Dordogne Valley

Troglodytes are people who lived in homes built into cliff faces. The rock was soft enough to dig rooms back into the cliff and put a timber and rock front wall. In some places large chateau were built, in others a village for 1000 people complete with barnyards, butchery, footpaths extending over the edge of the cliff, a church and all the usual requirements for village life. It was amazing to see and to think that there are still places where people live like this, but then again, we have people in Lightening Ridge who have built their homes in the same way, except they are underground

We came upon Beynac and Le Roque Gagerac, two beautiful stone villages built against steep hillsides that run down to the Dordogne River. We enjoyed lunch in a restaurant on the banks of the wide, clear, willow lined Dordogne that was the means of invasion by Vikings in times past. huge chateau line the river to ward off the enemy, and in one place the two chateau on each side of the valley  saw men facing off in the 100 year war between England and France.

The highlight of the day for me was the Marquessac Gardens ... 6km walking tracks through boxwood hedges and  topiary of all size, shape and description. The most amazing garden I have seen and set high on a hillside in the grounds of a chateau.

Once again we have been blessed with sunshine and a great day.