In the summer and fall of 2017 we returned to France for five months, splitting our time between Thure, where we had lived the prior summer, and Chameyrat-le-Vieux, at our castle owner Arnaud's boyhood home. Near the end of our trip we met up with a friend in Paris, then made a quick trip to Avignon and Marseille
La Sudrie

Trip to Langedouc

Correze and Environs

The Atlantic Coast

Along the Loire

Artful Paris

Avignon and Marseille

La Sudrie

La Sudrie, Chameyrat-le-Vieux
La Sudrie is the name given to the de Belinay property just outside of Brive-la-Gaillarde, France, in the little hamlet of Chameyrat-le-Vieux. The rural estate in the...
Trip to Langedouc

Mission: Mediterranean Oysters
Shortly after we arrived at La Sudrie, the summer rains set in, making it difficult to get much done on the property. We decided to head to...
Correze and Environs

Tulle
When we weren't working on the grounds at La Sudrie, Karen and I explored the nearby area, poking our noses into the historic centers of the area's many medieval...
The Atlantic Coast

Down the Dordogne to the Sea
At the end of August, our three months at La Sudrie had come to an end. Now it was time to head back to...
Along the Loire

Love in the Loire
From its early occupation by the Romans, up through the second world war, when much of the area was occupied by the Germans, the Loire valley...
Artful Paris

A Friendly Visit
When we house sit, (or in this case, castle care-take), we can often host friends who leverage our stay as an excuse to visit. If the situation...
Avignon and Marseille

After saying goodby to our friend Pam, we caught a train to Avignon. We arrived mid-day, then dragged our roller bags through the cobblestone streets to our Air BnB in...