France
Sarlat-la-Canéda

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    • Day 14

      Sarlat, Beynac, Castelnaud La Chapelle

      October 14, 2022 in France ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F

      Today was a very busy day. I am feeling pretty good, but still not a lot of energy. First order of business was to stop at a patisserie/boulangerie for a French breakfast and a baguette to go for later! Last night we had driven to the “old town” in Sarlat and wandered a little, so we were definitely ready to see more of the old area. Sarlat seems to be so much bigger and busier with more people than all the other places we have visited. Funny, but the population is only about 10,000! It is definitely more alive than the other villages we’ve visited. Suffice it to say, it’s an enchanting and quaint medieval town that’s actually divided into two with one side more aristocratic and the other more “common”. It’s fun to discover little arched passages and lanes that lead to new treasures to see. I must say that “duck” is what it’s all about here…everywhere! Foie gras and duck dishes are on every menu and many stores are devoted to duck products. There are many duck farms in the area, too.

      After stopping at La Belle Époque for French onion soup, we decided to drive to nearby villages voted as “Most Beautiful Villages” that border the Dordogne River. In the villages of both Beynac (pop 552). and Castelnaud La Chapelle (pop 471) there is an imposing chateau perched at the top of steep cliffs and rocks that seem to reach to the sky with a tiny village built directly below it. Let me tell you, we were many narrow switchback roads, but I don’t think that I scared Elizabeth too many times…she did jump in her seat a few times! I don’t know why? Do you? Just enjoy the photos even though they can never truly capture the scene. As we drove through the countryside we spotted many smaller chateau high above the Dordogne River.

      We returned to Sarlat for a drink before dinner and to work a little on our journals. I was sitting in a café with a glass of wine listening to the young staff laughing and singing to French songs being played loudly on the speaker. And I was in heaven! I was moving ever so slightly with the music and living in a moment of true joy and thinking… I AM IN FRANCE! The young waiter came over and asked if I wanted another wine. I told him in French what I wrote about them singing and laughing and how I was enjoying it so much. He very gently kissed my hand and treated me to a glass of wine! He came over again and asked me to dance…I passed! Hadn’t had enough to drink! It was all truly innocent, and they were at the end of the shift just enjoying their free time. I’ve never had such sweet attention! We closed the place down!
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    • Day 16

      Rocamadour

      October 16, 2022 in France ⋅ ⛅ 79 °F

      Elizabeth is feeling under the weather, so she took the day to rest. We’ve been going nonstop and a little time to relax sounded great to her. I don’t know how to slow down!

      I noticed a brocante in the square and decided to browse for a while. Lots of antiques, vintage, and flea market items. I guess it’s done only one day a year in Sarlat. Lucky me, I bought a set of silver spoons designed by a well known silversmith, Henri Soufflot. They are from 1900 and a Fench nouveau design. They use smaller spoons for tea and coffee, and these will be perfect.

      This afternoon Elizabeth sent me on my way while she continued to take it easy. I drove to Rocamadour in the Lot Region. The drive took a little over an hour on some very winding, switchback country roads through no man’s land! It followed the Dordogne River for a while and was quite beautiful. In over an hour I never passed a gas station…few and far between. Very few cars or towns, too. It’s funny but as I drive through the villages I wonder where all the people are! The trip home, alone at night was a little challenging for me, and I was glad to have no problems.

      Rocamadour (pop 600) is on a a very high rocky plateau in the Alzou Gorge. The village is a single street that rises abruptly at the base of the rocky cliff. Then, the chapel, churches and towers rise above the village, and finally at the very top of the cliff is the chateau. Rocamadour was very famous in the 12th century as a pilgrimage site where miracles were reported to have happened. A statue of the Black Madonna is believed to have healing powers. The Stations of Christ is a very steep medieval path that leads from the sanctuary to the Jerusalem Cross at the top of the hill and shows an event in the final days of Christ. People have traveled it since the 12th century. I would have done it if I had had the time. Thank heavens there is now a lift that travels from the top to the bottom. I did a quick walk through all three levels today, and then I decided to stay until dusk to see Rocamadour all lit up from across the gorge. What an incredible floodlit spectacle!
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    • Day 3

      Von Perigeaux nach Sarlat

      September 8, 2022 in France ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

      Zuerst sind wir nach Lascaux gefahren um die berühmten prähistorischen Malereien zu sehen. Lascaux IV ist eine Replik, aber sehr gut nachgestellt. Das Gebäude des Besucherzentrums ist auch beeindruckend. Auf dem Weg nach Sarlat treffen wir Trogloditenbauten an den Hängen der Kalkfelsen und eine zauberhafte Landschaft. In Sarlat angekommen machen wir einen kleinen Spaziergang durch die wunderschöne mittelalterlichen Stadt.Read more

    • Day 18

      Heimreise

      September 2, 2022 in France ⋅ 🌧 19 °C

      Am Freitag ging es dann in Richtung Heimat, mit leckerem und lustigem Proviant war die Fahrt fast kein Problem.
      Aufgrund der schlechten Wetterprognose verbrachten wir eine Nacht in einem Mobilehome. War ganz witzig, aber die Matratze in unserem Zelt ist um einiges besser. Trotzdem war es eine coole Sache, eigene Terrasse, eigenes Klo und eine eigene Dusche. Die Entscheidung hatte sich in jedem Fall gelohnt da es wirklich die ganze Nacht stark regnete, blitze und donnerte. Denn der Regen während der Fahrt hatte uns bereits gereicht.Read more

