November 1, 2021
Chemin de Fer
Train of the Ardèche ~ Train des Gorges
From Tournon-Sur-Rhone, St. Jean-de-Muzols to Colombier-Le-Vieux – St. Barthelemy-Le-Plain, “Train of the Ardèche” ~ (Train des Gorges), travels 8 km taking 90-minutes roundtrip. SNC Chemin de Fer du Vivarais. (www.trainardeche.fr)
The 44-ton Mallets 414 coal burning steam engine, No. 7629, was built in 1932 for a one-meter gauge, with 164 tight radius curves.
The four pistons are moved by the seam from the boiler which contains 3,100 litres of water heated to 200 degrees C. with a pressure of 14 bars. The 180-ton trains consumes 800 kg of coal and 6,000 litres of water.
The locomotive is manned by the Engineer, (“Driver”) and the Fireman/Stoker, (“Chauffeur”). The French word chauffeur, (Old French: “chaufer” meant to heat, warm up; to become hot), derives from the same Anglo-French verb “chafe.”
The word chauffeur, actually is derived from the French word ‘chaud,’ which means hot. The French word “chauffer” means “to heat.”
The construction of the railway line linking Tournon-sur-Rhône to Lamastre took four years to construct: from 1886 to 1890. It was inaugurated in 1891, and traverses the Doux Valley and since 1969, is used for passenger excursions. The line has 8 masonry viaducts and 4 tunnels.
The river has its source at an altitude of more than 1,000 meters in the town of St-Bonnet-le-Froid and travels 70 km before flowing into the Rhône at Saint Jean de Muzols.
Additional locomotives and wagons were added for the shipment of timber, agricultural and milling products, building materials, manufactured goods and of course, mail. The total length of tract is over 200 kilometers.
The Mallet steam locomotives, built in 1932, was designed specifically for this line. It was the design of the Franco-Swiss inventor Anatole Mallet and is equipped with an articulated chassis allowing it to navigate the tight curves.
The oldest car used for passenger transport dates from 1891. Originally from Brittany, she has been travelling in the Ardèche since the 1970s. Made of varnished wood, these cars testify to the development of the railway at the end of the nineteenth century.
October 31, 2021
Grignan excursion and truffle farm visit Meet “Horlololi” (the truffle dog) at Domaine Seban truffle farm outside Grignan, France.
Le Domaine Saint-Alban is a vineyard and wine estate where you can dig for truffles during the truffle season. Demonstrations of truffle harvesting and digging are 10 euros/person for individuals and groups. Christian Allègre hosts your visits every day from November to late March. Christian Allègre offers the opportunity to discover the truffle fields, work with the trained truffle-hunting dog and taste the estate wines. At the Domaine Saint-Alban, the Allègre family traditionally digs for truffles from generation to generation since 1892.
Domaine Saint Alban
Chemin de Bourbouton
84600 Richerenches
domaine.st.alban@orange.fr
https://www.provenceguide.co.uk/tasting/enclave-des-papes/domaine-saint-alban/provence-82188-1.html
One of the finest bakeries of the world is located in Grignan, Provence, France
"LA BOUTIQUE" ~ (Du Clair De La Plume)
www.clairplume.com
2 place du mail
PATISSERIES, GLACES, ET EPICERIE FINE
Tel: 04 75 96 35 76, boutique@clairplume.com
Place du jeu de ballon, 26230, Grignan, France
October 30, 2021 ~ Pont du Gard, France
Construction began in 97AD, after the rule of Augustus…..(for whom the month of August was named). During the Roman Empire’s four-century reign, the construction of aqueducts was like planting a “stone flag” in their conquered territories. The 50km aqueduct, carrying water from Uzes to Nimes, France, has a (remarkable) grade of only 25cm/km!