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| Chateau de Bonaguil |
The ride there (about twelve miles away from home) took us down a pretty twisting valley. It was downhill and we were travelling quite fast when I noticed a large statue incongruously perched on top of a chimney of a large house. Then I did a double take because the statue moved - it was a peacock! I almost fell off my bike. We turned back to get a photograph but only managed to get one shot before the large bird jumped off the chimney and disappeared into the garden.
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| zoomed in view of the peacock |
The rest of the ride to Bonaguil was uneventful apart from a young deer that ran out in front of us. In the height of the summer the village is full of tourists but this morning all was quiet and we didn't see a single soul. It was early, just after nine, and the cafes don't open until later.
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| a very quiet Bonaguil |
There is a long, long climb out of Bonaguil. This garden of a house at the top of the hill always makes me smile. The weirdest collection of garden ornaments ever.
Isn't it great to view and enjoy the gardens of the eccentric !
ReplyDeleteIndeed it is. It was a wonderful diversion after a strenuous hill climb!
DeleteSimilar to the pics of the ducks I saw on top of Guildford castle. Strangest places that they settle on. That garden looks a tad creepy to me.
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely a bit strange.
DeleteHow lucky you are to live there,( i think i already have said that more than once, but that what i think every time i read your blog...)
ReplyDeleteWe feel very privileged to have a home in this beautiful part of the world.
DeleteIt looks stunning, immersed around the surrounding landscape. Warm greetings!
ReplyDeleteIt's a beautiful place, the last medieval castle to be built in France.
DeleteIt is an eclectic mix, chimp, Dougal and half a deGaulle.
ReplyDeleteThat's only a small part of it - there's all sorts of jungle animals too!
DeleteI was once staying in the Dordogne in a cottage that a Daily Express reporter we knew had bought for £5000. We used to go out walking or driving around the locality. We found a weird house like a folly with a swimming pool and statues and a secret garden one day. I felt like we were trespassing but it had been abandoned. So we walked all over it. The photo of the weird garden ornaments reminded me of that day. I remember thinking at the time that nowhere in England like this would ever exist and even if it did it would never have been abandoned for anyone to wander around. The year was 1974 and to this day I don't know where we stayed but I have a photo of me in Brancome and I had snails in a restaurant and adored them. The rest is a blur of people, who loved who and whose turn it was to cook and who slept with whom and in what bedroom. There was only an outside loo.
ReplyDeleteI suspect there are still places like that. We see so many grand properties that are shuttered up and abandoned for most months of the year, probably second homes. This was just a small garden with a very ordinary little house on the opposite side of the road. I think someone might have had a hobby making DIY statues!
DeleteFascinating to see such different countryside - and the peacock!
ReplyDeleteHere in North Yorkshire a deer ran out in front of us on our lane the other day.
We often spot deer out here (I am always thrilled to see them) but I didn't expect to see a live peacock on top of a roof!
ReplyDeleteWe had Peacocks at our first house, they are very messy, make a lot of noise, and fly up into the trees and rooftops.
ReplyDeleteWe must have missed you by a few minutes, we parked by the side of that car at the bottom of the hill.