    • Day 6

      Scoping out Sarlat

      September 11, 2019 in France ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F

      What a great time we had today scoping out Sarlat. First we slept in which was much needed. We found out that it was "Market" day in Sarlat. We began the day with petite dejeuner at a sidewalk cafe. We wandered the streets and avenues, looking for deals. Laurie bought cheese and olives. Kimberly was looking for art and a ring.
      Our challenge was to explore the region for a chateau that was built into a cliff, much like the anasazi in the southwest United States. Then we went on a local Chateau "search." And we found them. Surprise after surprise.
      We spent the afternoon shopping after all the crowds dissapeared when the market closed down.
      We made reservations at Romain, as we enjoyed the meal and ambiance the previous night.
      Looking forward to Rocamador tomorrow.
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    • Day 8

      Sarlat de caneda

      August 31, 2019 in France ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

      Nach kleiner Irrfahrt mit dem Navi, bitte wenden, fahren Sie links, bitte wenden, 🙄😉auf einem absoluten ruhigen Platz gelandet. Fast keiner mehr da Platz schließt in 7 Tagen. Genießen die Ruhe. Direkt an der Dordogne gelegen. Bereits gestern angekommen. Heute mit dem Rad 9 km nach Sarlat über eine stillgelegte Bahntrase, wunderschöne Gegend ein ganz anderes Frankreich wie die Provence. Mittelalter und Renaissance Zeit prägen das Stadtbild. Schöne Gassen und viele Häuser unter Denkmalschutz. Cathedrale St. Sacerdos besichtigt. Haben den Markttag erwischt was immer wieder schön ist aber leider konnten wir keinen frischen Ziegenkäse kaufen da er uns unterwegs weggeschmolzen wäre. Nach einem leckeren Mittagessen, was Pflicht ist, mit Ente und Foie Gras wieder zum Platz zurück. Man will sich ja nicht stressen Jetzt ausruhen, was wir in letzter Zeit häufiger tun😴🍷🚌🌞🏕️
      Morgen geht's dann mit dem Radl nach Domme.
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    • Day 11

      Lescaux

      August 13, 2019 in France ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

      Heute haben wir uns Lescaux IV angesehen. Echt beeindruckend, wie realistisch der Nachbau gestaltet worden ist. Leider durfte man dort keine Fotos machen. Den Abend haben wir bei einem leckeren Menü in Sarlat ausklingen lassen.Read more

    • Day 18

      Shopping 1. Teil

      May 22, 2023 in France ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

      Gestern Abend hat es irgendwann angefangen zu regnen, wir haben trotzdem lange draußen gesessen. Unser Nachbar hat uns noch darauf hingewiesen, dass offenes Feuer hier verboten wäre, wir hatten den kleinen Feuertopf und 2 Kerzen an.
      Morgens war der Regen vorbei und wir konnten sogar draußen frühstücken. Nach dem Frühstück sind wir mit den kleinen Dackeln in die Stadt gedackelt. Montag vormittag ist wohl noch nicht so der geschäftliche Tag, einige Läden hatten noch zu. Auch das Geschäft wo wir die Messer gekauft hatten war geschlossen obwohl gem. angeschlagener Öffnungszeit eigentlich offen sein sollte. Wir schlendern durch die Stadt, kaufen im Tourist Office ein paar Ansichtskarten, kaufen Briefmarken in der Post und trinken dann auf dem Markt einen schönen Kaffee. Der Weg zurück den Berg hinauf schmeckt Fiete gar nicht.
      Statt Törtchen gibt es heute nachmittag Eis aus der Cooperativa Gariguella mit ein wenig Chantilly.
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    • Day 21

      Letzter Tag Sarlat

      May 25, 2023 in France ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

      Wir schlafen aus und frühstücken gemütlich draußen. Die Sonne scheint aber es ist kühl. Nach dem Frühstück setzen wir uns gegenüber in die Sonne und genießen die Ruhe.
      Dann ist Haushalt angesagt, erstmal der Abwasch von gestern und danach macht Christine drinnen Ordnung und ich räume die Garage auf, inklusive Keile waschen usw.. Das dauert bis nach Mittag, dann duschen und auf in die Stadt. Wir kaufen ein paar Mitbringsel und ein Brotmesser. Kaffee und Kuchen nehmen wir in dem selben kleinen Cafe wie vorgestern.
      Als wir zurück sind ist der gesamte Bereich von Engländern und Iren belegt 😯
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    • Day 51

      Sarlat-la-Caneda

      June 22, 2023 in France ⋅ 🌧 20 °C

      Sarlat-la-Caneda is a pretty French village in the Dordogne Valley. It is home to the highest concentration of medieval, Renaissance and 17th-century architecture of any town in France.

      It has a maze of narrow streets and Gothic and Renaissance mansions. It was yet another highlight of our trip.Read more

    You might also know this place by the following names:

    Sarlat-la-Canéda, Sarlat-la-Caneda, Sarlat e la Canedat, سارلا-لا-کاندا, サルラ=ラ=カネダ, Сарла-ла-Канеда, Sarlatum, Sarlat e La Canedat, 24200, Sarlat, ซาร์ลา-ลา-กาเนดา, 萨拉拉卡内达

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