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June 5: Bordeaux to Castelnaud La Chapelle

Got the train from Bordeaux to Sarlat, where I was collected by Jim, Deena and Robin. First order of business was to get lunch.

Sarlat is famous across France for its gastronomy: foie gras everywhere, truffles, duck dishes (such as a gizzard salad….a green salad with warm duck gizzard pieces which I got to try, and while it doesn’t sound great, it’s actually very tasty), truffles and walnuts.The tomatoes and strawberries are also amazing.

Sarlat is often described as one of the most authentic medieval towns in Europe. It’s famous for its narrow winding streets and small squares, buildings  made of honey-coloured limestone  its mix of medieval and renaissance houses and its largely pedestrian historic centre, which we strolled through today. 

After a bit of shopping for dinner (after all, we didn’t want to starve…..), we drove to our house in the village of Castelnaud La Chapelle which is one of the most spectacular medieval villages in southwest France, famous for its dramatic hilltop castle overlooking the Dordogne River.More about that later
But first we had to stop at the village so that I could experience the patisserie (because everyone knows I’m a sweet tooth)

And I left with a beautiful fruit tart covered with strawberries and raspberries, which would be our dessert

The views from our house are stunning.We have panoramic views over the Dordogne Valley, we can see nearby castles like Beynac across the river and we are surrounded by forests, cliffs, and classic Dordogne landscapes

And then as an added bonus while we ate dinner on the verandah, up came the hot air balloons

A pretty nice day…..