This morning we went for a drive with Yannick to see the castle that Walt Disney used as inspiration for many of his castles. It’s called Usse Castle and it’s nicknamed Sleeping Beauty’s castle. The kids are a little tired of castles. In fact, at Versailles and Azey-le-Rideau they didn’t even look at much and just kept asking when we could leave so I’m glad we didn’t go inside this one.

“Girls only!” – Nova

We tried to visit a nuclear power plant but they require passports to enter and we didn’t have ours with us. We may try again tomorrow. After a rest and lunch at home, we went to a troglodyte farm called Goupillières Caves.

Barn swallows babies.

The caves were one room dwellings. They were carved out when the villagers cut stone for the castles. You can see the tool marks on the walls. The people living here were poor and living and working conditions weren’t good.

Stairs lead up to the roof where maintenance was done to be sure no trees grew. Irises were planted to prevent erosion.

Sink for doing dishes and bathing.

This is a hiding place for villagers. It was a cave with multiple chambers meant to disorient anyone trying to attack.

This cave was extra fancy and had a separate bedroom.

They had animals which the kids loved. I think this was our best historical site visit yet in France.

After our farm visit we went shopping for new headphones for Esme since hers weren’t working anymore. The kids each bought a little something. The best/worst was the whoopie cushion Cal bought. I have to admit we all laughed at it at least once but I still hope it gets lost soon.

The girls played in the yard while we made dinner and found this old praying mantis egg sack.

Google “praying mantis egg hatching”. You won’t be disappointed.