An intermezzo

Today no video impressions but just some information on the Mas de l'Houvande website.




The site has been updated and the layout made more adapted to larger computer screens.

The most important changes :

* Spanish has been added as sixth language : turismo rural (great thanks to Miguel from Barcelona)

* the page how to get there has been completed with GPS information, a verbal description of the way to get to the mas and with a dynamic link to google maps (click on the google map image).

* the content of the news page has completely changed : links are provided to this blog and to the Mas de l'Houvande portal where you can find further information on the mas, the region, the weather, etc.

* photos have been renewed where necessary

All changes are of course made for all the six languages.

I hope that this will make the site more useful.
Still to come : a photo album and a playlist of videos on the region.
Further suggestions are always welcome.

Have a nice week-end.

Video Impressions of the Lot : the truffle market of Lalbenque

Before it is too late and the season is over I want to give you some more information of one of the main products of the region, namely truffles.




The truffle in the Lot or Quercy is a black truffle, variety Tuber melanosporum, label truffe noir du Quercy.
The qualities of this "black gold" in the gastronomy are unequalled and during the truffle season some of the finest restaurants offer an all truffle menu, from starter to dessert.

Since now for 48 years between the beginning of December and the end of March there is a truffle market taking place every Tuesday in Lalbenque, a small village to the south of Cahors.




The truffle market of Lalbenque is one of the best known in France.
To get a bit more of the history of the market I propose today two videos who also give an excellent impression of the atmosphere of this very special and typical market à l'ancienne.








Let's us all truffle for at least once in our life.

Video Impressions of the Lot : Puy-L'Evêque

Today we go for a walk near Prayssac, to Puy-l'Evêque, a medieval town.


Its present name (meaning "Bishop's Hill") was given by the Bishop of Cahors, William of Cardaillac, who took possession of the town during the Albigensian or Cathar Crusade (1209 - 1229) to eliminate the Cathar "heresy" in Languedoc.

Puy L'Evêque is very picturesque and lies in the heart of the Cahors vineyards.
Formerly it was a little harbour where barrels of the local Cahors wine (known in medieval times in England as 'Black Wine') were exported via the rivers Lot and Gironde to Bordeaux.

Puy-L'Evêque by night