« I can do whatever I want »

The charente does not flow straight to the ocean. First it decides to go towards north, then suddenly makes a hairpin bend towards south and Angoulême where it finally chooses to flow at west. 380 kilometers of curves, meanders and small branches. 40 tributaries join its during this travel to atlantic ocean.

Many bridges cross the river Charente, small stone nice bridges, some of them specially narrow for car traffic as in Vibrac, or the most big one in Rochefort.

Bridges of Vibrac

Front of Bassac Abbey

The « passerelle » to join  Comics Museum to the heart of the city in Angoulême

Locks are numerous in the navigable part of the Charente.

Juac lock

And an old kind of mini-mini ferry, the only one remaining in France, manually operated ! (only available in july and august)

The estuary of Charente is large enough as the cargos come to Rochefort Harbour.

The « pont transbordeur », a classified brigde dated from 1900, is now in a process of being restored. In the past time it allowed to cross from one bank to the other without hindering shipping traffic. A gondola, suspended from a trolley running on rails, travelled back and forth. Only used by cyclists, foot passengers, tourists  nowadays, it is the only remaining bridge with gondola in France.

During this renovation time, we can visit and discover the story and steps of work in Maison du Transbordeur nearby.

Past winter, the flood without any damage, gave the opportunity to take some unusual pictures, as here in Jarnac and Bourg Charente.

An economic link since many centuries

At the beginning, Charente was one the major trade path : paper from Angoulême, salt from Re Island cannons for vessels built in Rochefort, were loaded on boats called « gabarre ».

And evidently, the river has been the first and important mean of transport for cognac. Barrels were loaded on wharfs of Jarnac and Cognac directly on board towards Rochefort harbour, and then boarded on big sail vessels to cross oceans.

Vestige of a paper fabric in Angoulême

The Rochefort harbour front of the Corderie Royale

The replica of the famous Hermione Ship

Jarnac river bank today the « quai de l’Orangerie »

Courvoisier, during january flood. Charente stopped just under the wharf… 

A new story

As containers, trucks and railway replace the « gabarre » the river felt asleep, and the river banks too for a while. And as the sleeping beauty, Charente is coming back with the green tourism and developpment of river cruises. The « flow velo » allowed to follow the river on many kilometers by bicycle. Hiking paths, canoe, paddle, fishing, many activities are possible respecting the nature and the river.

Crossing Saintes city on board

Cognac harbour and Quais Hennessy

The path of watchers, in Rochefort

Resting and lunch time…

The occasion to see some nice hidden properties

watch to the small  inhabitants of the river

and the numerous species of flora.

Charente river is a perfect example of slowlife attitude, and a stress free oasis. So, when are you coming ?

L’article Charente runs through it est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.

The deserted caburote

Its small red roman tiles roof  appears right above the vineyard rows in summer time. We can see the caburotes here and there.

Most of them are more than hundred years old, built at the end of the XIX century. They were  like a second house for the winegrowers. First of all, they used their little house  for lunch time and to protect them from weather conditions, hot time in summer, rain or cold temperatures in winter. Furthermore, the caburotes also allowed to store small equipment needed for the vineyard works.

Daily life in the caburote

We can find some caburotes with black stones inside, or part of old fireplace. It just indicates the place of last fires. An horse feeder  directly digged into the wall remind us that men and horses shared this shelter. The horses, faithful companions of the winegrowers,  worked also in vineyards.

A small table, chair or bench were the only one elements of furniture. A rack carved into the limestone walls allowed to store day-to-day objects.

The caburote used also as a little workshop to store equipments  such  as stakes, wires… and to  prepare the « bouillie bordelaise ». It’s an old fungicidal composition, made of copper sulphate called « blue stone » (as it gives a blue color to leaves and walls),  and slaked lime.

Nowadays, the work shop is quite different…. 4 wheels motorized  on front row of vines! Tractors replaced horses. No wistfulness in this thought as work-conditions of winegrowers are fortunately easier than in the past time.

However, it would be a shame if theses little houses disappear one after the other. We’ll loose this nice heritage. Some winegrowers have restored their caburote which was used by their grand-fathers. It’s a good idea.

As the cognac region works to prepare a request of classification for the world heritage of UNESCO, the caburotes take pride of place in this context.

L’article Caburote, little house of winegrower est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.

Like an oasis among frozen fields. Imposant houses, called « Logis » protected by high walls, big porch, and old evergreeen trees,  are numerous  in our cognac region. People living here are rather discreet : show off is not their religion at all….

Too cold for me for early morning running :  -2,5°C.

Sun tries to cross the clouds. Winter time is the period of pruning. Winegrowers work  even if it’s frozen. Work still to be done here…

Do you remember the small Church of Eraville in  the post of last october ? Numerous roman churches nearby vineyards are integral part of cognac landscape.

