More about Ouzouer
In spite of what you may hear or read, French people are really very much like us. They live in the same sort of houses, do the same sort of jobs, watch the same sort of TV, and sometimes eat the same sort of food. Their children listen to the same pop music and play the same computer games. In fact the only real differences are that they speak a different language, drive on the other side of the road, and had a big revolution in 1789!

You will find many aspects of life in Ouzouer much like life in Great Ayton, yet with that distinctive French flavour. Through the Twinning Association you will be able to make your own comparisons and make new friends. You will find the people of Ouzouer wonderfully friendly and welcoming, just as we trust they find us.

Back in 1905 there were no fewer than ten grocers' shops in the village. However there is still a boulangerie-pâtisserie for bread and cakes, and a charcuterie for preserved meats. Unlike Ayton, Ouzouer enjoys a weekly market every Sunday morning. The village has one hotel, a "pub",some bars and cafés and, as in Ayton, a campsite outside the village. L'Auberge l'Abricotier (The Apricot Tree) is an up-market restaurant in the centre of the village. Attracting the wealthy gastronomic set from far and wide at weekends, it is a good place to spot exotic motors parked outside, Ferraris, Maseratis, Aston Martins and such.

Two towns lie on the banks of the river on either side of Ouzouer. Sully-sur-Loire is five miles to the west and, although it has all the facilities of a rural town, its population is only about the same as Great Ayton. It's perhaps the equivalent of Stokesley. Gien, ten miles to the east, is three times the size of Sully. At the risk of over-doing the comparisons it could be seen as equivalent to Northallerton.

So what about châteaux and wine?

Mention “Loire” and most of us will think first of châteaux or wine! So you may wonder what there is at Ouzouer by way of castles and dry white wine. Ouzouer really marks the start of the 170 mile stretch of the river where most of the castles, fortified houses and palaces are found. Most of the really famous ones lie further downstream to the west of Ouzouer. None the less, there is a magnificent château at Sully, and several others within reasonable distances. Similarly, most of the famous Loire wines are produced much further down the river, although in past times there were many vineyards around Ouzouer. However the local Coteaux du Giennois is making a comeback. It can be red, rosé or white, but since production is very limited you are unlikely to see it outside France. Locals recommend drinking Coteaux du Giennois with the local goats’ cheese or with andouille, a large chitterling sausage. If you really want to know, chitterlings are the minced intestines of pigs!

Great Ayton Twinning Association
Great Ayton, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Tel and Fax : +44 (1642) 711438
peter@great-ayton-twinning.co.uk
Webmaster: Peter Chandler