#montsec

[useless-catalanfacts]

A baby roe deer in Montsec mountains (Ponent-High Pyrenees, Catalonia).

Roe deer are born in June, so it's not unusual to see them in this time of the year. Even when it looks like they're alone, they're always being watched by their mothers from a close distance. It's very important not to touch them, not to go near them, and most importantly not to take them anywhere, because they would die without their mother. They are well taken of as they are.

Video by Xavi Montsec on Twitter.

[urbanexpl0]

[viewoffrance]

OOOkay here we go. 

I am planning a trip to a place I know really well, where I went so many times as a kid I can tell you what you can visit xD. 

But that’ll be when I get a car because mine died on me. (Rip^)

Okay so let’s talk a little about WWI and WWII for a bit shall we?

American troops came to France in 1917 to lend us a hand, to help us a great deal. No I’m not talking about WWII yet, where you totally saved our asses American folks :p.

But this is about you :D/

So. You came to help us take back from the German army what we call “Saillant de Saint Mihiel”. It is a strategic place of fortifications to protect the area.

Located in Meuse - Lorraine - Grand Est, this place was important strategically speaking. 

So from september 12th to 15th and from november 9th to 11th, American soldiers protected it. And after the war, a monument was built on a hill. 

And here it is. Let me introduce you the monument of Montsec, built in 1932.

Sorry for the wonky perspective, I was trying to dodge other visitors. 

Here are photos of the scenery, what we can see from this vantage point. 

In the distance we can see the heart of Meuse, a lake we call Lac de Madine. 

You have to imagine. This green everywhere, these fields, forests and the lake weren’t here at all in 1918. You must imagine a scenery with destroyed trees, and holes everywhere from the bombshells. Either during WWI or WWII. 

In the center of the monument you can see this map. It represents the battlefield near the city called Verdun, and the “Saillant de Saint Mihiel”. From this vantage point you can see far away. And of course you are seeing what was a battlefield.

And finally, two texts in stone, which are the same texts, but one is in french and the other in English. Let me re write what’s written in French. 

“Ce monument a été érigé par les Etats Unis d’Amérique 

Pour commémorer la Réduction du Saillant de Saint Mihiel par les troupes de leurs premières armées, et rappeler les services des forces expéditionnaires Américains sur les champs de bataille de cette région de Lorraine et d’Alsace.

Il restera le symbole perpétuel de l’amitié et de la coopération des armées Françaises et Américaines.”

An anecdote about this place. During WWII, and the liberation of France, US soldiers where stuck where the monument stands. And they were the target of both allies and enemie’s bombshells. Not because they did anything, but both camps wanted to send bombshells in reliatation for the other’s attack. 

So they were stuck here and had to survive under the rain of bombs from both camps. They had to send a pigeon to thell their allies to stop and let them come back damnit x). 

This place is in the countryside. Lorraine is a mainly rural region, and the culinary specialties of this area is whatever is done with mirabelle plum. From the pie to the liqueur. 

We love making liqueur of any fruits here. We don’t produce vodka, but it’s as strong xD. 

I’ll tell you more next time, but here, other than WWI, it’s almost the center of the activities with mirabelle plums. 

[pirineodiversityproject]

Castell i capella de la Mare de Déu de la Pertusa

[useless-catalanfacts]

The Segre river passing through Sant Llorenç de Montgai, Ponent, Catalonia. Photo: National Geographic

[postcard-from-the-past]

Rural street scene in Montsec, Lorraine region of France

French vintage postcard

[annaagusti]

Desconnexió 184/365 . . . #365dies #365days #daquiidalla #relax #montsec #instadaily #picoftheday #instamoment #moments #quotidianitat #quotidianità https://www.instagram.com/p/CRCoZZVL8HGWvGCd0O-NJhsr4HAsXN3dajeYHg0/?utm_medium=tumblr

[nunoxaviermoreira]

Embassament de Camarasa by Hachimaki123 Montsec, Catalunya, España https://flic.kr/p/2kkigkG