Super day out today. Apologies for rather a lot of photos but we went to so many super places its too hard to chose what to show here so ended up with an overload.
I highlighted Issigeac on the map as yesterday as a lovely village to visit though it is most famed for a superb Sunday market and this was not Sunday. Then circled 2 more places along the route and off we went.
Issigeac first. No market but that meant we could wander far more freely and take photos without having to avoid accidentally including anyone. We had a really lovely stroll around, there are some wonderful buildings, some dating back to the 12th century. In Alsace there are pretty villages filled with ancient buildings but there they have been prettified to be too perfect, almost Disney style in places. Here, Dordogne style, they are obviously renovated but far more naturally and a real feast for the eyes.
We stood and watched nesting Swifts under a wide archway. Must have been a dozen nests under there so the air was filled
with the sounds of them flying above and then swooping down to deposit lunch in the hungry waiting beaks. Had a conversation with a couple of the beaks as they waited and posed for my camera ?
We wandered down several little streets and at one point stopped to speak to an English lady who was looking down on us from a window above. She invited us round to the front of her house and insisted we came in to see the lovely flat beneath her own which is for sale. What a character. Made up to the nines, we had no idea of her age but wrinkly and quite a few more years than me and with lots of tales to tell of the places she had lived and loved.
We had spotted a likely spot for lunch but they were full so back in 10 so we did. That lunch was superb. Savoury cheesecake with smoked trout, avocado and green salad. Bob couldnt have that as it was the last so had omelette and frites so was happy.
for a cool and a big open market square. Also a rather fine patisserie so that was desert sorted for dinner.
As we headed for our next stop I stopped an impressive building in a village of the main road so we went to look. This was home of an ancient Abbey. The church still stands and inside, only discovered a few years ago, are some superbly painted walls. Now Unesco protected. The abbey buildings next door were also well worth a walk around.
Last stop Cadouin where there are Cloisters to visit. Always enjoy a walk round cloisters. Here the light was lovely and there were some very impressive carvings. The central area had been planted up with mainly white flowers which were a delight to see. The church attached to the cloisters also had some wall paintings. Amazing how all this fantastic architecture has survived for so many centuries.
One thing needed before heading back to the campsite for a cooling swim before dinner and that was icecream. We have found it is cheaper to get icecream to eat in at a cafe rather than takeaway in a cone and served with
