The Ordinary versus the Extraordinary – A year of travelling with three children: 4 May 2015 - We farewell our friends at Limoges Station

I managed to fit in a quick morning walk to the Charente crossing before we left for Limoges to take Garry and Alex to the station to take their train to Barcelona via Toulouse. We left in plenty of time to drive down the narrow little roads around here before we suddenly emerged onto the motorway. The motorway suddenly appears after beautiful country lanes and there it is all the way to Limoges (and beyond). It is less than an hour from Videix to Limoges and an easy drive.

Garry and Alex saying good bye to the lovely gite in Videix

The station, Limoges Benedictin, has grand architecture, marble reliefs and large windows. We always marvel at the care that was taken to build a railway station. Such grand stations remind me of the scene in the movie: “Travels with my Aunt” based on the novel by Graeme Green when his elderly aunt (played by Maggie Smith) reminisces about her slightly misspent youth and dancing in a ballroom at one of Europe’s grand stations (can’t remember which one).

Limoges Benedictin station

Endearing sculpture.


The station is like a gallery.


Marble relief - amazing artwork for a train station!

Another beautiful relief!

Even the arrival hall is noteworthy.

Note the depart sign above - so grand - 1929 style!

We had a coffee and pain au chocolat (amongst other things) at the station’s café. With limited French, Alex didn’t quite get the coffee she was hoping for but managed ok with what she did get! We concluded that French for “weak coffee” probably doesn’t exist!

Almost cathedral like! I suppose the station was the hub along with the church and the market in 1929.

Last French coffee...for this trip any way!

Limousin lemonade - not so sweet and delicious!

As we said Adieu we wondered if we will have any other Aussie guests on our travels! You never know might cross our paths.

The train arrives!

After we had said “Adieu”, Karl, Luke and I wandered towards the spires we could see in the distance which belonged to Limoges Cathedral. The big kids were at home in Videix, so as Luke LOVES looking around old places and was considerably awestruck by the cathedral’s vastness, we could take our time to enjoy the amazing interior. The baptistery was first built in the 5^th Century before the cathedral was subsequently built in various stages over a few centuries (13th - 19th). Now it stands as a majestic building with many glorious stained glass windows, a couple of tombs and a series of little chapels. It was the largest cathedral we have been into so far on this trip. I remarked to Karl that in places it was almost Middle Eastern in its ornateness and colours.

Limoges Cathedral

External door

Remains of the very ancient part of the cathedral.

The workmanship astounds me every time!

The paintings very so very rich, but with the sunlight streaming in, the reflections detract from the colours.

Almost Middle Eastern in appearance.

One of the Saints honoured at the cathedral.

Limoges Cathedral rosette window

Limoges Cathedral - vast and breath taking

Whilst we were in Limoges, which is a big town compared to any towns we have been to for a while, we thought we look around a bit more. It is clear that many of the buildings and side streets are really old but there are also modern (ish) apartments and shops. Two things were remarkable: it is quite multicultural on first glance and also has electric trolley buses as well as normal buses.

Wattle and daub again, wobbly floors with modern windows!

Never able to resist looking in another old church, we ventured into the 12th Century Church of St Pierre du Queyroix. It had a different feel to it compared with the cathedral and we are yet to find out why there were two large churches so close geographically. Luke and I climbed into the pulpit on the old stone steps. Once again, the stained glass windows were detailed and wonderful.

St Pierre du Queyroix windows

Ornate altar - very gorgeous

From the pulpit of St Pierre du Queyroix

Our next goal was to find a boulangerie to buy some bread to take back for lunch and so we followed the trail of people walking towards us with baguettes tucked under their arms! Success! Even better the pain au chocolat were 3 for 2.50 Euros and there was a good deal on baguettes, too! Just like every other person on the street, we trotted along with our baguettes under our arms and walked back to our car.

Je voudrais une baguette s'il vous plait... (or something like that!)

Luke walking along the walls of the city square in Limoges

Baguette wars in the rhododendron bushes at Limoges Station

Back in Videix, things got a bit hairy on the trampoline and fortunately it was lunch time as a circuit breaker and then school time which Luke, having been angelic all morning in Limoges, resisted vehemently to the point of nearly climbing out of the window! The baguettes were welcomed with gusto and Karl and I enjoyed the nettle soup from yesterday. We sat outside in our tranquil garden soaking up a bit of sun! A lovely warm afternoon followed with just a tiny threat of rain.

A nice moment when the kids next door came to school and Luke was delighted!

Standing in the kitchen pondering about dinner and my daughter tells me I look French and takes a photo! Well, maiden name was French!

Annika told me that I looked French!

After dinner we walked to the pond to see the families of coypu. They were out in force and very cute. The sunset was again magnificent and the layers of clouds as the weather clears added to the beauty. It was almost dark when we got home and unfortunately the internet was down again. I was so wanting to get my blogs up to date!!!