I am desperate to finish telling you about our lovely June trip to the Dordogne, it’s just finding the time amongst everything else in life. As you may have seen, I also like to share details rather than just lots of pictures – just in case you are here viewing this post because you too are planning a trip to the Dordogne and want some tips from someone who’s been and explored.
Last time I left off we had just been to the Sarlat market and passed through La Roque Gageac. After this we headed along the river to Beynac, which we much preferred and found a lovely little restaurant for a very relaxed lunch. This place is just so pretty, the sand coloured stone buildings, the flowers and vines that sprout from tiny patches of soil – it is storybook lovely.
We sat outside on a covered terrace, eating a tasty lunch and watching the world pass by.
Mr Rigg ate fish soup with aioli and Gruyere, and a confit duck leg with lentils…
I had gazpacho with a pepper garnish, and for my main filo wrapped parcels of goat’s cheese and bacon…
For dessert we shared this rather good looking millefeuille of cream and strawberries (after we saw the couple next to us eating it) – it was like heaven on a plate. So light, so crisp, so flaky, so creamy, and bursting with sweet strawberries. I am not a dessert person (unless it involves unadulterated chocolate), but in France I am totally a dessert person.
As we thought about leaving, the heaven’s opened in an utterly torrential downpour.
So we sat back down and ordered a coffee to sit out the rain – don’t you love it when they come with a little unexpected sweet treat?
The rain storm went as quickly as it had come. Whilst eating lunch we had watched lots of people in search of something it turned out there was a castle at the top of Beynac, so we went in search of it too. It was definitely worth the hike up the narrow steep streets – I think they were actually my favourite bit, but the view was pretty spectacular too.
This was the view at the top…stunning isn’t it?
And just to prove there is a real person writing this blog 🙂
And a few of the irresistible details on the way down again…the roses!
The small but beautiful details on buildings…
The pale blue shutters…
Beautiful curved roofs and lanterns…
Quirky houses squeezed in small spaces…
I was hoping to squeeze in the Gardens of Marqueyssac, but I think they are too lovely just to squeeze on the end, so I will save them for another day.
You can read more of our travels in the Dordogne in part 1, part 2 and part 3.
6 comments
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September 30, 2012 at 9:56 pm
countrywoodsmoke
What a beautiful place, and the food looks wonderful, fantastic pictures that take you on a lovely journey.
Cheers
Marcus
October 4, 2012 at 2:06 am
Michelle
So beautiful—thanks for taking me to one of my favorite places. Those pale blue shutters get me every time!
April 19, 2013 at 11:31 am
David
Thank you for sharing your experiences in an area my wife and I truelly love. Reading them and looking at the pictures makes us quite homesick for France in Summer.
April 19, 2013 at 11:40 am
Charlie
Hi David, I’m so pleased you’ve enjoyed reading them – I am longing for a visit to France again, it’s the one place I always seem to have a longing to go back. For us it remains the Loire that we love the most, but to go anywhere with markets and a warm breeze is fine by me!
July 15, 2013 at 12:03 am
Johan Orbie
Beautiful pictures… Everything so authentic but for the “French Beer”. Actually, the beer in the picture seems to be a belgian abbey beer called Leffe.Blonde, sold all over France.
July 15, 2013 at 8:01 am
Charlie
Hi Johan, I wouldn’t have the foggiest what the beer was and we certainly weren’t trying to make every food decision to be authentic, just enjoy the holiday 🙂 Pleased you liked the pictures.