Chateaux

Yesterday, we toured La Commanderie with the owner, Rebecca.  We met the day before when Papa and I stopped by her gate and realized we had been there before.  Rebecca’s mother was French and her father is from Kentucky.  We had things in common and she invited us to come for a tour.  La Commanderie “was built in the 13th century by a Cathar Lord.  It was enlarged in the 16th century, and established as a Commanderie of the Knights of Malta.”  It has quite a history!

We set off this morning to see a chateau on the Canal du Midi.  That one needs a lot of work, but the location is quite interesting.  We drove on and found Chateau de Montespieu, just south of Castres.  The gate was open, so we stopped and chatted with a woman in the driveway.  She happened to be the owner and she invited us for a tour.  She has renovated half the chateau and did a beautiful job.  We looked and talked for two hours.  Chateau de Montespieu was built on foundations dating to the 12th century, then rebuilt in the 16th and 17th centuries, and restored in 1900.  The current owner has spent the last 18 years renovating and updating.  It was pretty impressive! 

We’re having fun!  We’re enjoying interesting conversations, learning French history, and meeting kind, bright, entrepreneurial people, all while staying safe.  Everyone we’ve met has been concerned about Covid and asking about whether we are vaccinated.  Yesterday we had to show our vaccination cards to be served at a restaurant.  We’re finding most people care about others and want to move on from Covid.