There is a sweet sort of quietness in Normandy at this time of year.
Yesterday was not too cold, with bright winter sunshine and my lovely husband sweetly took me out for lunch in a little town along the Seine valley called La Roche Guyon.
It was very calm, and empty and charmingly old fashioned, and after lunch we walked the dogs and I was glad to have brought my camera.
I just thought you may enjoy the mood of the place. Many of you may have visited during the summer when it is busy with markets and restaurants and antique shops, or you may recognise some of the buildings from the plant fair I showed you a while ago.
This is not a grand town, and many of the houses could do with a little TLC, but most of them haven’t changed for the past 150 years, and with the position of the village sandwiched between steep cliffs and the wide river Seine, there is small room for anything new to be built.
So if you plan to visit Giverny any time soon, then you may like to tuck the name of La Roche Guyon into the back of your mind, and when you’ve finished touring Monets homepatch, then drive the ten minutes further down the valley, and explore for yourselves!
22 comments
*sigh* franki
Oh so lovely, Sharon,I would love to visit soon!
xoxo
Karena
Featuring “Inner Spaces”
Your photos are so beautiful I had to create a new “Pin board” to “pin” the top photo. Oh how I would love to be there now. Just gorgeous!
Such beautiful pictures that convey a calm, quiet and serene beautiful setting. Magical!
Vos photos sont magnifiques et me rappellent un beau voyage. I think it was exactly the same in 1999 when we were there.
Such lovely photos of your beautiful France! We are happy to see these! Have a special weekend!
Also, are there places to stay in this area? Merci
Thank you for this post, what a lovely place, you are very blessed to live in such a tranquil and beautiful town, keep the post coming;o)
I love that we get a glimpse of the wallpaper in the last photo. Charming.
be still my heart. such beauty and poise is the wintery village!
How lovely, Sharon. I think we visited and had Sunday lunch there when I was in Normandy painting so many years ago. Looks so peaceful and still. Gibson and Ghetto look like they were enjoy themselves.
Have a beautiful weekend! XO
Oh so beautiful,maybe some day.
It is comforting to see such peacefulness with all of the unrest nearby. Thanks for sharing and we hope to visit soon!
So beautiful. When we visited France in autumn 2011….We stayed at an old farmhouse that has a B&B section across the river from Vernon. The owner’s wife does tours of Monet’s garden, they are a wonderful couple. After our early morning visit to the gardens we drove along the country roads and saw a couple of small villages, perhaps one was this one you have so beautifully shared today. We stopped at Forges for lunch by the mill. Then we headed to Les Anderlays,and found different country roads back to Vernon to our rustic quarters not far from Giverny. You have brought back wonderful memories, thank you. One day I hope to return ……..cheers from Australia. Lorraine
Beautiful photos as always Sharon…..can’t wait to visit in May! Annie M
How lovely to be reminded of the beauty and tranquillity of the French countryside. And how wonderful that you and your husband took Gibson and Ghetto with you when you went out for lunch in a nearby town. You all know how to have a good time! Thank you for sharing it with us.
I could never get enough of your wonderful photos of your beloved country. My dream to visit someday.
I’m so glad you took your camera too
Your quiet, is also breathtaking.
Every historical stone, the shutters, the rock work, iron works, house numbers, the walking paths all read poetic beauty like non-other.
It’s always a beautiful visit here with you, and as if one was on a travel with you.
Thank you for your beautiful France.
Xx
Bisous
Doré
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Sharon, I so look forward to your posts and love your beautiful pictures!
Sharon, your photos always take my breath away! You certainly have a gift.