Monday 30th June

Following the Dordogne River on its journey towards the coast our first stop along the road was at La Roque Gageac with its honey coloured houses cut into the gorge cliffs.

The cliff hugging houses at La Roque Gageac

Further on down river on the south bank lies Chateau Castelnaud an Englishman's (Aquitaine) castle stronghold from the 100 years war, and you guessed it, just up river on the north bank the French rival, Chateau Beynac was the enemy fortification.

The Englishman's castle

and the Frenchman's

From here we left the river and headed north via Perigueux the capital of the Dordogne region.  The major city sight being the Cathedral St-Front, its controversial restoration is the work of the the man that gave Paris the Sacre-Coeur.

St-Front

The last stop en route was Brantome, on the river Dronne, this is one of the more tranquil and beautiful places in the Dordogne region, with that in mind we decided on camping here by the river for the night.

Brantome

Stepping out in bottle green overalls and cloth cap

Tuesday 1st July

From Brantome we headed North west towards Angouleme the capital of the Charente. Angouleme is perched on a plateau above the river Charente which we followed via Cognac all the way to the Atlantic coast.