A VERY OLD TREE, A COUPE D'HONNEUR AND THREE CHÂTEAUX

A little while ago we found a note in our letterbox inviting us to a ceremony called the "Labellisation d'un Arbre Remarkable" at our local château.  All the residents of Paulmy were invited and there was to be a glass of wine afterwards - "l'issue un vin d'honneur sera servi". 

 About 50 local people turned up and all age groups seemed to be represented.

The ceremony took place under the shade of the special tree - a cedar which is truly huge.  It's thought to be at least 500 years old, is 37m high and has a circumference of 12m.  A speech was given by the Maire, who introduced the château's recent Parisian owners, and then the tree specialist from the region.

Amongst the invited guests were the Maires from La Çelle-Guenand and Ferrière Larçon, two other local villages.  It was an important occasion, done in usual relaxed and amiable French style.  The owners were clearly very chuffed to have their ancient and remarkable tree officially acknowledged. 

After the formalities a glass of wine and plates of truly delicious nibbles were served.

A "coup d'honneur" is traditional at village events.  In the UK it would probably have been a cup of tea and a biscuit, or maybe a slice of Victoria sponge if you were lucky.  Vive la Différence!

We had never been inside the château grounds before, although we drive past it almost daily.

One of the other guests, a lady from Preuilly-sur-Claise, told us that the pigeonnier is the largest in the whole of Europe.  As much as the tree was remarkable, this was even more so.  I haven't attempted to count all the pigeon holes but that's an awful lot of pigeons!

As we were leaving one of the other villagers mentioned that during the second world war pigeons from Paulmy were used to carry messages.

In 1729 the Count of Argenson bought the Château des Ormes at the nearby village of Les Ormes and he set about renovating it.  He also bought another château a bit further away at Marigny Marmande, took it to pieces and used the stone from it for his new house at Les Ormes.  Whilst the renovations were in progress he lived at the château in Paulmy.

We know this because we visited the château at Marigny Marmande last summer.

We were shown around what is left of it by the current owner and when we said we lived at Paulmy she was very keen to tell us about the connection between the three châteaux.

The château at Paulmy is a very fine building and it was a privilege to see the grounds and be part of the ceremony on such a beautiful summer's morning.