DAY THIRTYSIX
MONT-DE-MASRAN – SAINT-SEVER
Then set the canvas against a tree
In a garden
In a grove
Or in a forest
Hide behind the tree
Without speaking
Or moving…
Jaques Prévert
When I left the town in the morning, the streets were filled with little booths. There
was a market going on in town. People prepared their stands for selling fruit,
vegetables, clothing, household goods, electronics……
Apricot booth
The influence of Spain could be seen on posters and cars. People enjoy bullfights in
this area. The rules had been changed for the fight, as the bull has to leave the arena
still alive. Mont-de-Marsan is the capital of Les Landes with about 30,000
inhabitants. Despite the market activities, the town made a somehow sleepy
impression.
French car with the symbol of the European Union and the bull
After Mont-de-Marson, I left the big forest area and saw again the great, big sky.
Meadows full of yellow flowers were scattered along my way.
In a little village, people had organized a community walk. A mother with her two
daughters prepared some refreshments for the passing-by hikers. They invited me
to have a snack too.
Community hike
Shortly before I arrived in Saint-Sever, I crossed the river Adour. It was nice to see
water again.
The walk up to the plateau where Saint-Severe is located was a little ravine covered
with deep green moss. It was beautiful to walk through. The town itself goes back to
Gallo-Roman times and is full of history.
The refuge was in a former Jacobine monastery (a religious order founded in Paris in
the beginning of the 13th century). Here I met the hospitaliér Philippe. He gave me
a tour of the town and explained the historical significance of the buildings.
Unfortunately, his English sounded more like French and I could not understand
him very well. In the museum of the Couvent des Jakobines, I saw a copy of a world
map from the 11th century Beatus manuscript. It was fascinating to see how medieval
people saw the world at their time.
Refuge in the former monastery
Former Benedictine monastery Saint-Sever founded in the 10th century
Former church of the Jakobine Monastery, now used for events
11th century map of the world
– Text and photos contributed by Garyo –