Day 8 - Wednesday, 2 October 2024 - Saint-Côme d'Olt to Estaing. ~21 klms,~ 176.3 klms total.
This is a follow up to Meanderings I, which I wrote contemporanously from the commune of Estaing. This post has been written a few days later.
It focusses specifically on the Estaing Castle, and some of its occupants/owners. I've long been interested in international politics, and for some reason the French President from 1974-1981 Valery Giscard d'Estaing ('VGE") sticks in my memory. I can't say why. Until we visited Estaing I'd never even made the connection, but I recall him clearly. I think on balance he did a pretty good job as President.
Visiting the castle, which gives an insight into the Estaing family and their history going back to the Third Cruscade (12th C) was fascinating. Full of bishops and generals and who knows what. One can barely start to imagine the conversations with these walls.
Two days before my visit Jimmy Carter had turned 100. My recollection was that he was not regarded as an outstanding US President, but one thing he did achieve was the Camp David Accords. This is so topical today given all the ongoing strife in the ME. I had read an opinion piece to this effect on his birthday.
And then in the castle was a timeline of world and French events which had happened during VGE's time in office. The photo below records this. Wonderful coincidence.
The photo also records the death of Jacques Brel, who I had written about only a couple of days earlier also.
I only spent 30 minutes or so in the castle, as most of the displays/information were in French, but it was a marvellous 30 minutes all the same. I'd encourage anyone with an interest in either (or both) mediaeval or contemporary politics to visit if they are in the area.
A bit of a timeline of developments over the centuries follows:
I'll close with a few photos, in no particular order:
One thing I didn't fully appreciate early in my wandering was the "murder room", which sat two floors above this cellar (I think). The murder room had a hole in the floor into which, I gather, victims' bodies were thrown for subsequent disposal, not unlike the Moon Door in the Eyrie in Game of Thrones.
The castle is now owned by the d'Estaing Foundation, established by VGE and his brother.
A brief but fascinating insight!!
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