France, February 2020

We visited Monsieur François and his wife Alette.
The house they live in and the garden have been in the family for 300 years. Almost everything that has been used and broken in those 300 years has been given a place in the garden. Everywhere you look, you see something.
There are at least five tractors. The tractor that stands out most is one of 72 years old, the same age as Monsieur François. There are also end-of-life vehicles; about ten, at least. And among these motorized vehicles you'll find old agricultural tools, trailers, old pieces of wood, old dry cages for corn, cages full of rabbits and much more.
Between everything, dozens of ducks and chickens run. The five dogs that run around are hired to keep the foxes away day and night. The dogs are moving, because the garden covers an area of 30 hectares.
There was plenty of room for the children to play. It became a huge party when some bikes and a toy tractor were conjured up.
At the end of the visit we drank a cup of coffee in the kitchen, while the children were stuffed with chocolates.
We already found the garden interesting, the kitchen beat everything. So much to see, so much life to feel...
One thing made the most impression. The sight anyway, but the story finished it.


There's a musket over a meter long.
Monsieur François proudly told us about its origin.
It was his grandfather's grandfather who was in Napoleon Bonaparte's army. His grandfather went with Napoleon to Russia on a campaign. When they returned home, Grandpa's grandfather brought a Russian musket as a troffee.
With pride the musket was put on the fireplace and there it is now, after all these years, still. #musket #frankrijk #zuidfrankrijk #geschiedenis #familie #erfstuk #napoleon #thuisonderwijs #oudhuis #napoleon #napoleonbonaparte