St-Guilhem le Désert is considered a UNESCO heritage site and one of the most beautiful villages in France. It’s the oldest medieval city we’ve seen so far and the best preserved. The Abbaye de Gellone is here, former home of the Benedictine monks. While touring the Abbaye, there was a woman practicing a love song for that afternoon's wedding, and her voice was that of an angel! She sang “Je t'aimerai aujourd'hui, toujours, bien au-delà de la Vie…” (Johnny Hallyday - Always*). As we stepped outside into the courtyard, the sun was shining through the branches of this enormous old oak tree and along came the bride, wrapped in meters of feather-light organza, stepping daintily along the cobblestone. I knew at that moment that that’s what fairy tales are made of!
Not far away is the Pont du Diable. Legend has it that the king couldn't get his bridge built because it kept getting destroyed every night - no doubt the work of the devil! So he made a pact that should he be able to complete his bridge, the soul of the first living being to cross the bridge after completion would belong to the devil. The bridge was completed in 3 days. He then sent a dog across the bridge, dragging a pot tied to his tail.
Also in this area is the Grotte de Clamouse, a cave rich with extraordinary limestone formations of stalactites and stalagmites resembling dripping candles. The reflections from underground rivers and pools flicker on the cavern roofs.
Also in this area is the Grotte de Clamouse, a cave rich with extraordinary limestone formations of stalactites and stalagmites resembling dripping candles. The reflections from underground rivers and pools flicker on the cavern roofs.
On our way home we stopped at St-Jean-de-Buèges to buy wine and a few jars of jam. One was called “Gratte-Cul”, made from the wild rose bush (églantine). It takes an inordinate length of time to dig out the very tiny berry hidden within a perimeter of little “hairs”, thus bearing the tag of “un travail de romain”.
* Paroles "Always", de Johnny Hallyday
Always
C'est ta main qui se perd dans ma main
Always
Ton rêve qui se réveille dans le mien
Toujours
Et jusqu'à mon dernier jour
Always
C'est mon coeur qui demande à vivre
Always
L'éternité de nos souvenirs
Dieu sait
Combien de temps je pourrai
Te dire
L'Amour qui manque à la Vie
Te dire encore
Je t'aimerai aujourd'hui
Toujours
Bien au-delà de la Vie
Te dire Always
Pour que jamais tu n'oublies
Always
Je serai le gardien de ton Ange
Always
Tu garderas mon âme en échange
Et moi
J'écouterai tes silences
Me dire
L'Amour qui manque à la Vie
Me dire encore
Je t'aimerai aujourd'hui
Toujours
Bien au-delà de la Vie
Me dire Always
Pour que jamais je n'oublie
Toujours, et parceque rien ne finit
Se dire Always, comme on se dit pour la Vie
Always, toujours et bien au-delà de la Vie
Always
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