OUR LIFE IN CHALABRE:

An American Expat in
the South of France

JOUR DE FOIRE IN ESPEZEL
(30 October 2005)

Espezel is the largest town on the Plateau de Sault about 20 miles south of Chalabre towards the Pyrénées. (another site here).

On 29-30 October, Espezel hosted its
28th Foire de l'Elevage et de l'Agriculture, basically a giant County Fair / Market place that took over the town, its old streets and the adjacent commons.

En route to Espezel

To go to Espezel, we traveled south to Puivert,then took a small, winding road that cut through the foothills, still dressed in their beautiful Autumnal colors.



The road from Puivert to Espezel (north)


The hamlet of
L'Escale,
nestled in the foothills


The Pyrénées foothills,
above L'Escale


The road (south); JM to the right, looking at Beanie (left)


The foothills
of the Pyrénées.


The road (north);
autumn has arrived


The road tunnels
through the mountain

 


The foothills
of the Pyrénées


Espezel


Up on the
Plateau de Sault


The streets of Espezel


The Church


The Calvary

 


The Town Hall


Going to the Market...


The "Farmers' Market"
is open!


The market stretches from the village's entrance...


...to the narrow city streets by the Town Hall


Join us in our promenade...


Stop at the cheese-maker...


...the baker...


...And its delicious breads!


The Star-Spangled Banner is there


The man sells sausages


Another cheese-maker
(with a mustache!)


Let's buy flowers...


...fresh produce...


...Hams...


...Fritters made with Stinging Nettles...


...Local wines and
pain d'épices...


...some of the delicious local potatoes!

 


Randy buys a liquor made with local herbs; Maggie prefers the hams


Bring on the ranchers...

Another section of the Fair, held on the local commons, featured a large selection of cattle, horses, etc.


A (small) portion of the commons (the sheep pen); behind it, a display of farm machinery


Baa... baa...


Donkey rides for kids...


Horses...


More horses...


Donkeys...


Another sheep pen


More horses


Moo...