Périgord (4)

Crossing more villages on the following day, on the way to the Dordogne valley

Beynac is perched on the top of the cliffs overlooking the river

 

 A nice village at the corner of each road: Martel, Carennac, Loubressac, Autoire...

 

When the temperatures reach the ceiling, there is nothing nicer than the Gouffre de Padirac, a natural cavity with an underground river (no pictures allowed, sorry...).

Time to finish the day, and enjoy the swimming pool, in order to cool me down

Dinner in La Roque Gageac, a few minutes away from there:

Cadouin

Cadouin Abbey was founded in 1115 and affiliated to the Cistercian order.

The buildings represent two different architectural styles, Romanesque in the church and Flamboyant Gothic in the cloisters which were rebuilt at the end of the XVth century.
Cadouin Abbey is one of the world heritage sites on the pilgrim route to St. Jacques de Compostelle.

 

 

 

You can spend the night there, in the hostel located inside the abbey, in a former monk cell.

 

To be honest, the restaurant of the abbey if a lot more sinful than the cell :-)))

 

Périgord (2)

The first stop of the day is in Bergerac, in order to go and say hello to Cyrano:

Unfortunately, no way I can taste the wines in Montbazillac, because I still have a couple of hours driving the car before tonight

By the time I reach the Bastide of Montflanquin, it looks like the rain will be back shortly.
It was founded in 1252, its arcaded square and check-pattern layout is a representative example of fortified villages in Aquitaine.

The Château de Biron was the seat of one of the four baronies of Périgord.
Perched on a hill, it commands a wide view over fields, farmhouses and neighbouring forests.

 

One more bastide, in Monpazier, under the sun this time, and it looks like all the tourists also noticed it.

Mid afternoon break (and snack ;-) in Belvès, a medieval city officially part of the most beautiful villages in France

On my way to Périgord - Bordeaux and Périgueux

Bonjour !

It is not a mistake, for the first time in 10 years I am going to spend my holidays in France.

Yesterday was the final of Roland Garros, therefore today I am taking another one of my favorite sportsmen:

The first visit takes place during the connection in Bordeaux. Even if the temperatures are incredibly high, after all the rain and clouds we got during the last weeks, I spend a few hours wandering in the streets

In spite of the storms / electrical shutdown on the railways / flooding, I eventually make it to Périgueux with only one hour of delay. Could have been a lot worse. First dinner outside, this really feels like holidays!