Apremont Sur Allier and Moulins

Sunday 13th September 

Today we said goodbye to La Loire and hello to La Allier river, a tributary of Loire.

We drove to a village called Apremont Sur Allier. It's one of the BVoF villages and a proper one, unlike Sancerre we visited the other day.

This one truly is beautiful.

It started life as a quarry village, extracting the honey coloured stone from the surrounding hills.

It's occupants were all quarry men and forestry men and their families.

It was eventually purchased in ruins as a whole by Eugene Schneider who fell in love with the village after visiting it.

He dedicated his life to renovating the cottages into what we see today using local stone from the area,  traditional architecture and materials, with local features such as the external staircases.

 
It was inherited by his grandson Gilles de Brissac and he started the creation of the garden which was opened in 1976.

It must rank as one of the most beautiful gardens in France.

Gilles drew his inspiration for the garden from Vita Sackville West's famous White Garden at Sissinghurst in Kent with wide herbaceous borders, sweeping lawns and specimen trees.

The flowers were probably a little past there best in mid September but it was still pretty spectacular, and beautifully maintained. 

The Wisteria Arch Walk

Louis enjoying a roll in the lush green grass

The Belvedere

We enjoyed a few hours wandering around and thoroughly enjoyed the time spent here and I'm so glad I made the effort to come, it really is a lovely place to be and made a lasting impression on me.

I imagine that the wisteria arch walk is spectacular in May, hum, maybe I'll return ?

Oh, Echo's of Biddulph Grange

Lush green grass, quite a novilty this summer

The Turkish Pavillion

There was a bit of a car meet going one with some classic British and French cars. They set off with peeping horns for a drive through the beautiful surrounding countryside.

After lunch we drove on to Moulins, also on the Allier river.

I'd planned a walk into town, but these afternoon siesta are becoming a bit of a thing so we've done nothing !

Maybe after some tea, or if not in the morning before we leave.

We're on the towns motorhome aire, it's a paid aire but pretty cheap I think.
It's an automated barrier, pay on exit, but seems like it's about 5 euro for the night. All services, and extra for electric hook up if you need it which I didn't, so excellent value.

Well after tea we summoned up the energy for a walk over the bridge into Moulins.

It's a nice enough town but fairly modern and not a lot to interest me really so after covering the main areas we headed back to Ed and a restful evening,

Moulins town

Stick yer tongue in !

Not sure who these guys are

River Allier