St-Sauves is a little village I pass through in the bus on the way to la Bourboule. I often wondered what it was like - it looks quite nice in the twenty seconds or so I see of it through the bus window.
Today my cure wasn't as exhausting as it usually is, however I am already feeling the stirring of one or two dozen cold germs in the remote areas of my body. The weather is still nice. So I figured, who knows how long I will be able to seek out non-la Bourboulian climes, and set forth today after breakfast to visit the 1,200 head-strong St-Sauves.
It is about 5km away, and since I dawdled along the way it took me one and a half hours each way. I am a bit out of practice, and when I decided to go shopping for food after I had returned (another hour there and back) my feet made their displeasure felt ....
 |
| St-Sauves from a distance |
 |
| I misread this as 'EU' and was mightily cheered |
Despite my high hopes, nurtured during the last eight years of driving through St-Sauves, it proved disappointing. I don't know why I expected exciting shops and little boutiques catering to the spoiled likes of me - well there are no such things in St-Sauves. I had planned to have lunch there before walking back home, but the offerings were so uninspiring that I went straight back home, after having made numerous photos - I know what I owe my readership!
 |
| Inside the church of St-Sauves, which is very much like the one I visited in Murat-le-Quaire |
 |
| Immediately after this photo was taken this cat was attacked by a black cat, and a noisy battle ensued. I averted my eyes and passed on. |
 |
| An old weighing station for cattle - I tried to weigh myself but it is no longer operational |
 |
| Gate from the 12th century, the cat fight took place nearby - making it 'cat-gate'? |
 |
| I measured the width of this house - 1 (one!) meter |
 |
| Walking back to la Bourboule |
 |
| Lots of closed down houses, like elsewhere in the region. It is very sad, looks like the place is dying. More people should have their holidays in the Auvergne! |
 |
| The Barrage, which I visited on my way back |
 |
| It used to be a tourist attraction, with little boats that one could rent - about 70 years ago.... |
