Renaissance Revelry

A snap decision after the guests had left turned into a memorable day out.
Warm sunshine and stupendous views in Le Puy en Velay provided a fabulous backdrop for the "Fête  de le Roi de L'Oiseau"

A festival that originated in 1524, stopped in the revolution and was restarted in 1986.
I had no idea what to expect and arriving at lunchtime, found a café and began people watching...........................
But what amazing people!

It was quite surreal watching serving wenches, knights in armour, ladies in opulent gowns and a bishop with a baby on his back, mingling with the crowds. I felt seriously under dressed!
I have since discovered that around 6000 local people wear costumes and take part in the procession, but thousands of visitors dress up too, all ages, entire families sometimes.

I could have quite happily stayed there all afternoon, but the clamour and bustle of the old town beckoned.

Past taverns thronged with merrymakers

And a never ending pageant of colourful characters.

From the top of the old town the views are stunning
 Then a magical journey began, drawn along narrow alleys by the sounds of theatre groups performing in the open air

While children sat enthralled

Everywhere you turned there was more to see

And appearing to be on the rooftops the first glimpse of the huge iron statue "Notre Dame de France" who sits on a volcanic pinnacle high above the town.

Standing 22.7 metres high she is made from iron that came from captured enemy cannons at Sebastopol.

My journey through the town was the result of following the delicious music and singing, coming across a lone girl singing in a tiny chapel where the echoes made her sound like a choir, then the rumbustious music of an Italian minstrel group with their exotic dancers

As I turned to leave I found this building

What a story that architecture must tell, a patchwork of styles and eras.

There were also many tented encampments

Guilds of craftspeople cooking their food over woodfires.

Would be Knights had a tiltyard to practise their skills

Although this young squire had a bit of trouble controlling his horse

Moving through the town, the Church of St Michel D'Aguilhe came into view, soaring above the town on its needle of volcanic rock, building began in the 10th Century.

I was so absorbed in it that I didn't realise there was a marked route to follow, I shall bear it in mind for next year, but I did enjoy just following the music.
By the time the big procession began  my camera battery was flat, and I can't begin to do justice to it.
Lords and ladies, jesters, tumblers, jugglers, singers, musicians, dancers, goatherds, hunters, soldiers, their prisoners and camp followers...............it took over an hour, the clamour broken at intervals by cannon fire!

Despite this being my longest blog post ever I still haven't done it justice.
It was like walking into a Brueghel painting

I think I saw about half of it (okay next time I will follow the signs). The date for 2014 isn't set yet, but I shall certainly be going, I am planning my gown already.