Getting to know Basse Goulaine...

We have lived in Basse Goulaine for 5 years now. When we arrived we went on walks around the town, we have been on numerous bicycle rides but until we received this year's annual Summer Magazine from Nantes Metropole, we hadn't really discovered our own town. In the back of the magazine there are various walks to do. So, last Sunday, with our in-laws, we did the 3.2km walk around Basse Goulaine, and discovered lots of treasures... the hidden manor houses, the people who owned them, and some of the traditions relating to Manor living. We started at the Cemetery... not a great place to start a walk, but I had never walked through it before or seen the commemorative plaque to first world war victims...

Then we walked up to the Moulin Souline, no longer in use this windmill is now part of a private property. We then walked down to the last farm in Basse Goulaine at la Quintaine. It wasn't open so we couldn't see much from the outside, but there was a lovely walk to follow in fields we had never discovered before (see number 4 on the link attached). Then we came across this Manor, la Manoir de la Prétière, Number 5 on the link attached).

Nice to look at, but not as interesting at this, the highlight, le chateau de la Ravelonnièr, (see 4 images below) one of the oldest sites in Basse Goulaine dating back to 1650. The second image below is the oven. These ovens were common to help those with no oven at home bake bread. Peasants, who didn't have ovens in their homes, didn't always have bread with meals, but they could bring the loaves they had prepared to the village's communal oven. There the baker would bake it for a fee, part of which would go to the lord. Peasant bread was usually coarse and brown. Interestingly, having done a little research on these ovens, bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or "upper crust." which is where the expression "Upper Crust" comes from.

There was also a beautiful apple tree with lots of red apples (last image) just about to drop - too irrisistable - and perhaps they were for the use of the general public too? ;-) This property is now private, but we were able to go right up to the gate as the guard dog was pretty friendly and docile. A beautiful property. 













Then, finishing our walk, very close to where we live, we could only see from the long outside stone wall, the grounds of the (now) a chambre d'hôtes - la domaine de la Champagnère take a look at this link  It has an Italian style similar to to the architectural style found in Clisson.

We missed out the end of the walk which was the Church as we have been there for a communion, a marriage and a funeral already. It was good to get to know our neck of the woods. More on Basse Goulaine on future posts. We have the bug now to find out more about the history of our town.

Here is the link to the walk where you can find out all the history and details of each property. Perhaps you'd like to discover it too?