Day 2334 (Sunday) 29th October 2023
Today’s lovely photos…
This is Gorbio again
and so is this.
We’ve been to Gorbio before but I can’t remember any details so here it is again.
Gorbio travel guide
Visit Gorbio (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France)
Gorbio is a village perched on the side of a hill just a few kilometres inland from Menton, on the Cote d'Azur and in the south-eastern corner of Provence. You are also very close to the border with Italy when in Gorbio.
As with the other 'perched villages' in this region of Provence it is the stunning location of Gorbio that is a large part of the attraction. The village is high up in the Gorbio Valley, with steep sloped valleys covered with trees and olives rising steeply all around the village.
Exploring Gorbio
The views from around the village are, not surprisingly, very attractive and as well as the valley itself you can see out across the Mediterranean.
Start your visit in the main square in Gorbio. Here you can see an unusual feature the town is especially proud of - a splendid elm tree with an enormous trunk said to be 300 years old and now officially listed as one of the 'most remarkable trees in France' (who keeps a list like that I wonder).
Also in the main square is the 19th century Malaussene fountain, once an important source of water for the village.
The medieval village follows a loop to the east of the square, passing by the Place de la Mairie (with the Town Hall and a little fountain), the church and Place de l'eglise, then round through the Place Honoré Vial and back along Rue Gambetta.
The cobbled narrow streets and ancient houses (mostly built in the 14th – 16th centuries) winding through Gorbio make it a very pleasant place to explore, with some lovely covered passageways and tiny open squares to discover en-route.
Other monuments in Gorbio include the 17th century Church of Saint-Barthélemy (with a baroque style painted facade and a colourful patterned roof on the clocktower), the 15th century Chapel of of the Penitents-Blancs and the 12th century Chapel of Saint-Lazare. On the edge of the village the large building overlooking the valley is the Chateau of the Comtes de Malaussene, an unimposing 17th century castle.
In the tower called Tour Lascaris, all that remains from the more substantial Chateau des Lascaris that stood here from the 12th century, there is a small museum dedicated to native American-Indian art, the Raza-Montgillat collection.
One of the more curious annual events in Gorbio's calendar is a procession of penitents held each June, lit only by small lights made from snail shells.
Despite its proximity to the busy French riviera, Gorbio is not overrun with tourists and has limited village facilities.
Attractions nearby
Gorbio is a starting point for several hikes in the area, with the hikes to Sainte-Agnes along the GR51 and via the Col du Bausson, and the hike to the Cime du Baudon via the Col de Madone among the most popular. Each of these hikes takes around four hours for the return journey.
When visiting Gorbio we suggest you plan a route that also includes the picturesque villages of Peillon, Peille, Castellar and Sainte-Agnes (a listed 'most beautiful village of France'). We had a delicious lunch in Sainte-Agnes a few months ago. These villages, and the route that connects them, gives a very attractive introduction to the scenery and hill villages of the southern Alpes-Maritimes department, and a quiet day away from the busy Riviera coastline.
The weather wasn’t the best this morning but it cheered up a bit in the afternoon and there was a cruise ship in the bay, shame the passengers didn’t get to see Villefranche at her best. The amount of pollution coming out of it was disgusting, if I had a villa on Saint-Jean Cap-Ferrat I’d be very peeved about the pollution coming my way.
Huw found this photo online in the Nice Matin – this was along the coast somewhere a few days ago.
A few more idioms explained…
Literally: to be on one’s 31
Meaning: Like often, the origin of this expression is unknown. However, it may come from the word “trentain” which used to refer to a luxurious tissue.
To be on your 31 therefore means that you are wearing your most beautiful clothes, that you are elegant.“Se mettre sur son 31′′ is also used sometimes.
English counterpart: to be all dressed up
Wahou, tu es sur ton 31 aujourd’hui!
Wow, you are all dressed up today!
Elle se met toujours sur son 31 avant de sortir.
She always dresses up before going out.
Ne pas être sorti de l’auberge
Literally: to not be out of the inn
Meaning: When you are not out of the inn, it means you are facing lots of problems and won’t solve them anytime soon.
English counterpart: to be well and truly in it, to not be out of the woods
Bonne chance ! T’es pas sorti de l’auberge !
Good luck! You’re well and truly in it!
Il n’est pas encore sorti de l’auberge, il lui reste beaucoup à faire.
He is not out of the woods yet, he still has a lot to do.
Literally: to give one’s tongue to the cat
Meaning: This expression is used to say you don’t know about something and are unable to give an answer.
But you wouldn’t use this idiom to say “I don’t know”, the meaning is closer to “I have taken the time to think about it, and frankly I don’t know the answer to your question, so I give up”.
Alors c’est quoi la réponse? Aucune idée, je donne ma langue au chat.
So what’s the answer? I have no idea, I give my tongue to the cat.
Les candidats ont tous donné leur langue au chat.
The candidates all gave their tongue to the cat/ admitted they didn’t know the answer and gave up.
Tu ne devineras jamais qui j’ai vu dans la rue aujourd’hui
You will never guess who I saw in the street today! Le facteur ? The mailman?
Non, quelqu’un que tu connais !
No, someone you know!
Alors là, je donne ma langue au chat.
Well, I have no idea.
This was Badger last night watching Strictly with me.
Comments
Post a Comment