Sancerre

A more pleasant place to greet the day would be hard to find. Air a little cooler, but, the sun had begun its work on the surrounding vineyards of Sancerre. 

The view across “La Grand Sancerrois” this morning. 

We had decided to stay here another day, so a more leisurely morning was the order of the day. Our overnight neighbours were doing much the same, not in a hurry to move on. 

After breakfast we took a walk of discovery around the village - a directional painted-line around the village assisted with its unfolding story.

From 1276 Jews were to live in a certain street and the Jews made this their street. It quickly became a street of flourishing commerce - with ink makers, lock maker, maker of spurs, a tin smith, an iron monger, a linen merchant, a shoe maker and a hat maker. The street still retains its basic structure today. 

The name of the village has Roman origins but no trace of anything Roman has ever been found on top of the hill where the village stands - it stands  around 150m above the Loire River, offering a view of over 40km across the Val de Loire. 

By the 12th century a fortress had been built on the hill by the grandson of William the Conqueror. Soon groups of families clustered themselves around the castle and developed fortified walls for their protection. An eight months seize during the Wars of Religion in the 16th century saw the town fall and the walls and the castle were demolished. The town had become a Protestant stronghold with Huguenots clustering here.  

Today many houses of the period still exist - most being taken up with the sale of Sancerre wine!

A typical Sancerre shop display. Many such around the village. 

And, this a wine tasting machine - slot in your € and then select the wine you wish to sample. 

It is always interesting to see how space was used at different periods of time. Where we parked along the line of the old ramparts, it was, back in the day, a large horse market - some suggesting that up to 2000 horse could be traded on one day. And the story of Andre Jouhanneau who met a gruesome death defending the town against the King during the Wars of Religion. 

Another perfect day weather wise. Spent a good part of the afternoon soaking up the pleasant weather and surrounds. A good book helped, too.