Les Grandes Canalettes - “Underground Versailles”

The caves of Les Grandes Canalettes is located 300 metres  from the Medieval City of Villefranche de Conflent, on the road  to Corneilla de Conflent and Vernet les Bains,  in the department of the Pyrénées-Orientales.

Henri Salvayre met Edmond Delonca in 1978.  Together they started immeasurable works that only passion  for speleology could motivate: that was the beginning  of a close and lasting friendship. In 1981, they started  the exploration which permitted to discover the White Hall  in 1982, and study the development of Les Grandes Canalettes which is unique today and constructed with the greatest  of care of the underground world.

Thuir Market

Salted sardines....

Sophie doing the "pain" thing....

 

The local wine (good!)

You've heard of Clarence the Cross-Eyed Lion? Well, this is Claude the Cross Eyed Cat...

Eggs, fresh from the hen.....

Castelnou

We decided to go back to the nearby village of Castelnou, given that the children are on holiday now.

Previously when we've been, the castle has been closed or it's been raining etc - this time it was a lovely day.

Nice wine too.....