Tuesday, March 8, the weather is nice and my legs wanting to take the air. So, I make myself a sandwich, my backpack, water bottle, camera and recorder. During this event, I recorded some sounds of birds that I put available here (looping) to bring you a sound atmosphere while reading the story. This is a small test, I absolutely do not promise to make it an every time !


This makes his way to the story now. I left around 10am and I headed for the southern heights of Brive, the Perrières. After passing under the railway voice, I thought follow the road along the tracks, but on the left, towards the hills, I see a small passage lined with gardens and decided to hire me. I enjoy the pretext of a photo break for sunbathing.

Early March and already many flowering trees, little bees output but it will be soon.

Continue to climb towards the direction of Perrières (or at least, what I think is the Perrières), I cross some sort of subdivision placed Ceps as a vineyard, a small steep road like an ibex path. Then through a hole... a bit of Perrières !

The word ''Perrière'' originated in the patois of Brive (Corrèze's Occitan) and means ''quarry''. This sandstone quarry has long provided building materials (the ''Brasier's Stones'') to Brive. This Brasier and the slate from Travassac were the traditional buildings of Brive and the region.
During the Second World War the quarry was an important place of the Brive's resistance. Three guerrillas were shot by the Germans there little before the liberation of the city.
Preserved natural area of 17 hectares, the park Perrières keeps its original appearance with lush vegetation but under control of oak-chestnut.

Here in the undergrowth, I reach for my H4n, helmet and VideoMic pro. Operation capture! There are no birds evil, the undergrowth is cool but not cold, so, I told myself I was going to try to record bird songs, without specific reasons. Walking through the park, I make ten records. These same records from the beginning of the story.
Arrived at a side of the park, I take the view ... and wait for the cloud grows to the sun for Brive in the light.

Time passed and I tell myself that I could try to see pictures of the city from a little further away in the hills at the foot of the relay antenna for example. I turn a little in the Perrières grounds, but no exits on the right side, so, I'm leaving my steps and rises to the top outlet. I turn a little in the area but I can not find perspective and the foot of the antenna grid. Too bad, I decided to see what is on the other side of the rise and head for Chanlat.
I pass a named impasse Impasse du Tilleul. I remember that I had relatives who owned a house here (which I have a painting of the property) and I said I'll throw a good eye...

I passed under the trees in bloom in front of beautiful houses, calm, tranquility and sun. But I have not seen house that resembled that of painting.
So never mind, I continue my walk in the countryside, walking quietly to enjoy the sun. I make a few stops from time to time to take a photo or just enjoy the view.

16:30 I tell myself that it would be a good idea to think about taking the way back. I then head to Brive following the former national who passes the Bahuet school and caves of Saint-Antoine.

Saint-Antoine (Padua). Born in Lisbon in 1195 to under the name of Fernando Martins de Bulhões, he becomes brother Antoine, disciple of Francis of Assisi in 1220 after seeing the remains of the dead Franciscan martyrs in Morocco and returned to Portugal. It thus contributing to Morocco but to be repatriated in 1221 for health reasons. His ship drifting towards Sicily.
In 1222 Francis sends preach in France and Italy. He taught theology in Bologna and then in Toulouse and Montpellier. He then founded a monastery at Brive in 1226 and withdrew a moment in the caves at the edge of town where he dug a small pond to drink the water that comes out of the rock.
In 1226 he became Custos of Limoges then Provincial of northern Italy in 1227 with the death of Francis of Assisi.
He resigns Provincial in 1230 and was sent to Rome where he became advisor to the pap Gregory IX.
He died of dropsy and exhaustion in June 13, 1231 in Padua.

The caves of Saint-Antoine... located on the road to Compostela, they are a popular stop for pilgrims (for its fresh water for example, or the Way of the Cross). The brothers of Saint-Antoine who remained in Brive when the latter went to Italy built a shelter for pilgrims top of the rock. In 1463 King Louis XI presents himself through the caves celebrity who sees many miracles happen frequently. In 1565, two brothers were massacred and place was burned by the Huguenots, but restored in 1711, the sanctuary is sold to the revolution. The sacred furniture could be saved anyway through National Guard Brive which takes it to the church of Saint-Sernin. Furniture that will reverse the way in 1874 for the reconstruction of Pilgrimage cave of Saint-Antoine reopened and expanded a new convent, a large church and a Way of the Cross on the hill. In 1904, major Brive families unite to buy the place after the expulsion of religious present. The Franciscans (St. Francis of Assisi, as was Saint-Antoine) reviennet settle in 1915 until today.
The place was ringfenced during the Second World War by Providence, he served as a refuge and hiding place for Jews and resistance fighters. Today, 6 brothers live and look after the place opened there at all. Usually people come here to get water. The regulars take several cans and bottles because the water is fresh and not unpalatable.
I go into a cave to see and greet Saint-Antoine.

After coming out, I fill my water bottle (and drank some) at the source and then steering a little tour of the place with a calm step. I read some information boards about the place and the history of Saint-Antoine.
Behind, opposite the church square, there is the beginning of the Cross. In the Catholic tradition, the Way of the Cross (Via Crucis) is an act of devotion. While commemorating the Passion of Christ evoking 14 specific moments of it (hence the 14 crosses that dot the route), the faithful want to receive the grace of communion deeply the sufferings of Christ, Savior of men, following the way meant to represent the ascent to Calvary (and here a somewhat difficult path with a relatively large rise).

Once at the top, there is a statue of St. Anthony blessing the town of Brive (it reminded me of the statue of Christ overlooking Rio de Janeiro).

Pity electrical cables, the view is nice from here...

... But the slope is very steep... and I think I'll maybe go down there if I can get out of the caves of St. Anthony Park from here instead of having to go down all the way down and back on the road. Actually there is a portal here and I take to go down, it's really stiff, I'm glad I do not have the rise here !
Fortunately he's fine, despite some clouds and wind. I find myself near the railroad tracks, a jitney (Y 8072) is maneuvering to go to the Passenger Car Corail.

I walked slowly towards the city center and St Martin's Church, people are left with the sun, it's nice to see the terraces begin to fill again. Spring comes and the summer after her!

A little more and I'm back at home, it's 16:15... I did a good walk : 11km and 130m of elevation gain.
I think enjoy it to start a small series of reportage on walks in the surroundings of Brive... Next time I'll try to go on the heights north of the city, towards Donzenac !