Destination France 2015: Gimel-Les-Cascades

Gimel-Les-Cascades is known for its waterfalls: le Grand Saut, la Redole, and la Queue de cheval which plunges into le gouffre de l'Inferno.

It's a pretty village concentrated on narrow streets and stone paths, surrounded by breathtaking views.

The old toll bridge next to a house with a thatched (chaume) rooftop.

There are only ruins left of the Château de La Roche Haute overlooking the town. Gimel was a stronghold of the Holy League, the alliance of the Catholic princes against King Henri IV. Baron François de Gimel was one of the leaders of the League in Limousin, which caused a lot of disorder. The royal troops besieged the castle for four months and seized it on Christmas night in 1594.

After walking and exploring, time for a much needed rest and lunch. We stopped at "L'Hostellerie de la Vallée".

A slice of charcuterie to start things off with our wine.

A "terrine de porc" with onion jam and a quarter piece of fig. Frankly, it couldn't compare to the rillette de porc from Restaurant Gouttenegre.

Canard with a half roasted potato and an interesting salad that included a slice of melon, a poached tomato, a slice of pickled beet, and salad greens. Sprinkled on top were ground up "graines de sarrasin", or buckwheat grain.

For dessert, "pain perdu". We refer to it as French toast. It was of course made with day old baguette. With a scoop of vanilla ice-cream and a generous pouring of caramel sauce, it made for a very sweet ending. A bit too sweet for my taste.

There are many little stores and boutiques in the village, offering a variety of arts and crafts.

This creation of a woman with a hat is in fact a lamp. Very original and very beautiful.

A gentleman in this shop creates all the wood pieces. This is a little mouse that houses baby teeth. Instead of a Tooth Fairy, a little mouse picks up the tooth and leaves money behind. Isn't that cute!

Hedgehog (hérisson) toothpick holders.

This minuscule chapel of Notre-Dame du Rosaire was built in the XVIII century.

The stained glass window is very different. It is made with big chunks of glass rather than smooth pieces. It invites touching. Claude Thoraval, a master of stained glass works from Angers, would know if it was fashionable to create these at the time or whether this is a more modern design. I must consult him.

In the very centre of the village sits the church "Saint-Pardoux de Gimel", dating back to the XVth century. It has a "clocher à peigne" (bell tower comb).