belle epoque – found-in-france

Recently, I offered a post on the street where I live. As I went through some older photos, later, I found two that I had made off old postcards, on the same street more than a century ago. I thought perhaps some of you would enjoy seeing them.

If I am correct, my home should be just past that group of people seen exiting, or perhaps entering, a house mid-way on the left. While the foot bridge has a set of steps in each direction, the other side is not visible from this view. It is the second set of steps that appear further back that exist today as you can see if you check out the post of 5 August 2018. Inbetween the sets of stairs, you can see the old pump which still exists, and works, though rarely used.

If you look closely at the road, you can see some tracks for the old train that used to come through the village. A neighbor has just informed me that a small steam train ran from Portel des Corbières to Tuchan until the 1930’s. At different points it would connect and one could get into Narbonne which had a large number of trains that could take you to many destinations.

Some of the houses have interesting patterns on their walls which have long been covered up by renderings. Those patterns would be consistent with the era As you can see it is winter time as the trees are bare and the people at the top of the staircase appear to be bundled up against the cold weather.

From this second photo you can see there was an épicerie (grocery) just next to where the café was located at that point in time. No doubt you could stop in and pick up a fresh baugette with ham and or cheese and a thick spread of butter and wash it down with a glass of wine or beer. That is not where it was when I moved here over a decade ago nor where it is now located at the other end of the village. You get a look at the foot bridge that is no longer there, What you don’t see is that there was attached an outdoor toilet, how appropriate across from where everyone is eating and drinking. The café in this photo had been altered by its owners years later and for many years served as the village pharmacy. At some time after WWI, a number of balconies where added including the old pharmacy as you can compare if you look at the post referred to earlier. https://foundinfrance.wordpress.com/2018/08/05/on-the-street-where-i-live-a-challenge/

I can see, to the left, how high the wall along the river used to be. It has been lowered some years ago. As you can see, the wall is higher than most of the people near it. I am barely five feet tall myself and the wall now, in some areas, is little higher than my waist. Before you ask, nothing around here is level so we shall move on. It appears to be Spring or possibly early Summer as the trees are quite filled out with leaves and some of the citizens are in shirt sleeves. As you can see, everyone is glad of the opportunity to socialize with their neighbors on a beautiful day as the sunlight filters through the trees. I find it fascinating that in these photos could be former owners of my own home.

Perhaps I can find more such photos and if so, I shall share them here on the blog.

Bisous,

Léa

Visit the 1900’s while during a visit to one of the most beautiful villages in France, Lagrasse! Take a tour with an audio guide into a fascinating period and surround yourself in the enchanted period of Belle Epoque!

A decade ago, Cyril and Isabelle Codina, winegrowers came up with a different way to share their passions and provide their guests with a delightful trip in time and the opportunity to sample their wares. What you will experience here is a family project with several generations contributing to its success. The passion of parent who have accumulated a vast treasure of objects from a bygone era. There are over 3000 dolls, many toys, tools for a vast variety of uses. There is a coiffure/barber shop and furniture shop well stocked as you would have found them at the end of the nineteenth century. The proprietors with the assistance of masons, cabinet makers, ironworkers and seven artists worked for over three years to bring this vision to fruition. The museum is over 300 sq. meters and accessible to all.

Collections are divided into scenes of life. There is a theatre, school, The different collections are divided into scene of life: the school, the home of master, the back kitchen of the winegrower ¦ or still in old trades: coopers, bazaar, headgear, watch-making, jewelry … Pigeonnier: In 1900 pigeons were important to the vigneron. Special housing was created for them removed from the village. There droppings were a threat to water sources but they were also valuable as fertilizer, eggs and meat. These pigeon huts were quite detailed to encourage the birds to stay

and nest. Actually, the accommodations were much less primitive that the vignerons own housing. TASTING WITH CYRIL The museum 1900 offers you several courses of tastings to theme, derived solely from our artisanal production. 1 Route: red and white wine. The more fruity (carbonic maceration) to wine of custody (breeding in new barrique). 2nd course: 19 different vinegars. This atypical, original and fun allows you to travel quality products acidity, sugar, texture and flavour. 3rd course: spirits as the guignolet, Cartagena, vendange tardive … several ways to create the aperitifs or digestifs to craft methods and

ancestral. 4th course: the olive oils: 4 varieties of olive oils. They include the local varieties: Lucca, oliviere. Some oils very surprising as the wild oil with its aromas and herbaceous oil assemble with its aromas slightly blites. There is something for everyone and then there is the surrounding village to explore. There are numerous delightful restaurants, shops, the abby and so much more. What is offered in this post is such a small part of what is on display.