Cabrerets, France Travel Journals & Blogs

Mit den Zugvögeln südwärts
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- Sep 11, 2022, 10:00 PM
- 🌙 22 °C
- Altitude: 289 m
- France Occitania Cabrerets 44.508123, 1.64378344°30’29” N 1°38’38” E
Day 11
Peche Merle - drunter und drüber
September 11, 2022 in France ⋅ 🌙 22 °C
Nach einer kurzen Fahrt über die Hochebene und hinunter ins Tal des Célé erreichen wir ein weiteres stilles Dorf mit Geschichte und einem kreativen Aufbruch-Geist: Marcilhac sur Célé mit seiner ehemaligen Abteikirche, deren einstige Grösse die Ruinen erahnen lassen.

Weiter durch das beschauliche Tal mit imposanten Felswänden geht's zur prähistorischen Höhle Peche Merle. Dieses Höhlensystem mit den 29'000 Jahre alten Felsmalereien ist mit Führer zugänglich. Auch das Museum (und das Bistro, der Milkshake!) sind absolut lohnenswert. (Online-Reservation empfohlen)

Da wir eh die Nacht hier auf dem oberen Parkplatz in der Sternen-Einsamkeit verbringen wollten, bot sich gleich noch ein weiteres Highlight an: der erdgeschichtliche 4km-Wanderweg "le chemin du temps, path of time" bei traumhafter Abendstimmung.Read more
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Traveler France Summer 2023
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- May 23, 2023, 11:23 AM
- ☀️ 68 °F
- Altitude: 981 ft
- France Occitania Cabrerets 44.506667, 1.64544°30’24” N 1°38’42” E
Day 5
Grotte du Peche Merle
May 23, 2023 in France ⋅ ☀️ 68 °F
Real prehistoric cave paintings - 30,000+ years ago
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Traveler Pilgern nach Santiago de Comp.
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- Sep 12, 2023, 9:01 AM
- ☁️ 19 °C
- Altitude: 149 m
- France Occitania Cabrerets 44.508133, 1.65057244°30’29” N 1°39’2” E
Day 37
Wer fischt denn da
September 12, 2023 in France ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
Der holzige Fischer…
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Traveler Une Boucle à boucler
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- Jul 17, 2023, 11:45 PM
- 🌙 21 °C
- Altitude: 167 m
- France Occitania Cabrerets 44.506607, 1.65495844°30’24” N 1°39’18” E
Day 7
Cabrerets
July 17, 2023 in France ⋅ 🌙 21 °C
Super soirée chez Servanne 👍 merci Mamie 😉
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Traveler Une Boucle à boucler
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- Jul 18, 2023, 8:24 AM
- ⛅ 23 °C
- Altitude: 219 m
- France Occitania Cabrerets 44.507196, 1.65436144°30’26” N 1°39’16” E
Day 8
Départ de Cabrerets
July 18, 2023 in France ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
Écouter le vocal au départ de Cabrerets : https://on.soundcloud.com/gPRLS
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Traveler Walking in the Cele Valley
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- Jul 5, 2023, 6:30 PM
- ☁️ 23 °C
- Altitude: 146 m
- France Occitania Cabrerets 44.505898, 1.65391244°30’21” N 1°39’14” E
Day 3
Day 3 • Le Picarel to Cabrerets, 17 kms
July 5, 2023 in France ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C
Thinking back on our walk today and yesterday, I realise that the majority of photos I’ve posted may give a false impression of this path. We are naturally captured by the dramatic cliffs - with their embedded fortifications and houses, some from as far back as the 11th century - and by the charming villages and chateaus nestled in the valley.

But this is only part of the story. In between, and for much of the time, we are walking largely in bush or heavily forested areas. We could be in Bouddi National Park near our home in Pretty Beach. The wildflowers are delightful.

What we haven’t captured with our cameras (phones) are the constant sounds of nature - insects and birds - and the delightful varieties of butterflies (papillons) that suddenly surround us - then fly away just as quickly.

The Cele Valley Chemin is very much a walk in nature.Read more
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Traveler Walking in the Cele Valley
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- Jul 5, 2023, 6:40 PM
- ☁️ 23 °C
- Altitude: 146 m
- France Occitania Cabrerets 44.505898, 1.65391244°30’21” N 1°39’14” E
Day 3
Day 3 • un peu plus #1
July 5, 2023 in France ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C
After two hours on dirt tracks, with multiple climbs and descents through bush and forest - suddenly, Sauliac-sur-Cele was before us.

