Sarlat (Update)

We've been having a great time in Sarlat, with a mix of outings, lazy starts and a little maintenance for the house. The weather started out pretty good but has been quite cold and a little wet over the past few days. The outlook for the rest of our stay looks good. Here are some pics .....

The Wisteria is in full flight on the remnants of the old town walls, but most flowers and leaves are just starting to come out. It's a little early for 'proper' Spring, but we see new growth every day....

Bourgeois mansions on Place de la Liberty (circa 1500)....

Market Day in Sarlat....

Owl at Reserve Zoologique de Caviac, on a forested hillside just outside Sarlat. Very interesting place with only endangered critters where they have breeding programs etc. They had quite a lot to see. I'm a fan of the Lemurs....

Marian meets a Lemur....

These black and white ones are critically endangered in Madagascar....

This was a sleeping bundle of fur that turned into 4 Lemurs....

Lunchtime....

Wotcha lookin' at.....

'Flat out like a Lemur sleeping' (after lunch)....

Small clawed Otters from SE Asia I think (almost lunchtime).....

Chateau de Paluel is a recently opened Chateau that is in ruins, but under restoration. It was very interesting and we really enjoyed our visit. Up until 1944 it was a 'remarkably' preserved castle from the 1400's. Then the Nazi's burned it as it had associations with the French resistance. There were remarkable tunnels under it and very grand spaces, now ruined but under early restoration....

Dinner last night at local restaurant La Couleuvrine was awesome. It's in one of the 2 remaining towers from the original town walls (there were 19). My entree was Foie Gras spring rolls with Teriyaki sauce. The main was a fantastic lamb dish and dessert was rhubarb in meringue with sorbet and toffee topping....

This is the other tower still standing with some remnants of the city walls leading up to it....

There is a big lolly shop near the main square - it opens late and has the most amazing selection of lollies - full size 'bananas'; 'fried eggs'; 'peas and ham' (in the foreground) - there were various rooms of stuff.....

Back in Sarlat

On the way down to Sarlat we visited Jumilhac Chateau, where to our surprise a car rally promptly turned up in Lamborghini's, Porches, Ferrari's and so on. The chateau was more impressive on the outside than inside, but a nice stop anyway. Since we've been here we've been doing some low-key walking and birdwatching, which was our intention on this trip. There is so much to see and do in this region it's pretty amazing. There are facilities and managed sites and paths everywhere. The weather has been good so far, but it looks like there might be some rain on the way. Here's some pics....

The main staircase at Jumilhac modelled after a much grander Queens staircase at Versailles (because the geezer who renovated the original castle in the 1600's was in the Court of Versailles at the time)....

Grand room in the chateau - the fireplace is very elaborate....

Cars and chateau....

Long view from the town (which has been built in the original grounds of the chateau, maintaining the landscape axes from the garden design at the time)....

Back in Sarlat - our first wine on the main square....

Weather's nice (Hotel de Ville clock)....

Our little Mini Cooper Clubman....

Marian, Montfort and the Dordogne....

A great wetland down near Grojelac....

Very long boardwalk in the wetland - but the birds were hard to find!....

Woodpecker woodwork....

The view from Domme - a quick visit via a back road from the wetland....

Noice.....

'Lantern' over the staircase of the Presidial (former 'courthouse') in Sarlat - flowers starting to bloom....

Obligatory night shot in main square....

These 'meadows' are all through the countryside - very picturesque - used to harvest hay for winter....

No license required to drive these!....

Great view from excellent walk today at Campagne (west of Les Eyzies)....

There are many troglodyte-like excavations in rock cliffs in the region, some not that old....

Campagne Chateau, set in a public park very well maintained - very pleasant indeed....

View from other side - a great spot.....

Road to Sarlat

We left central Paris by car, being our little Mini Cooper Clubman. We first dropped off to visit Chartres Cathedral, before arriving in Les Mans for the night. We met a lady Marian knows through French language studies and we had a great visit. First, we went to the motor museum at the Les Mans circuit which was great. We then visited the old town, which was quite large and very intact - impressive. This included a visit to Les Mans Cathedral, which was very impressive indeed - and very old indeed. Then we had an awesome meal (best I've had in France) followed by another walk through the old town at night (very atmospheric). A great little jaunt. Here's some pics:

Chartres Cathedral - you can see it for miles around as it sticks up above the town on a hill. It's massive....

Inside, there are two amazing sights. Firstly, the stained glass which is as old as the building (1100's - 1200's). Second, the marble rood screen around the Baptistry carved from 1400's to 1700's....

The motor museum had a lot of cars, plus a display of miniatures for every car that's ever raced (since 1924)....

A rocket car - now that's cool....

The displays were great....

Les Mans Cathedral is as old as Chartres, in fact older. William the Conquerors grand daughter Matilda got married in it whilst it was incomplete. That's old. The stained glass is mostly intact. It was extended in 1300's, so there is romanesque (round arches with less glass) next to gothic (pointed arches with more glass). It's an impressive ensemble....

These are the oldest windows apparently - 1100's...

Les Mans old town has lots of golden stone and half timbered coloured houses....

Entry feature carved over a pair of townhouses in the old town....

Side door to Les Mans Cathedral at night...