SCHOOL DAYS

Christelle in her classroom in the town of Cunault.

We drove to Saumur to meet Christelle and Christophe. They were going to take us touring through some of the small villages along the Loire north of Saumur. We especially wanted to see the church at Cunault. As a bonus Christelle wanted to show us her school. Dark clouds were threatening rain but we were in a good mood and didn't really believe that it would rain. It did!


Epouvantils (scarecrows) in the school garden.

We went first to Christelle's school. She is the head teacher but also teaches the equivelant of K-1. There are only two teachers at her school. Her colleague has a classroom with a wide range of ages, from 2 through 5. It's a bit like a one-room schoolhouse from Little House on the Prairie.
Christelle's salary is paid by the State but almost all the other expenses are paid for by the local government. Just like schools in California that arrangement can lead to great inequalities - wealthier communities pay for lots of extras, rural villages struggle to provide the basics.


Gallo-roman leftovers.


The tymaneum of the church of Cunault showing the Virgin in majesty with Himself on her lap.


A well-known writer I had never heard of. A local boy.

After the school we took a look in the local cemetery which holds the final resting place of Herve Bazin, a writer. This little cemetery was a little like Père Lachaise with its one famous novelist.


Algeria was the big one for France but this poor guy lost his life in France's lessor known war in Tunisia.

As we were walking down to the church it started to rain. We ducked into the church to avoid the rain but were greeted by a stunning Romance interior. Majestic tall columns marched down the nave narrowing as they approached the apse giving the illusion of even greater height. The church, a priory really, has been beautifully restored. The tuffeau stone radiates a soft white light that invites stillness and contemplation.