When we were planning our trip, little did we know that the hamlet of Guérande was going to have a medieval festival while we were there. It turns out these guys really know how to throw a medieval festival! Jousting, music, archery, food & drink, games, and lots of people are dressed up. Anna even got the chance to practice horse-back sword-fighting because they had an old-fashioned carousel with 4 horses sitting next to a hanging metal target, and when the kids went for a ride each one got a toy sword. Each time they went past the target they took a swing or two at it, and it turns out my daughter’s pretty good with a sword! Better than some of the boys for sure.
After everyone had finished eating their mutton & duck & wine for dinner and the sun went down, the party continued. While we were putting Anna to bed there was music coming from down the street, so I went out to investigate. There was a band that I would describe as punk, except that the five guys were dressed in brown leather (one with a mohawk) and they were playing a lute, a bass drum carried on a strap, bagpipes, a pair of smaller drums, and an instrument that I can only describe as some sort of unholy cross between an autoharp and a 12-string guitar. The music they made is what I think the Chemical Brothers would have sounded like if they had been born 8 centuries too soon. Oh and they had a groupie with long, braided hair.
This morning they were preparing to have a big parade, but we can’t stick around because unfortunately we’ve got a big day ahead of us! We’re going to visit Nantes and then drive on to Saint-Émilion tonight, so we have to get going.