The original plan was to spend the day in Castres and go to Mazamet by train in the evening. But we have visited Castres before, so have seen the museum and we walked around the town yesterday.
From the tourist office Barbara discovered a photography museum at Labrugiere, about 12km walk.
The museum
The museum here is dedicated to the memory of Arthur Batut, the man who invented “Drone Photography” in 1888 – a camera attached to a kite! Ariel photography had been demonstrated from a balloon some years before and by Tissandier who took ariel photographs of Paris from a balloon. Batut saw these published photos and wanted to do the same, but on a budget. Interesting article about him here, including the info: “He made his camera from wood and cardboard, loaded with 13×18 cm plates. The “guillotine” shutter was operated by a spring triggered by the current of an electric wick“.
The museum has a fascinating small collection of Batut’s work and equipment, plus great small temporary displays featuring photography – when we visited there was a display of photo’s of “moving subjects”, horses, athletes – due to the Paris Olympics, also a display of posters for Olympic handball teams – niche or what! https://arthurbatut.fr/
The only cafe in town was closed, but we had some provisions with us. The trains to Mazamet from Labrugiere had been cancelled for the day … but there was a bus, and it was free!
These unexpected delights and adventures are the essence of self-guided travel, and what makes it such fun.