Usson

A little village surmounting Saint-Rémy de Chargnat, historically famous. It had a castle, destroyed on orders of Richelieu, which had previously been the residence of Marguerite de Valois (the Reine Margot).

It is a favourite destination of ours for end-of-year visits as an optimum point of proximity/outstanding beauty and inspiration. I had a school friend (Vignal) who lived there.

Visits

Gallery

30 December 2005

The church of Usson (Église Saint-Maurice), in December 2005.
View of the valley (id.)
The walls (id.)

7 April 2006

With Fabrice's parents and Onyx.

Les orgues basaltiques, a peculiar stone formation.
Ascending.
And resting (my father was already badly ill).
At the top, with splendid views of the Cézalier.
Monitoring...
And identifying.
We had no end of fun putting names on the familiar shapes of my childhood skyline.
Sometimes not with a grain of doubt.
At the top stands la Vierge d'Usson, 1893, dedicated to the safety of aviators.
With its chapel, it stands 7m high. The baby Jesus holds wheat.
Elena and Fabrice at the Virgin's foot.
Back to the village.
Less time was spent there.
As it was already familiar to everybody.
But still we had time for further stories and explanations.

30 December 2019

With Lionel and his children, and Ingrid.

Our little congregation in the blazing lights of the evening (Julia down the wall with Fabrice taking the picture).
The stairs to the church.
Tonton carrying Julia towards the top.
Julia exploring the orgues.
Saint-Rémy-de-Chargnat preparing the New Year's Eve celebrations.
Notre-Dâme d'Usson crowning the hill.
Lionel and Elena with the Puy-de-Dôme in background.
Everybody, by the volcanos.
Elena before the sunset.