Les Vacances

For our "Spring Break" we got three days off of school for a five day weekend. I was originally planning to travel to Rome with some friends, but it didn't work out, so my host family invited me to go to Vieussan in the Souteast of France with them. My host-mom's brother owns a Bed and Breakfast there; her whole family actually has a lot of history in the town, which is what compelled him to buy the "house". I emphasize "house" because it was once the home of the richest man in the city who controlled the "moulin" which was the mill that regulated the river l'Orb; the house is gigantic and has been renovated into a B&B/ hotel. The village itself, which is about a fifteen minute walk by the road, or a beautiful half-hour hike through the mountains, is incredibly small (population nearing 300 during the summer) and was built up against the mountain. The area is surrounded by vineyards in every direction. So, basically, I visited heaven for the weekend. I took more pictures than my camera knew what to do with. I was enthralled by this beautiful, ancient village.

"Moulin de Grais" the B&B

Vieussan as seen from the hike.

A beautiful door in Vieussan

Down a sidestreet

The old café!

One day, we went into Beziers, the closest big city to Vieussan (it's about an hour away from Montpelier), and we went to see the Cathedral. We were able to walk up the bell tower where there was a breathtaking view of the city and the river.

I love the bridges.

I am so grateful to my host-family for including me in this trip. I was surrounded by a beautiful French landscape, eating delicious French food, and listening to and speaking constant French -- I couldn't have asked for more. Here are some more beautiful pictures from random villages we visited:

What a lovely place to spend eternity.