Thursday, August 13, 2009
Keith and Cheri told us we should see Bagnoles de L’orne, a town built in the 1930’s around thermal springs where people came to “take the waters.”
It’s not far, so it’s a good first outing of any distance on French roads.
Our route takes us through a national forest, a nice change since we’re living in slightly rolling farmland with trees here and there but no forest.
As it turns out it’s a very pretty town, filled with even more flowers than usual, many shops with pretty things on offer, lots of hotels, and a medical center.
But what we love best is the chateau, which now houses the city government offices. It’s on a hill, looking out over this town that Disney might have used as a model. There are two flights of steps up to the main entrance, so the view is even higher. Flowers grow from planter boxes hung from windows. Visitors can come inside the main hall and see the wood paneling and carved ceilings.
The grounds however, are like an enchanted forest. The chateau sits in the middle of a large park. Hedges, plants, shrubbery - everything is on a large scale, and Bernie says it reminds him of Hansel and Gretel. Several of the trees are six or more feet in diameter at the base, with fir branches hanging to the ground. Bernie says he can see them coming to life, just like in old folk tales, and I can see it, too.
Better watch out for the Seven Dwarfs and the Beanstalk.
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