Paris1972-Versailles2003

So here you go , a monument briefly touch base before on my road warrior ways of the southwest of my belle France. I have other posts on Mauléon-Licharre but need to tell you about this church in its own post. Therefore, here is my take on the Church St. John the Baptist. 

Mauléon-Licharre is located in the department 64 of Pyrénées-Atlantiques, in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. Only 59 km by road from Pau where we were based.

It is located in the heart of the historical province of Soule, at the foot of the Pyrenees. Mauléon, an old feudal town, was built on the right bank of the Saison river or gave of Mauléon, at the foot of a hill where the ruins of the castle rise. The current town was created in 1841 by the union of the towns of Mauléon and Licharre.

Mauléon-Licharre is the capital of the espadrille. The manufacture of espadrilles, sandals and ankle boots, boots and rubber clogs, is an important part of the activity. The rest is agriculture (breeding, pastures) for which the town is part of the appellation area of Ossau-Iraty. Here we also do the Etorki.Some of our favorite cheeses in France!

However, this post is really to tell you a bit more about the Church St John the Baptist of Mauléon-Licharre!  Mauléon-Licharre is one of the off the beaten path towns of my belle France and within it, the church should the top away from the more popular venues in town.

The Church of St. John the Baptist was built in the late 19C. The decision dates from 1877, the first stone was laid in 1879 and it was consecrated on May 24, 1885. It was partly built with stones from the Church of Licharre which had been demolished. In the five following years, it was equipped with glass roofs, then the choir and the nave are decorated with paintings. Its dimensions are approximately 48 meters long and 23 meters wide. The clock located at the bottom of its spire is quite rare in local churches. This is deep Soule territory!

The city of Mauléon-Licharre on its heritage : https://www.mauleon-licharre.fr/fr/decouvrir-mauleon/patrimoine.html

The Basque country Soule region tourism on Mauléon-Licharre and its heritage: https://www.en-pays-basque.fr/en/territory-and-destination/mauleon-and-the-soule-region/

A local informative webpage on the region of the Soule and Mauléon-Licharre: http://www.lasoule-leguide.fr/les-cantons/canton-de-mauleon-licharre

This is a nice town and many goodies we like here ! Not to mention nice history and beautiful architecture in the off the beaten path area of Mauléon-Licharre, Hope you enjoy the post as I

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!

We went on our little overnight road warrior trip in the Loire Nantaise. My son grab a brochure from the last place we were, Vignobles Marchais (see post), and saw a castle knowing that I loveeee Castles!!! So it was close by and we headed for it. I am updating the post but also splitting it into the castle part and the LU museum part, This is a wonderful Chateau de Goulaine. Of course, heard about it, and even passed by it several times but as I have said before, so much to see and it seems time and money is never enough. My belle France is amazing and each day it grows on you. Let me tell you here about the Lu museum; hope you enjoy it as I.

The Château de Goulaine is located in the town of Haute-Goulaine in the immediate vicinity of the marshes of Goulaine, in the department 44 Loire-Atlantique and in the region of Pays de la Loire. Not to repeat on the castle post any further will give you the info on the LU museum on this post only. The castle , its wines and rental property is not all you have here, You have a wonderful museum of LU ,the famous French biscuit company!!

From 1846 created by Jean-Romain Lefévre and Pauline-Isabelle Utile: so the LU in the last names.   Actually started the cookies in 1848. After WWII the son made a turn to the USA and was inspired by the taste and manufactured of cookies there something he used to continue excellence on the LU. Actress Sarah Bernhardt said “I find nothing better than a little LU… oh if two little LU.” You can see the post on LU former factory in Nantes !

Since 1999, the Château de Goulaine welcomes in its former stables, the artistic and advertising collection of the famous brand of biscuits Nantes LU. In these 500 m2, more than 600 objects of furniture of the old shop on Rue Boileau in Nantes, is presented with rare objects, such as advertisements or the original painting of the little schoolboy dating from 1897. You can also discover the very interesting history of the creation of this entity of Nantes The museum is house in the former 18C stables of the Château de Goulaine.

Some amenities of modern nature indeed very nice.  It has a nice tearoom, shop and sale of wines from the collection “Marquis de Goulaine”. As well as biscuits and accessories of LU . Located at the entrance, the boutique and the tearoom are available free of charge on the castle’s opening hours. Free Parking without street crossing at 100 meters from the entrance of the castle. There is a back section by the gardens where they rent rooms for part of the year.

We love these cookies/biscuits so this part of the visit was the most pleasant perhaps, A must for the whole family. And last as usually bad news are, not to do so on top, a really sad disclaimer news for all and especially for us. Mondelez International, current owner of the famous LU biscuit brand and its artistic heritage, has decided to withdraw its collection from the castle at the end of the 2019 season. The 2019 season will therefore be the last opportunity for visitors to enjoy the LU museum at the Château de Goulaine!!! It was Danone then owner of LU who opened the museum in 1999. As of today, no news on what would be of the collection of over 600 items!

