Sarlat and Surrounds (Pt 2)

We've had a few action packed days with Chris and El and their daughter Victoria, who came across from London for the weekend. Currently pooped and reclining! The weather picked up from earlier in the week - some pics........

Goffre de Padirac is an extraordinary cave system with an underground river that you boat along, as well as massive calcite formations. It starts by going down this massive sink hole.

‘Pancake’ formations from water dropping over 10m and splattering. There are various lakes and water was dripping and running everywhere due to the last weeks rain.

Video showing scale of formations – you can also see the boat quay (underground) at the end.

Rocamador is nearby, being a medieval town overlooked by a complex of medieval chapels hanging from the hillsides.

Martel is a beautiful town with several Nobleman’s towers (you had to be a Nobleman to have a tower on your house in the medieval period). It has a picturesque town square with an original market hall and grain measuring scales.

A particularly fetching Nobleman’s front door in Martel.

The town of Saint-Genies is nearby Sarlat and whilst small, has a fantastic ensemble of roofscapes. The roofs are ‘louze’ – which are stacked stones (about 1 tonne/1sqm) – which explains the steep slopes to put weight on the walls (not for snow).

Above the town is a 14^th Century church with intact frescos inside – you collect the key from the local shop to have a look.

Pre-dinner drinks on the main square in Sarlat.

St Amand de Coly is a small town nearby Lascaux caves with a very well preserved 12^th Century church. It was part of a monastery and fortified.

Chateau Losse has a very pleasant position looming over the Vezere River – they do a fine lunch in the garden. The fortified gatehouse on the left is one of the largest in France.

The gardens were nice too – they sensibly had goats in the moat to keep the grass down

After visiting Reignac Manor House we dropped into the town of Campagne, where the council own a fab chateau and have made a beautiful park of the grounds.

The Sarlat market was on Saturday morning (no photos) so we bought picnic fare and took it on our canoe trip down the Dordogne. What fun – took a few hours with various stops along the way. Great weather.

We finished the day with a visit to Chateau Milandes, built late 1400’s but occupied by the American/French artist Josephine Baker for 40 years. There’s a museum about her in the chateau, as well as (oddly) a very good bird show.

Last night in Sarlat with Chris and El – out for dinner. The gas lights around town really show off the sandstone buildings nicely.