Sunday, August 19, 2007

Come the Revolution...

We had another amazing day yesterday and had a little trip to a chateau nearby.......only this one is no longer entire....there began a history lesson in the Revolution..Martigne Briand is only a few minutes away from where we're staying here at La Fosse de Tigne.
During the French revolution the whole village where the chateau is, was sacked and only 14 houses were left standing, 80% of the people were massacred because they were Royalists. The fire at this Chateau lasted for 15 days. Not surprisingly there are miles of subteranean tunnels under the house as a means of escape if things became too hot...
They are trying to restore it now but I think they should leave it. It's a great way of seeing how the Revolution manifested in the Loire valley, 'The Valley of The Kings'.
...... having just researched a little bit, it seems it is more complicated than I thought at first, with Protestants & Catholics pitted against one another in the wars of the Vendee .....too complicated for me to explain here, but if you're interested go & have a look at what Wikipedia says about on the link I've inserted.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

nearly every day i look at your blog to see if there is something new and I just love to read about your adventures .but not every day do I have time to leave a comment so here is one today just to cheer you up lovely sister xxXXxxXXX

JoeyJoJo said...

Dearest Thomsey. Thankyou. You know how avidly I look for them. A bit rainy here in La Fosse so we are cheering ourselves up with millefeuille.....mmmmm