Nans Sous Sainte Anne
South of Besancon up into the Jura
45 min bus trip with Collegues from CLA
This farm complex is part of an ancient tool making factory, La Taillanderie, now an "Unesco"
site with a water mill and forge. A fascinating link to a very old rural France.
The main street of Nans Sous Sainte Anne. The weather was at its worst, understandable at 800m with very low clouds and rain. Despite having only 145 inhabitants this town has a functioning town council with a mayor and councillors. It is well known due to being on the source of the river Lison, Speleology, a nearby Chateau, La Taillanderie and spectacular mountain scenery. No pictures due to low cloud.
These poor sheep keep their wool for seasons on end, something to do with the cold and cows getting all available indoor accomodation.
Trough-watering hole in the centre of town, reportably potable as it comes directly from the source of the Lison. This area is well know for its underground streams/rivers where they say one can get from one village to another underground.
Emilie, Sebastion and 2 year old Margot's house where I stayed for the weekend. This is an enromous ancient farmhouse that they are renovating - sustainability style. This sort of redevelopment of old dwellings is not regulated by any sort of codes.
On the edge of town there was a group of Gites (country cottages) rented to tourists from all over europe in summer, activities are many and include a cooking school.
View from Emilie and Sebastion's front door onto farmland usually occupied by cows whose very rich milk goes to the local cheese factory to produce the "Comte", the cheese brand exclusive to this area of France.
These cows spend all winter indoors and exist on hardfeed.
Typical old rural architecture
Local ancient architecure, of which each region has its own version, never ceases to amaze me, and includes the building that I live in with original supports and beams which are split, bowed and very irregular in shape and length. I am sure the shutters on my windows are hundreds of years old. The french have such a huge respect for their past. Patrimoine.
On April 2/3 I am offto visit another 2 local villages, Pugey and Arguel. I cannot speak highly enough of the organisation of this part of my studies at CLA