Typical « Grande Champagne »  landscape : smooth hills, chalky soils. The eaux de vie coming from here give  fine cognacs, requiring long ageing in  oak casks to achieve full maturity.  The origin of the word « Champagne »,  comes from the latin word « campania » which means  open fields (opposite to woods and forests)

Young truffles trees, such as some green oaks, hazelnuts or linden trees, grow on thoses chalky slopes. A perfect soil for the trees and then for the truffles…

Like soldiers ready for the parade, poplars  on Charente banks.

Sun’s coming around 11 am, and quicly the white coat disappears for a while, till the next night.

In fact a quite bright winter day, and a excellent opportunity to wear  turtleneck knit, coat with large collar, boots, gloves. As  it’s impossible to take pictures with them, I have now frozen hands…

Time to come home near the fireplace, even if I am sure that our  cat « Philo », is already on the best place and not really ready to leave it !

L’article Winter weather in cognac vineyards est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.

He came in 2014 to visit Cognac region on the advice of the friend of him, and met Jean Luc Montembaud, cognac lover from Cognac Tasting Tour who opened  secret places for him.  He felt in love with the region, the people, the old distilleries and black cellars. If he discovered our god blessed region, he’s not a newcomer at all in photography. Since 16 years, after a first live as press photographer, he’s a renowned specialist of food and beverage shots. Each year since the beginning of the famous contest « Global Food Photographer of the Year », one of his photos is selected as a finalist.

I do love this exhibition even if I regret that the framed prints are not in the same room. In my opinion, this subtile work lose in intensity.

I do love the black -and -white choice which gives  an idea of the silent of the men and cellars. These stunning shots, which have certainly needed many hours to catch the right moment, seem to display a raw expression without any affect. And at the same time Mark Unsworth makes visible the invisible.

Cellars and distilleries are particular places, owning a great part of mystery. He has perfectly succeeded in revealing the soul of them, as these of the people in front of him.

For cognac, ageing is a core value, the exhibition celebrates its in an artistic manner.

In short come soon to Musée des Arts du Cognac  or discover on Islay Studio

L’article In the privacy of cognac distilleries est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.

Let me tell you the true story  of a sleeping beauty in cognac vineyards and of two princes of  design, elegance, and creativity coming for Miami.  For Pierre and Max, it has been love at first sight for this 15th century manor left to rot for a too long time.

« In twenty years when I look back on this chapter of my life, I hope I will remember most the regular walks we take around the Logis with our three dogs, and our cat Nelson. We walk, the dogs unleashed and totally free, for hours-on-end and pass through forests and farmland, by lakes and rivers, and rarely see anyone. The communal destination-of-choice is a source which was framed in carved limestone over 600 years ago and where today the dogs love to swim. And then I think, « Where else in the world in 2010, and only 2 hours from Paris by train » ?

This poetic words, Max wrote them in  the agenda he created to highlight « the best of Charente ». Since 2010, 7 editions have beeen printed for the new year, each of them with a special tone : stone of Charente,  gastronomy and cognac, roman art, skilled artisans, history and so on…

Belgian native, Pierre worked for a long time in States and felt the desire to return back in Europe, and Max, american citizen, who studyied for a while in Firenza, dreamed to live on the old continent. One day,  they left their superb property of Miami and travelled a lot, mainly in Italia and South France,  to find their new restling home : need of wide space for their animals, and sun for them. The quest finished as they passed the imposant front porch  of the Logis : it was there and nowhere else.

They did not know anybody when they arrived, they are famous nowadays, here and not only. Max and Pierre have restored the manor in a magistral manner, in a total respect of the architecture and with a mad skill for interior design. Working with local crafstmen, they used simple, rough material found on the site : wood, steel, old farm tools… an incredible mix of modern design and re-interpreted  old materials.  After 3 years and half of hard work, the Logis recovered his past beauty..The result is so successfull that Pierre and Max opened a boutique in the barn, called « Sortie de grange » featuring decorative objects, antiques, lighting, gifts, fabrics and finds.

And in the outbuildings, overlooking the nice courtyard, they have nestled their B&B, 3 stunning bedrooms,  and a guest cottage, each of them named after a former owner of the Logis. International livestyle, design, tourism and architecture media regularly publish on Logis de Puygaty and their gifted owners.

Max always thought that Charente, which is the adminstrativ area of Cognac region but not only, was not enough known. During 7 years, he edited a luxury  agenda called « Best of Charente » to highlight  the hidden facets of the region. Max is one of the best ambassadors or Charente in the world.  » There is, here in Charente, a heritage which must be know all around the world. To make it known, I have had the idea of the agenda »

Who hasn’t dreamed of such a place ?

Good new, you can spend a few days in Logis de Puygaty,  so kindly welcomed by  Max and Pierre and their good fellows, Farouk, Jackie, Alzane the dogs and Nelson the cat.

You will discover a discret lifestyle, the location is utterly serene and peaceful, and you never forget the stunning welcome of Pierre and Max. The guest book speaks for them.

Thank you so much Dear Max.

More photos video and all informations on :

http://www.logisdepuygaty.com/

L’article From Miami to cognac vineyards est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.