Gates, houses and barns of Conde-sur-Marne

The scent of grape harvests past seemed to seep from the stones as I walked the back lanes of Condé-sur-Marne. It stands at the confluence of two canals; the Canal de l’Aisne à la Marne and the Canal lateral à la Marne, within the famed Champagne region of France.

Round almost every bend I found hauntingly beautiful barns and still proud gateways that led to cobbled yards; truly decrepit houses; narrow alleys heading out to rural green; a patchwork of corrugates iron holding things in place. All more than hinting at the village’s history of viniculture, and most merging into a more modern way of life.

It came to tine for us to leave, to continue our journey, but I was not ready to go. Something was tugging me back between the high honey-stone walls; I needed to try and capture some essence of the place on camera. It was a twenty minute twirl, sometimes waiting for the sun to emerge from behind clouds, and sometimes not.

Here is the result.

Gateways

Eaves and Roofs

Walls

Buildings

And the bit of fun!