The photos above and at the bottom of the page were all taken on a simple pocket camera in August.
We've been fortunate in having guests stay at Coeur de Lion throughout the season. Some folks were worried at first that August would be too hot, too crowded, or even closed up (like many shops in Paris), but once they arrived, they had a spectacular time. Here's why:
1) Is it too hot? That depends. It used to be that July and August days were in the 70-80 degree range, nights in the 60s. But global climate change has made it all more unpredictable. In fact, heat waves can occur anytime from June through August, or not at all. The dry mid-day heat is usually quite enjoyable most of the time, but heat waves generally necessitate daily trips for a dip in the clean, refreshing river. There is airconditioning in the top bedrooms, portable fans for all the rooms, anti-heat film on all the sun-facing windows, and thick stone walls that provide incredible insulation. But a heatwave can bring temperatures above a 100 degrees. In 2019 we spent two weeks in the village during a heatwave. We managed to keep the house cool, we did all our usual adventures, and we added some river swims in the afternoon. There were 9 of us (two families) and it was one of our best vacations ever.
2) Is it too crowded? People come from around the world to walk through these ancient streets-- and it is a pleasure to welcome them, as they are part of what keeps the many restaurants open, the shops interesting, and the village lively in general. But there are no hotels in town, so even in August most of the visitors come for a brief walk-through or an afternoon visit. A relatively few people actually have places to stay in the village, which means it is bustling but never too crowded, and most of the time (mornings, evenings, and nighttime) you'll have the village to yourself, your neighbors, and some lingering tourists.
3) Are shops, galleries, and restaurants closed? No-- this is not Paris. The folks who live and work in the village stay throughout the season. Most take their vacations before April or after October. The rest of the time, they are cooking meals, painting landscapes, baking bread, making jewelry, etc. etc., waiting for you to drop in.
Our August visitors have offered nothing but praise. Read about their recommendations and experience under the Reviews tab above.
1) Is it too hot? That depends. It used to be that July and August days were in the 70-80 degree range, nights in the 60s. But global climate change has made it all more unpredictable. In fact, heat waves can occur anytime from June through August, or not at all. The dry mid-day heat is usually quite enjoyable most of the time, but heat waves generally necessitate daily trips for a dip in the clean, refreshing river. There is airconditioning in the top bedrooms, portable fans for all the rooms, anti-heat film on all the sun-facing windows, and thick stone walls that provide incredible insulation. But a heatwave can bring temperatures above a 100 degrees. In 2019 we spent two weeks in the village during a heatwave. We managed to keep the house cool, we did all our usual adventures, and we added some river swims in the afternoon. There were 9 of us (two families) and it was one of our best vacations ever.
2) Is it too crowded? People come from around the world to walk through these ancient streets-- and it is a pleasure to welcome them, as they are part of what keeps the many restaurants open, the shops interesting, and the village lively in general. But there are no hotels in town, so even in August most of the visitors come for a brief walk-through or an afternoon visit. A relatively few people actually have places to stay in the village, which means it is bustling but never too crowded, and most of the time (mornings, evenings, and nighttime) you'll have the village to yourself, your neighbors, and some lingering tourists.
3) Are shops, galleries, and restaurants closed? No-- this is not Paris. The folks who live and work in the village stay throughout the season. Most take their vacations before April or after October. The rest of the time, they are cooking meals, painting landscapes, baking bread, making jewelry, etc. etc., waiting for you to drop in.
Our August visitors have offered nothing but praise. Read about their recommendations and experience under the Reviews tab above.