A day out in the Puisaye

Giselle Buthod-Garcon Bowl

Today we set out from Auxerre on the long promised pottery and art studio day.  Julian had his Kindle in pocket and was ready and willing to act a chauffeur on the understanding that he would be left to read while I went to view the art.  Our first stop was at Metairie Bruyere, workshops specialising in Graphic Arts.  We saw the exhibition of work by Reni Botti and Jeane Piere Bouchard, a lovely setting by a lake.  We were the only visitors. It looked like a fascinating place with lots of old printing equipment, unfortunately our French wasn't up to a tour even if one had been offered.

Next stop was Toucy.  We have passed through this town before, but now realised that on the main road you miss the lovely centre - quite a bustling place by French town standards with some impressive ramparts and several galleries.  We had come for the Gallery de l'Ancienne Poste, specialising in contemporary ceramics.  We splashed out on a Giselle Buthod-Garcon bowl. An interesting shape with a lustre glaze on the inside fired in a raku kiln.

Chateau Ratilly

We sat in the main stquare and had a picnic lunch with delicious pastries from the local boulangerie followed by a chocolate chaud in the Cafe du Commerce.

Setting of deeper into the Puisaye region I had a number of visits planned.  Unfortunately all were closed  - there simply aren't enough tourists around to keep these places going, and so often places are not open as advertised in publicity material printed at the beginning of the season.

Towards 4pm we arrived at Chateau Ratilly and felt immediatly uplifted by this beautiful medieval castle - yes even Julian felt uplifted!  Not enough to see the art exhibiton and pottery, but we both enjoyed the exterior.  Try as I might, I really could not like the pottery.  Not very inspiring table ware with the same two or three glazes on everything.

The Collette Brinschwig exhibition was housed in one of the turrets and one could wander through and take in the atmosphere of the building and ponder on the works of art.

Collette Brunschwig Exhibition at the Chateau

Julian on the pleasant walk towards the impressive Chateau Ratilly