_Thumbnail.JPG) |
03.07.08 Thursday.
Villamblard to Bergerac.
A night of thunder and rain so cooler today, good walking weather. Unfortunately in the village at 0700 , half an hour before the boulangerie opened, so not wanting to wait started walking, no shops at the first village and so a handful of dried apricots was our first breakfast at about 08:00. Next village was quite a way so finally got coffee and croissants at about 10:15 after too many miles. The interest on the way was a salamander out for a stroll in the damp conditions after the rain, or maybe he just wanted his breakfast too.
The woodland and mixed farmland of the valleys north of Bergerac gradually gave way to vineyards as we started the descent in to the Valley of the Dordogne. The Chateau Monbazillac making the sweet white dessert wine is on the south side of the river so we suppose these were the vineyards making the red Bergerac wine.
We entered the city via a long section of parkland alongside the stream the Caudeau, in spite of this it gave a somewhat grubby appearance. After finding the small church dedicated to St James we crossed the river to the campsite, a small unprepossessing municipal of dubious security. The church of St James was built on the pilgrimage route in the days when you either crossed the river by boat or waded across. The river today is far too deep to wade but luckily the owners of the castle foresaw this and provided a bridge in about 1200. We had planned a day in Bergerac but if we can get the necessary information for onward travel I think we shall not stay, although further rain mid afternoon will make completing drying and further washing difficult.
GF adds; interesting how in this region the properties are looking very well kept – almost Swiss standard rather than the slightly neglected look of more northern France. The cars look almost new too and recently washed. Not like the vehicles I saw on my first trip to Paris; dents in each corner and matching ones in all four doors!
|
Subscribe