This is the second time we've been in France on November 11, when the French commemorate 11-11-11, or Armistice Day, to mark the Armistice signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany, at the end of hostilities on the Western front. The Armistice was signed at eleven o'clock in the morning on the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918. Most cities and villages across France have a ceremony. We attended one in Montreal, with a couple hundred people. After the ceremony, the band led everyone up the hill to City Hall for more speeches and refreshments.
The village of Montreal lost over 100 soldiers in WWI,
a large percentage of their population of young men at the time.
After the 11-11-11 ceremony, we had lunch in Montreal, then drove through the countryside. There are remnants of sunflowers in the plowed fields. Sunflowers are a local crop, grown for their oil. We visited Montolieu, a small village we've visited before, sitting atop a gorge and known for its book stores. We stopped at Abbaye de Villelongue along the way. After returning to Chateau de la Prade, I went for a brisk walk along the Canal du Midi. It was a good day!
