It’s the new year—a happy one ahead for you and yours I hope!—which has somehow put me in a nostalgic mood for the last decade. We spent it almost entirely in a village in the French countryside near Cluny, and prior to that at the (very rural) Château de Balleure. Now that we’re citified folk living in Beaune, I’m reflecting back on my fond village memories.
So take a walk back with me, if you too are enamored with the French countryside. I’ve gathered up a few of my favorite photos of village life in France: mostly of our own (former) village or of Balleure. Bonne promenade!
Photo above: On every holiday devoted to veterans or anniversaries of peace, the French honor their war dead, in towns large and small. Here les pompiers, our volunteer fire department, march to the war memorial at our church, where the mayor will give a speech.
Below: Every day this farmer leads his dairy cows across this Roman road near Balleure, to the barn for milking.
With our next door neighbors at La Vineuse, greeting a horse and carriage that passed in front of our houses.
On the farm below our village, mama duck leads the pack.
During our renovation, Ron, along with our masons and helpful friends, celebrate the completion of our new terrace with a bottle of something festive.
In keeping with a common French tradition, a bride-to-be parades around Cluny, dressed by her friends for her wedding shower.
Our friend Sam checks out a vineyard near Balleure.
Our neighbors threw a village party in their barn.
In Provence, a village cat enjoys a dish of milk on the wall.
The French like to keep donkeys as pets; our grandchildren love to visit Princess and Claude, just down from our house.
The old and the new live side-by-side: a satellite dish on a French village house.
In a yard at Balleure, an iconic French Deux Chevaux.
A summer medieval festival, in a friend's village nearby.
Almost every French village has a lavoir, where clothes were once washed, Here, a trough off the lavoir at Balleure is put to good use.
At the Cluny market, this donkey carries purchases (and often small children) from market to car for the shoppers.
Just outside of our gate, our Italian neighbors always share their cherries. Pies, clafoutis, and brandied cherries will follow.
At a party, friends chant and clap to the "Ban Bourguignon", a traditional drinking song in our area which every good Burgundian knows (watch it here).
At the bottom of the steep hill our house sits on, the goats are almost always perched on this log; my mother dubbed them “The Intelligent Goats of La Vineuse”, and kept a framed picture of them in her study.
In Cluny, a favorite spot: a natural theatre by the remparts.
Our lantern wears a hat for Christmas in La Vineuse.
A spring party in our garden with some of our great friends.
Every year our village does a roaming charity drive, all around the commune. A float and costumes are de rigueur.
Just another Saturday at our beloved Cluny market.
At a wedding in our village, friends decorated the happy couple’s getaway vehicle.
A summer fête at the château.
Full moon over La Vineuse.
This last photo is of Ron, on our former terrace, at his favorite pastime: lunch, and raising a glass. So on this dawn of a new decade, we raise our glasses to you, dear readers: Bonne année and bonne santé!
In the COMMENTS: Thanks for all the nice Christmas wishes, and a special thanks to the CATS who reponsed to Vino's Christmas letter! What wonderful feline auteurs we have among our readers. And Anne, 'rascal' is indeed the perfect word to describe Vino le Bambino.
11 thoughts on “Life in a French Village, in 27 Photos”
Happy New Year! Loved these pictures! I sure hope we can get together this year. You just have to meet my new cat. He’s a lover.. Wishing you and Ron a healthy and happy New year.
Happy New Year, Lynn and Ron! Hope you love your first full year in Beaune now that you re settled in!
What a delightful treasure with all these wonderful photos Lynn! I’m a bit envious of your life and lifestyle. Thank you for taking us back through this year with this post. A Happy & Healthy New Year to you & your family.
Lynn, thanks for this delicious slice of France! My husband Jim leaned over my shoulder and enjoyed the photos with me. When he saw the white van covered with sunflowers he said, “The rose parade in California doesn’t have anything on them!!”
Bonne Année! Quelle belle vie – et les photos superbes! Merci! Jan G.
Bonne Année dear Lynn. Oh how your pictures took me back to my beloved Cote d’Azur. MERCI for these beautiful memories. And un petit update. Sadly, La Corniche was sold about 2 years ago to a Saudi Prince who has torn it down and is in the process of completing the “wife” house at the bottom of the property….to the distress of all of us who knew and loved that villa. It was something that had to be done and something that will forever be special.
Dear Lynn,
Love, love, love these photos. Thanks a heap for sharing.
Lynn,these pictures are nothing short of fabulous!Such glorious country,people and animals!Thank you for including us in these visits!Certainly no better way to start the New Year and new decade!May it be healthy and happy for you,Ron,Vino,and family–and,hopefully,for all of us,too!!
HUGS
Happy New Year! Thank you for sharing…
I love all the photos, but especially the ones of the donkeys. I have always adored them; the French in me peut-etre. Merci beaucoup for brightening my day, comme toujours, Lynn!
Excelent pictures, lets hope the party continues..