Notre Dame de Vie

In the morning, I did a bit of tidying in the garden and market shopping in the village. After lunch, I climbed 300 metres to the hermitage built below an impressive cave.  The building dates from the 11th century and the Villefranche hermit would have lived here, outside the village dispensing advice to whoever wished to make the steep and vertiginous climb. The 17th century chapel still hosts applechs, a tradition whereby the community gathers annually in pilgrimage. Coming down, I spotted the famous Little Yellow Train wending its way up to the highest station in France at La Bolquère. (see extras)