letting in lots of light, yet on a rainy day those who were standing around the basin, doing their laundry, would stay dry.

Elisabeth pointed out a cadole, a small place to rest or have lunch out of the sun or rain, in one of the vineyards.

We passed several enjambeurs, the tall tractors that straddle the vines. We could smell the sprays they were putting on the plants.

I enjoy drinking the wine Nicolas makes because I know his grapes never see an insecticide!

This picture does not do justice to the proliferation of wild red poppies growing beside the roads.

Old stone walls are fascinating, even when shot through the windshield and with modern vehicles rolling in front of them. This wall continues in the second picture...

When we reached the outskirts of the chateau, we left the car in what was probably not a parking spot, but it was the only place available relatively near the entrance gate.

We walked between two stone walls and noticed a goat watching us from an open doorway.

On the other side of the road were two buildings with a strange door arrangement. I still don't know what the doors were for, but I did like the curve of the roof.

There were more outbuildings to pass before reaching the twin towers, leftovers from when Germolles was a stronghold rather than a chateau.

Germolles was a fortress, before it was sold to the Duke of Burgundy in 1380. He gave it to his wife who set about transforming it into a country estate. Years later it was sold to the king of France, but after the French Revolution it fell into disrepair and parts of the buildings were lost completely.

Towers make an impressive entrance to the main house and courtyard. Beyond the towers, this building is on the right...

...while the main house is on the left.

At the end of the 19th century it was sold to a family, a member of which still owns it. He is now a retired curator of several museums, therefore quite knowledgeable, and leads the tours of the estate.

 Margery immediately found the gardens...

...while Gary headed for the trees...

 ...and I was drawn to the water.

 The next picture is what Gary snapped. The one following is mine...

 What a magical spot!

Since I had arrived with my rollator, it was obvious to the proprietor that I wouldn't be able to climb all the steps inside the buildings. A table and chair was set up under the trees in case it rained while I read my book outside.

Before reading, I continued on my exploration of the park.

If you look in the background of the picture with Gary taking a photograph, you will notice a bridge. The moat continues beyond the bridge and then connects to a large stream.

On the far side of the moat, also visible in the picture of Gary, is this garden...

While walking towards the stream, I noticed that two goats were not behind a fence and one was making the low branches of a tree its lunch.

The goats didn't come any closer so I continued on my way.


I followed the path and saw the strangest thing.

I thought someone must have cut down saplings along the edge of the stream, but they had left a lot of stumps!

I learned what these "stumps" really are after the chateau tour ended. I also learned about this strange tree...

...but first I wandered across the lawn and then back to the courtyard.

 Some of the grass of the front lawn was left uncut. Wildflowers bloomed there.

Above are a few more branches of that funny tree again...


I'll have to weave with wood back in Vermont since I enjoy seeing this practiced in so many French gardens.


There were grey clouds, but it wasn't raining. I sat in the courtyard to read my book.

The tour group appeared and disappeared a few times. I overheard a little and realized I was probably sitting where part of the chateau had once existed.

Gary shared his pictures of the cellar and small chapel...

I was having a wonderful time relaxing outdoors when I noticed the tour group had appeared again. This time they were at the far end of the courtyard.

They then entered the tower and climbed its spiral staircase.

 And then Margery waved at me from the walkway above...

When the tour ended, Gary, Margery, Elisabeth and I took a closer look at the trees on the estate grounds of Germolles.

The tale continues in the next post...