One reason, I did the post apart from the castle. This section here will be in our memories forever and again so sad to tell you this news. We were there last in 2018  ,and it was a soothing trip for us after the passing of my dear late wife Martine. We continue to purchase and consume the LU products in our home.

Some webpages to help you plan your museum part are:

The official Château de Goulaine on the history of the LU museum and the sad news: http://www.chateaudegoulaine.fr/le-musee-lu-est-ferme

The official story of LU official history of the brand: https://www.lu.fr/lu/detente/musee-lu

So there you have it folks, another jewel in the Loire in France , and only a couple hours from me. The Château de Goulaine is a must to visit ! Enjoy it as much as we do.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!

We went on our little overnight road warrior trip in the Loire Nantaise. My son grab a brochure from the last place we were, Vignobles Marchais (see post), and saw a castle knowing that I loveeee Castles!!! So it was close by and we headed for it. I am updating the post but also splitting it into the castle part and the LU museum part, This is a wonderful Chateau de Goulaine. Of course, heard about it, and even passed by it several times but as I have said before, so much to see and it seems time and money is never enough. My belle France is amazing and each day it grows on you. Let me tell you here about the castle and its history ; hope you enjoy it as I.

The Château de Goulaine is located in the town of Haute-Goulaine in the immediate vicinity of the marshes of Goulaine, in the department 44 Loire-Atlantique and in the region of Pays de la Loire. Built on the marches of Brittany, this castle once separated the Duchy of Brittany from the Kingdom of France. It is also the last of the castles of the Loire, going from east to west. Built of Tufa Stone. It dates from the end of the Middle Ages, early Renaissance. It still has vestiges of its ancient fortified past.

A bit of history I like

The castle has been the home of the Goulaine family for more than a thousand years. Today, thirty generations have already succeeded in the castle that are open to the public’s visit. In the 12C, when the Duchy of Brittany became independent, the first Goulaine, Jean de Goulaine, then captain of the city of Nantes, fortified the property, which is still nowadays surrounded by marshes to protect itself from the attacks of the Normans. The Goulaine were a family of ancient nobility, already quoted in the 7th Crusade of 1248. In the 12C, king Louis VII of France and King Henry II of England (Plantagenêt) gave both their arms (the lily flower and leopard) to the Goulaine family.   During the Wars of Religion, the Goulaine’s fought in the ranks of the Catholic League. Gabriel de Goulaine ,joined king Henri IV, and later obtained in 1621 from king Louis XIII the erection in Marquisate of his Lordship of Goulaine. The family of Goulaine remains owner of the estate without interruption until 1788, when it is sold to a shipowner and wife of Dutch origin. This sale helps to prevent the destruction of the castle during the French revolution. In 1858, the estate was bought by a member of the family of Goulaine, who kept it because of his family redemption in 1960 by the Marquis Robert de Goulaine thanks to the fortune of his mother, born of Argenson.

And even wine history too ,but of course , we are in the Loire! Although it is not clear when the vineyard of the property started the commercial production of wine, rather than a wine simply dedicated to family consumption, the vintage during which the property of the Château de Goulaine began to produce wine is In fact the oldest wine-growing firm still in activiity; this is probably the third oldest commercial company in the world, and this family business is considered to be the oldest in Europe. The Castle estate is one of the last castles of the Loire to still to produce wine.

Inside you see wonderful rooms richly decorated and well preserved from the Red room or Salon Rouge 17C, to the big room or Grand Salon 16C, the kitchen 15C,  curiosity room or cabinet des curiosités, The bedroom or chambre of king Louis XIV style, French gardens  the tour des Archives, and cour du Grand logis inner courtyard, are all magnificent.

Some amenities of modern nature indeed very nice.  It has a nice tearoom, shop and sale of wines from the collection “Marquis de Goulaine”. As well as biscuits and accessories of LU . Located at the entrance, the boutique and the tearoom are available free of charge on the castle’s opening hours. Free Parking without street crossing at 100 meters from the entrance of the castle. There is a back section by the gardens where they rent rooms for part of the year,

Some webpages to help you plan your trip to the castle part are:

The Official Château de Goulaine: http://www.chateaudegoulaine.fr/

The Nantes tourist office on the castle: https://www.nantes-tourisme.com/en/heritage/chateau-de-goulaine-mansion-house-goulaine

There you have it folks, another jewel in the Loire in my belle France , and only a couple hours from me. The Château de Goulaine is a must to visit and if rush I will say head for the museum superbe (check if still open) ! Enjoy it as much as we do.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!