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Inspiring Life & Travel in France

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Inspiring Life & Travel in France

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The Oddest Place You Will Find That Makes Olive Oil

Olives Everywhere

The Barefoot Blogger is on a quest to find out about olive oil.

The Languedoc/Occitanie region of France is the largest producer of wines in the country. Mixed in with the acres of vineyards are a multitude of olive trees. So, while France lags behind Spain and Italy in producing olive oil, many “moulins olive à huile” (olive oil mills) are right around where I live in Uzès. I went to search for olive oil.

Olives everywhere
Olives next to vineyards outside Uzès

 

Outside Uzès, I found a moulin in the oddest place.

Olives everywhere
Moulin olive à huile in Saint-Hippolyte-de-Montaigu

 

The roadside moulin is in the tiny village of Saint-Hippolyte-de-Montaigu. The town runs along the street between Uzès and Bagnols. You’ll miss the moulin if you don’t know where to look.  

But not this day. Signs and Halloween decorations marked the spot.

A drive around the back of the “compound” revealed a holding tank for oil … and the remains of an 11th-century chapel.

Moulin à huile Saint-Hippolyte-de-Montaigu
Moulin à huile Saint-Hippolyte-de-Montaigu
A garage-like building that contained the mill 

 

Olives everywhere

… and a neighborhood store with fresh fruits and vegetables, chèvre cheese, saucissons … and screaming spooks and spiderwebs. What a treat!

Shop decorated for Fall and Halloween
Shop decorated for Fall and Halloween

 

french shop

 

Fresh chèvre cheese
Fresh chèvre cheese

 

saucisson
Saucisson-sec, a specialty of France

 

In a pickling jar stashed under a table, olives saved from the press were ready to be scooped up and sold. 

olives everywhere
Freshly marinated olives

 

The oil pressing had been finished for the day; nevertheless, I was given a demonstration of the equipment and the process.

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olives everywhere
Bushels of olives ready for the next day’s work

 

More garages were out in the yard. All are stocked with regional goodies.

Walnuts
Walnuts

 

Of course, wine!

 

After loading my car with vegetables, olive oil, and wine, the owner handed me two cadeaux (gifts) — chestnuts and a sack of marinaded olives. Before I could get in the car, I was led to the front of the store to see the most prized decoration — a model of the aqueduct at Pont-du-Gard.

 

A model of Pont-du-Gard mounted on the roof of the shop
A model of Pont-du-Gard mounted on the roof of the shop.

 

When Lucy and I pulled out of the driveway, I was grinning from ear to ear about my day’s find and the fun I’d had visiting these delightful people and their shops.

 The grin turned into a big laugh when I looked back at the store window. 

IMG_8391

The end of another day in my fabulous new world.

Is it any wonder why I love France?!

IMG_8372

IMG_8107

 

Day trip from Uzes to the Cevennes

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