You may remember that Anne (Blankson Hemans), Anthea (Lay) and I met up for a painting trip to the Norfolk Broads a couple of years ago post our Big Painting Challenge adventure?
Linda Matthews who organised a Brush With The Broads (BWTB) moved to France so last year we missed out on our little painting reunion. We therefore leapt at the chance to visit Linda in her lovely new home in Autignac, France which is a village that is in the foothills of the Massif Central and surrounded by vineyards which at this time of year were bursting with Autumnal colour!
We arrived at Beziers airport via a seamless Ryan Air flight (Yes! Really!) from Luton, and was greeted by our hostess for the next few days! A whistle stop tour on the way to Autignac by Linda who is very knowledgeable on the region and an excellent tour guide!
Linda Matthews who organised a Brush With The Broads (BWTB) moved to France so last year we missed out on our little painting reunion. We therefore leapt at the chance to visit Linda in her lovely new home in Autignac, France which is a village that is in the foothills of the Massif Central and surrounded by vineyards which at this time of year were bursting with Autumnal colour!
We arrived at Beziers airport via a seamless Ryan Air flight (Yes! Really!) from Luton, and was greeted by our hostess for the next few days! A whistle stop tour on the way to Autignac by Linda who is very knowledgeable on the region and an excellent tour guide!
On arrival at our accommodation (Linda’s house!), we were instantly wowed by the high ceilings, huge winding staircase and sizeable rooms!
The house is a typical traditional French townhouse with extensive living and a huge cavernous ground floor ‘garage’ ! Linda is looking forward to opening this area up as a studio/Gallery in the summer. A fantastic space that is well suited to artistic practice and I had to admit to a tinge of envy!
The house is a typical traditional French townhouse with extensive living and a huge cavernous ground floor ‘garage’ ! Linda is looking forward to opening this area up as a studio/Gallery in the summer. A fantastic space that is well suited to artistic practice and I had to admit to a tinge of envy!
 Narnia Portal |  La Liberte! |
The infinity staircase leads from the ground floor right up to the attic in polished concrete and the ceilings are typically high and the walls impressively decorated with stencil work and hand painted stripes and panels.
We each had our own bedroom, which were all very comfortable and each had a huge wardrobe – the original flat packed furniture I was reliably informed! There was no other way to get it up the stairs I am sure! Anyway I spent my entire stay convinced that Aslan was going to leap out of mine! A perfect gateway to Narnia!
An excellent Coq Au Vin prepared by Chef Linda and then bed – we were ready for it!
We each had our own bedroom, which were all very comfortable and each had a huge wardrobe – the original flat packed furniture I was reliably informed! There was no other way to get it up the stairs I am sure! Anyway I spent my entire stay convinced that Aslan was going to leap out of mine! A perfect gateway to Narnia!
An excellent Coq Au Vin prepared by Chef Linda and then bed – we were ready for it!
 Typical narrow street in Meze |  Typical narrow street in Meze |  Typical narrow street in Meze |
The following morning, after a delicious breakfast of fresh croissants and coffee we packed our painting paraphernalia in the car and made our way to a pretty little town on the coast called Meze which is an occupied settlement since ancient times. Meze, on the north-western coast of the Etang de Thau, is now an important local centre for oyster production and the Oyster beds themselves are clearly marked out on all the local maps.
Meze is currently unspoiled and does not have too many tourists and was quiet while we were there.
Meze is currently unspoiled and does not have too many tourists and was quiet while we were there.
plein air in meze
 Linda's Painting in Meze |  Anne painting the harbour walls |  The view |  Arty Anth looking resplendent! |  Looking serious! |
We pitched up at a row of moored leisure and speed boats bobbing on the turquoise water. The weather was stunning with clear blue skies and the sun was on good form. Luckily we had braced ourselves for weather similar to what we had left behind and had packed layers, as it became chilly as the sun began to dip so we packed up our kit and made our way to a café in Etang de Thau and treated ourselves to a delicious hot chocolate which helped to warm us upat Grau d'Agde where L'Herault river flows into the Med.
