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In Favour of The Cotswolds over the Côte d’Or - part 2

Graham Thomson

Following on with our comparison of the regions we have lived in France and the UK ........


Pretty Villages

Castle Combe in Wiltshire courtesy of ©MikeBarby and the ‘Marie’ (Mayor’s residence) in Meursault.


Bibury, Burford, Broadway, the Slaughters the names of photogenic villages that roll off the tongue so easily from well travelled visitors to The Cotswolds. In much the same way as Aloxe-Corton, Beaune, Pommard, Volnay, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet villages that sit next to one another on the Côte d’Or roll off the tongues for the numerous Burgundy wine tourists.  

Both The Cotswolds and the Côte d’Or areas to an extent sit in a farming landscape where workers’ cottages and houses form vibrant village communities. The properties of The Cotswolds being famous for the honey coloured stone whereas multi-coloured tiles often used for roofing are a feature of the French region.


Mansion Houses and Great Estates or Chateaux and Vineyards

Bathurst House, photograph kindly supplied by ©LadyBathurst and Château de Pommard photograph kindly supplied by it’s owner Michael Baum.


Here in Cirencester we are unbelievably fortunate to have the beautiful Bathurst House and its fabulous parkland at the very heart of the town and the parkland has been and continues to be a haven for many thanks to the generosity of Lord and Lady Bathurst.  The Cotswolds have beautiful Estates and Grand Houses whereas the French region has modest Châteaux (by comparison with say the Loire Valley) that are mainly associated with their wine domaines.


The problems faced with maintenance and upkeep of these grand houses and estates are similar on both sides of The Channel so The Cotswolds are fortunate to have the Bathurst Estate as a vibrant asset to the community as do the Burgundians with the considerable and sympathetic refurbishments, renovations and events of estates such as the Château de Pommard which has been given a new lease of life.


Cirencester and Beaune

Cirencester’s St John the Baptist church courtesy of ©571Photography and party goers in front the Basilica of Notre Dame and outside Pickwick’s the only English ‘pub’ for miles courtesy of ©SueBoxell


We now find ourselves comparing the two ‘capitals’ of the respective regions of The Cotswolds and the Côte D’Or and there are striking similarities. Both Cirencester and Beaune are beautiful, vibrant market towns that have strong Roman connections and are steeped in history. They both have at their hearts imposing churches which create a truly important focal point for the respective towns and attract large visitor numbers. The magnificent church of St John The Baptist in Cirencester is a huge feature and focal point to the town as are the Basilica of Notre Dame and the Hôtel Dieu in Beaune. St John the Baptist Church was built by Cirencester Abbey around 1480, as an administrative centre and only connected to the church in the 18th century. Between the dissolution of the monasteries and its connection to the church it was used as the town hall. The nave was again rebuilt between 1516 and 1530. The Basilica of Notre Dame in Beaune dates from a slightly earlier period and its architecture is very different and is more Romanesque in its style but equally as important to the town.

 

The Colours of Autumn

Autumn scenes from Westonbirt Arboretum near Tetbury courtesy of Paul Groom, Westonbirt Arboretum and the golden vineyards of Aloxe Corton courtesy of ©SueBoxell.


When the green and pleasant land gives way to Autumn in The Cotswolds the many and varied trees and vegetation turn the colours of oranges, reds and golds and all the hues in between. It is a feature of the British landscape and each year is a delight and a visit to Westonbirt Arboretum is surely one of the best ways to see the range of breath-taking Autumnal colours at close quarters. Close on it’s heels is the hillside of the Côte d’Or (the Golden Hillside) which is mile after mile of golden vineyards, dazzling when lit by the Autumn sunshine.

 

I think you’ll agree that there are some surprising and interesting similarities between The Cotswolds and the Côte d’Or but which area is our favourite? Well, we have returned, settled and re-opened our business in Cirencester and we are very happy indeed to be home in the green and pleasant land of The Cotswolds.

 

fairfax thomson interiors, www.fairfaxthomsoninteriors.com, is a family owned, independent Interior Design and Interiors showroom and studio based in Cirencester.

In addition to a full Interior Design and Project Management service we offer wallpapers, fabrics and trimmings from well known brands, bespoke curtains, blinds and soft furnishings, lighting and lamps, interior furnishings, tailored furniture, bespoke rugs and giftware.

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