Did you play N° 6 ? and other Jullianges, France Things to Do Tips

People in the area tell Jullianges has the highest elevated race course in France; This should be checked, but Jullianges is located at 910 m elevation a few kilometers North of Le Puy en Velay. In summer, there are races in Jullianges, a few week ends in June, July, and August.
It is not the crème de la crème of French horses which run there, but horse races have always a good reason to be attended by horse lovers, gamblers, people not knowing what to do on Sunday, . . . . and tourists who travel or stay in the area!
Another reason is, for the tourists, to mix a bit in the local population and have a flavor of local customs, as the people who attend the races are mainly locals.
In Summer the Jullianges races are a mix of sulky trotting and gallop, there are 7-10 races in the afternoon. Nice weather conditions, shaded area for walking around between the races, opportunity to listen to local brass bands, watch the locals (without voyeurism!), possibility to visit the stables, etc. . . can make a nice afternoon in Auvergne.

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Yes, it is mainly local people who attend the races in Jullianges, and it can be somehow fun to look around, have a beer at the kiosk, see how they play cards, waiting for the next race; the races are in fact a pretext for many to meet friends, family, gather at a nice place for a cool afternoon.
The card game people play in the area is “Belote”, has no real equivalent outside France, (may be the German Skat, in some way. . . . ), and even it is a game, it can be played very seriously.
Watch people concentrating on the next race: which one to play?
Look, the place is shady, there is food and drinks. . . local music, local food, local language, you are in another world for a few hours. . . . . . .

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Yes, it is mainly local people who attend the races in Jullianges, and it can be somehow fun to look around, have a beer at the kiosk, see how they play cards, waiting for the next race; the races are in fact a pretext for many to meet friends, family, gather at a nice place for a cool afternoon.
The card game people play in the area is “Belote”, has no real equivalent outside France, (may be the German Skat, in some way. . . . ), and even it is a game, it can be played very seriously.
Watch people concentrating on the next race: which one to play?
Look, the place is shady, there is food and drinks. . . local music, local food, local language, you are in another world for a few hours. . . . . . .

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In Jullianges, a good thing is that you can walk to the stables, to the preparation areas for the horses and look at the horses relaxing under the pine trees. It is just walking, have a look, smell the perfume (euh?) of the horses and the pine trees, and discover some nice views and opportunities for pictures.
This very rural place has a real charm, for an afternoon at least!
Look at the horses or at the persons who take care of them, sometimes two beauties together make a nice picture.

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A good thing with small race courses is that you can get close to the track, to the horses, trainers, etc, and also to the riders and drivers; it is like at the TV, except here it is in real! Very close to all actors of a race and looking at the faces of he jockeys after a race gives to understand why they wear glasses. So Jullianges can also be a place to learn a bit more about races; kids enjoy it, looking at the horses, racing, but also from close in the preparation area, or those resting under the trees; there is of course a possibility to have a ride on small ponies for the kids.

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The church is open on Sundays afternoon, so it is possible to visit it outside mass time; and it is very far from being crowded. . . .
It is a small rural church, built during the 15th and 16th centuries and renovated several times later; it seems both Roman and Gothic styles are represented here, and inside, the mixture of styles is also present. This church is listed in the French listing of Historical Monuments.
A nice thing with little churches like this one is that you can take time to walk around, look at some details (like picture 2, a possible coat of arms of a local heir), go inside on the balcony to have a general view of the ship (picture3), have the church for you alone, pray or dream. . . and again outside look at the rather funny assemblage of different style and building materials (Picture5)

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