On Sunday morning our bus left the hotel promptly. We all wore our suits & ties or posh frocks, best shoes and those already intronisés wore epitoge.Epitoge is the shoulder wear made with rabbit fur, like a vestigial university hood, that those who are accepted (introniser) as members of the Jurade have the right to wear. See photo. 'Introniser' seems to relate to the word 'enthrone' so suggests something special about being welcomed as someone of importance.
That morning was the Parade of Jurats, candidates for intronisation and guests. Before the parade and ceremony we milled in the low morning sun. See video.
We admired the dress of representatives from other jurades too. See video.
Two of our party were to be intronised along with other important people who included several French politicians (such as Gérard Larcher) as well as film stars, atheletes and business men and women. This video shows more camera men than the politician who is walking behind the Jurade as the procession starts.
We processed to the church. The church service is well described by Anthony Laithwaite here. Then went on to the intronisation itself, which was in the Eglise Monolithe, a building cut into the rocks, that might have fallen down any minute if Calleja had started singing. The place was filled so we couldn't see very well but could read the Livret des intronisations, a booklet that gave a short biography of all the people being presented.
We had a champagne reception in the garden of the Salle des Dominicans - noted and minded the security guards for the important politician - then a lunch that included:
- Royal Saint-Emilion 2006
- Château Taureau 2005
- Château Lanbersace, Vieilles Vignes 2004
- Château La Bonnelle 2004
- Château Trapaud 2003
- Château Guillemin La Gaffeliere 2002
- Château Laroque 1999
- Château Chauvin 1998
Finally the Jurade went to the Tour du Roi to proclaim that the harvest was open. See video.
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