According to our guidebook, some 700 people lived here in the late 19th century, but less than 100 do now. Carved in the rock face is another of the Chateaux des Anglais - we saw the first yesterday. They generally date to the 11th and 12th centuries and were used in the Hundred Years War to protect civilians from attacks along the river.

Though we saw similar the day before, once again we are completely captured by the drama of the Cele Valley. 😎Read more
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Traveler Walking in the Cele Valley
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- Jul 5, 2023, 7:30 PM
- ☁️ 22 °C
- Altitude: 146 m
- France Occitania Cabrerets 44.505898, 1.65391244°30’21” N 1°39’14” E
Day 3
Day 3 • un peu plus #2
July 5, 2023 in France ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
Today ended as it began, with a steep descent on a rocky path covered in loose stones. It really pays to pay attention. So far we have not ‘come a cropper’. Tonight’s stop is the village of Cabrerets, nestled in the Cele River Valley and … with dramatic cliffs on either side. After some hours ‘in the bush’ the approach to Cabrerets is breathtaking with the now familiar site of houses literally carved into the cliff face.

It’s the busiest village we have seen since our walk began. Many people - on foot, by bicycle or by car - stay in Cabrerets as a base to visit the famous Grotte du Pech-Merle. It’s ‘sur le chemin’ - on thé Camino - just over kilomètre from the village. We are looking forward to visiting thé Grotte in the morning before walking on to Saint-Cirq-Lapopie. ❤️

Postscript: While we are once again charmed - a commentary in our guidebook reminds us that people living, trying to survive, in these small villages centuries ago (and perhaps more recently) had a very different perspective. This from a list of grievances submitted by the residents of Cabrerets to the local government prior to the French Revolution:

‘This community is situated in the most abominable corner of the world. Its only possessions - if they can be called that - are rugged rocks and mountains that are almost inaccessible.’ 🙏Read more
Traveler France is so dang pretty.
7/7/23Reply
Traveler It really is 😍. Though we are excited to be walking in Spain again later this year ❤️ 🇫🇷🇪🇸❤️
7/7/23Reply
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Traveler Walking in the Cele Valley
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- Jul 6, 2023, 7:00 PM
- ⛅ 27 °C
- Altitude: 282 m
- France Occitania Cabrerets 44.507736, 1.64441444°30’28” N 1°38’40” E
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Day 4
Day 4 • La Grotte du Pech Merle
July 6, 2023 in France ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
Today's stage was an unusual one - a late start, a short distance, but filled with highlights.

The first highlight was our visit to La Grotte du Pech Merle - the cave of Pech Merle - a short 1 km climb from Cabrerets centre ville. We had reserved tickets for the first tour of the day, at 9.45. You can only visit the cave on a guided tour and bookings are recommended - particularly in summer months, as it is here now.

Last year was the 100 year anniversary of the discovery of the cave art in 1922 by three teenagers from Cabrerets who were caving in the area. Visitor groups are limited to 25 and the tour starts with a 15 minute introduction and explanation. Then it's time to 'go down' into the cave - for a 45 minute tour exploring the vast network of tunnels and extraordinary findings. The tour was excellent - and, although there was much to see and learn in addition to the cave art, we didn't feel at all rushed.

Our tour was in French but there was an English language brochure which was very helpful for me. There are a few English language tours but the first of these was too late for us. Although we hadn't far to walk today, the forecast was for a high of around 30 degrees, so we were keen to arrive in Saint-Cirq-Lapopie sooner rather than later. The cave is 'sur le chemin' - on the way. We were able to leave our backpacks and poles in the reception centre during our visit. Afterwards we had a coffee and a snack - and by 11.30 we were on our way.

The French and I loved this place. Highly recommended.

https://en.pechmerle.com/

PS. Photos not allowed inside - so I've included some from the world-wide-webamajig!Read more
Traveler Interesting that you could take photos inside the cave. In the caves we visited in Spain it was forbidden to do so.
7/9/23Reply
Traveler Same. No photos allowed. Thé inside photos are from the internet 😎
7/9/23Reply
Traveler 👍😊
7/9/23Reply
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