Vesancy Chapelle

Of all the marvelous places I’ve seen in France (limited to east middle of the country), so far I think this quiet little rural spot above the small village of Vesancy is my favorite. There is a small chapelle located on a steep foothill leading to the Jura Mountains. I just finished a painting based on a late spring storm swirling around the chapelle.

Except for a restaurant in the town, there doesn’t seem to be any other viable business except for the buying and selling of real estate, which is priced for the very well-off. But if you follow a track leading out and above the village, you wend your way through grassy meadows bordered by pine and deciduous trees. At the top is the chapelle of Notre Dame de Riantmont. Cows pasture here and wild hares and birds abound. There is a forested area near the higher slopes and invites further explorations.

I’ve actually never gone inside the chapelle – I don’t even think it’s open most of the time. But it isn’t necessary. Somehow, there is a comforting peace there, as if the chapelle provides a protective arm about all below and around it. And what views can be seen there! On one side you can see a large part of Lac Leman and the Alps with Mont Blanc; another viewpoint shows the city of Divonne Les Bains.

So far, I have been unable to find a history of the chapelle, and it’s obviously been renovated from the ground up. But it’s been there for quite awhile.

For me, this hilltop is a place to regroup and rearrange the mind.

French Dog Revisited

I had the opportunity to visit my dear friends in the Pays de Gex area of France, where they have been living for some time. It is beautiful countryside, dotted with small villages with ancient histories. It is very close to the Swiss border near Geneva.

Walking around the countryside every day while I was there created a perpetual grin on my face. I couldn’t get enough of it! Even when it rained - which happened most days I visited, as it was early March - I was still grinning. (Of course, eating incredible French food also accentuated the permanent grin!)

One of the walks we took regularly was to Vesancy. Vesancy is noted (at least by me) for its quaint and quiet beauty with a backdrop of the stunning Jura Mountains; its one restaurant with rustic hearty lunch fare, much welcomed by hungry walkers and workers from the nearby valley; and its beautiful Chapelle de Riantmont that sits on the highest point overlooking the village and surrounding countryside – as far as Lake Geneva (Lac Leman) on very clear days. (More on this in a later post.)

A year previously in the Spring, I came across a friendly old Lab that was sleeping on his master’s porch. He looked so wonderfully content, soaking up the sun, that I painted him and called it “Spring Sun on Winter Bones” (above).

This year, I was very happy to see that the old guy was still around and lazing about.

But just so you are assured that he does more than nap, here’s another shot to prove that he can indeed move – quite well!