Advent postcards, Miremont Puy-de-Dôme

 

Advent postcards, Miremont, Puy-de-Dôme

Advent day two

Our cycling advent-ures postcard for today is from Miremont in the Puy de Dôme, a small village fifty kilometres from Clermont-Ferrand and home to around 300 residents.

 

This village would be unremarkable, if it wasn’t for the museum housed in an old farmhouse, various barns and other outdoor locations off the otherwise quiet main road. Our elderly neighbours, Pierrette and Dominique, stumbled upon Miremont by chance many years ago in their campervan and the municipal campsite in the centre of the village, with the river Sioulet running behind it, soon became a firm favourite for them. I’ve forgotten how many times she has regaled us with stories of visiting the museum, that never failed to bring back memories for her.

 

At the end of August on our way to Clermont-Ferrand, we parked up, unfolded our bikes and set off on a leg-warming loop around the lake and over the dam, that brought us back in along the high street, where we could fully enjoy the various museum pieces. There is no entrance charge, you just wander around, finding something new wherever you looked. Some of the mannequins might have been a tad unusual/rather scary, but I just loved the attention to detail and enthusiasm the villagers have put into it and the overall effect certainly raised a few smiles. I totally agree with Pierrette, Miremont is a special place that offers a glimpse into rural life a hundred years ago. If you are ever in the area, don’t forget to make a detour.