With February a month to consider planting bare-rooted fruit trees, Sue Bradley discovers the history of an old French cultivar thought to have been enjoyed by the Sun King
Louis XIV was the longest-reigning monarch in European history, having sat on the throne for 72 years between 1643 and 1715.
The lavish Palace of Versailles is one of the visual reminders of the Sun King’s tenure, fresh fruit and vegetables for which were produced in the Potager du Roi nearby.
Louis is known to have been especially fond of pear, which would have been used in recipes such as La Tourte à la chair de Poire (tart with pear flesh) and it’s likely that one of the 50 cultivars grown for his table was Catillac, which dates back to the early 17th century and has stood the test of time, although is not commonly grown nowadays.
These pears have a red-yellow skin, are fairly large and have a delicious flavour. Unlike many modern varieties, they tend not to be eaten fresh and require a certain amount of slow poaching or cooking to make them fit for a king.
Esta historia es de la edición February 2018 de Living France.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición February 2018 de Living France.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Guide To: Working For A Foreign Company
If your current employer is happy to let you continue working for them after you move to France, there are a number of rules and regulations to be aware of to ensure you stay on the right side of the law, as Catharine Higginson explains
On vintage soil
Life in the vineyards of Aude is a dream come true for Leicestershire-born Katie Jones who now successfully exports her wines back to the UK, as Brigitte Nicolas learns
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
What happens if you are buying a French property but can’t attend the completion meeting at the notaire’s office in person? Matthew Cameron explains how a power of attorney can be used and how it works
In safe hands
There can be few more unusual homes than the 11th-century Château de Clérans, situated close to the Dordogne river in the Périgord Pourpre region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
THE CAPTAIN'S TABLE
Robin Ellis made his name as the original Captain Poldark but a diabetes diagnosis led the Tarn-based actor to add cookbook writing to his CV, as Richard Webber learns
My frugal France
Embracing modern technology could save you money and time on both the pleasures and essentials of life in France, says Laura Harley as she shares some of her favourite French apps
Hidden Talents
Moving to France enabled these three expats to switch off from busy careers and in turn discover new creative talents, says Gillian Harvey, who counts herself among them
Beauty to behold
With its legendary vineyards, charming old towns and rich gastronomy, Gironde is quintessential France at its best, as Alison Weeks discovers
AS SEEN ON SCREEN
A Dordogne town, a Charente city and a Pyrenean village all have a starring role in three new films hitting the big screen this year, joining a long list of French locations that have gone before them, as Vicky Leigh learns
A local's view
Trish and Mark Tyler run a beautifully restored chambres d’hôtes, set in six hectares of park and woodland near StÉmilion, which has a fascinating history
