My lucky brother and his wife are looking for suggestions for visiting the Dordogne region of France, a fairy tale land of villages built into high cliffs of golden rock, with castles and chateau rising out of the cliffs and dotting the green valley which the Dordogne River glides through. So here are some tips from my journal entries during our 2006 visit:
-We stayed in the town of La Roque Gageac at the Hotel Belle Etoile. Beautiful old limestone hotel with good restaurant but town is touristy and the hotel is set back from a sometimes busy road, albeit with a pretty view of the river. Here’s some good photos: http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotos-g657817-d673346-Hotel_La_Belle_Etoile-La_Roque_Gageac_Dordogne_Region_Aquitaine.html#18003187
I’d stick with the great place Dad found last year in Sarlat.
– Speaking of Sarlat, it’s the biggest town we visited but don’t let that put you off. There’s actually street life – especially on the market day(s). Don’t miss the market(s) where you’ll find all kinds of local delicacies – fois gras (politically incorrect, I know, but delicious), bread, pastries, strawberries, goat cheese (cabe nous is what I wrote in my journal for some reason). Sarlat also has lots of artists and you can visit their studios/galleries, with help from a map we got from somewhere or other that gave us a studio/gallery walking route. We bought some lovely small oil paintings of vegetables that now hang in our Iowa kitchen. Pretty well-kept Medieval buildings along the open square where the market is held and narrow streets lined with oft-interesting shops.
– With our Sarlat goodies, we picnicked at a spectacular garden in Vezac (see: http://www.marqueyssac.com) that was surprisingly empty. It’s high on a hill with stunning views of the river valley – the fortress of Castelnaud, the château de Fayrac; and the Roman chapel of Saint-Julien de Cénac. (I found this description on a knowledgeable-sounding website. http://www.frenchgardening.com/visitez.html?pid=31162916853519)
MORE TOMORROW.
TakeBetsywithyou 