The Etang de Thau is a large lagoon, a sea-lake, covering about 7500 hectares that is separated from the Mediterranean by a long thin strip of raised sand. The Mediterranean can be accessed from the Etang at Marseillan and Sete and the Canal du Midi enters the Etang at Marseillan.
The harbour mouth is marked out by two Pepper Pot type light houses and we took the opportunity to get some photographs of the fishing boats coming home, followed by huge flocks of seagulls as they dumped their unwanted catches overboard before they entered the harbour. A future painting for sure – it was so cold in the wind by the time we arrived that it unfortunately wasn’t practical to paint en plein air.
Then it was back to Linda’s to unwind, reflect and order Pizza from the Pizza man that visits the village very Thursday! They were delicious – apparently there are more pizzerias in France than there are in Italy!? You learn something new!
Then it was back to Linda’s to unwind, reflect and order Pizza from the Pizza man that visits the village very Thursday! They were delicious – apparently there are more pizzerias in France than there are in Italy!? You learn something new!
taking advantage of inclement weather
 Anthea paints the view  That word was naughty! |  Linda's Still Life Painting  'Breakfast' Acrylic on paper....by me |
Rain had been forecast for Friday morning so I shouldn’t really have been surprised when an enormous clap of thunder caused me to fly out of bed and the hammering of rain in the pan tiles gave us an opportunity for a morning of Still Life painting from our breakfast left overs! We set up some directional lighting in the dining room and off we went. Anthea chose to paint the view from her window which was rather stunning, whilst Anne and I chose oil and acrylic studies respectively. Even Linda joined in and painted an oil study too!
Bezier
 Bezier Cathedral Cloisters |  Bezier Cathedral Interior |  Fantastic view from the lofty heights of Bezier Cathedral |
The sun made an appearance at lunch time so it was back out into the fresh air for a trip to Bezier. An obligatory Croque Monsieur later, we took to the streets for some sight seeing. The cathedral sits upon the ruins of a former church in which the massacre of Bezier took place in July 1209. 20,000 crusaders and pilgrims sought refuge in the church, but it was stormed by the soldiers acting without command and all 20,000 lost their lives!
It is now an impressive landmark, and from its lofty heights we could see the fantastic vista before us with the Autumnal colours punctuating the landscape all the way to the Pyranees!
A quick tour of the Fayet museum followed which houses sculptures from local artist, Jean Antoine Injalbert and some 17th and 18th century paintings. Well worth a visit if anyone is in the region.
It is now an impressive landmark, and from its lofty heights we could see the fantastic vista before us with the Autumnal colours punctuating the landscape all the way to the Pyranees!
A quick tour of the Fayet museum followed which houses sculptures from local artist, Jean Antoine Injalbert and some 17th and 18th century paintings. Well worth a visit if anyone is in the region.
 Injalbert statue in Fayet Museum  A detail from my favourite painting in the Fayet Museum |  Poseidon statue in Bezier Park |  Injalbert statue amongst Autumn Splendour! |
So to our last day and the sun was out for us. Hooray!
Linda and Paul drove us to Pezanas, a pretty little town where we planned to sketch and explore! It was very busy as it was market day so parking was a challenge but Linda is a determined lady and managed to find a space!
I am always prone to wander and made use of my camera to take record the winding narrow passages and fantastic doorways. In the Jewish Quarter there are lots of small Art Galleries and small craft shops which held the most amazing colours and curiosities!
Linda and Paul drove us to Pezanas, a pretty little town where we planned to sketch and explore! It was very busy as it was market day so parking was a challenge but Linda is a determined lady and managed to find a space!
I am always prone to wander and made use of my camera to take record the winding narrow passages and fantastic doorways. In the Jewish Quarter there are lots of small Art Galleries and small craft shops which held the most amazing colours and curiosities!
 I will get that cat in my bag! | After a wander, some sketching and lunch it was time to say goodbye! Anthea was determined to get all her purchases into her bag! We will definitely return to this region to paint as there is just so much inspiration and Linda is an excellent hostess and guide! If you would like to book onto a painting holiday with Linda CLICK here or email her at matthews.linda@orange.fr Planning for next year if anyone is interested? |
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