Burgundy, France

Annabel and I just got back from a 2 week stay in France, most of which was spent in the Burgundy region.  We were there on tour with the Washington County Children's Chorus (more on that in a later post).  Burgundy is bucolic, and much of the region is home to Charolais cattle farms and an immense national forest.

While there we visited ruins left from the Roman occupation of France

and neighboring Guedelon Castle, which is being built by a team using only medieval  building tools and materials.  What an amazing feat!

 

We also toured the Chateau de Bazoches, home of one of Louis XIV's closest advisors.  The castle boasts a reception room with a gorgeous wall painting tracing the direct lineage of the french royal family. 

We managed to fit in several cities as well, including Dijon with it's enormous, fountain-filled central square.

Burgundy has such a rich, varied history which is so evident in its architecture.  This is most evident in the cities, where the old and new are close companions.