We have these perpetual calendars by the dinner table, where they basically act as conversation pieces.  This year we have 365 photos of France and a CP (grade 1) word calendar.

Today’s French calendar was particularly cool.  This is the Bastide de Montpazier in south-western France.  It’s a planned town like Milton Keynes or Columbia, but built in the 13th century.  Its already a bit surprising to find urban planning at that date, but I had come across other examples when I studied early Renaissance Tuscany. It was built at a time when this part of France belonged to England, and the idea was to reinforce the English presence near the French border.

Now the really interesting part is that as the town was carefully designed, there is a 40cm gap between the buildings.  It was put there to act as a fire break and for, erm… waste disposal.  We had a great time with this!  Our first thought was that it would be more of a fire hazard, but we were thinking modern waste: paper, plastics, and so on.  Their trash probably consisted of kitchen waste, sewerage, and maybe some broken pottery.  Very wet. A perfect little compost heap.  A bit smelly, I would imagine, but useful.  We wonder if it generated enough heat to help warm the houses.  Without actually becoming a fire hazard?!  Why have none of the eco-architects come up with a way to heat our houses with compost heaps?

Montpazier is now classed one of the most beautiful villages in France.  We have never been there – yet.