Travel Around The Clock

Beynac In the heart of the Périgord Noir, in the Dordogne Valley, Beynac-et-Cazenac is one of the “most beautiful villages in France”.  Built on limestone cliffs, it has a unique character, surely more defensive than La Roque Gageac but more open than Domme , with its castle clinging to the cliff and overlooking the entire valley.  Beynac The “magic trio” of Beynac, namely the river, the village and the castle, is somewhat a trademark, which contributes to the reputation of this charming village of just over 500 inhabitants. Beynac The small medieval village of Beynac-et-Cazenac enchants the visitors with its old cobbled streets and squares, its stately chapel which has become the Church of Sainte Marie, its Calvary overlooking the Dordogne and its views of exceptional beauty. Beynac Beynac Beynac Beynac Beynac Walking through the narrow and steep alleys, amidst houses with lauze roofs and blond facades, you can reach the top of the village, from where the imposing Beynac cas...

Domme is one of the prettiest villages in France . Perched on a breathtakingly high cliff overlooking the Dordogne , this Medieval “bastide” or fortified village, is a perfect combination of architectural, natural and gastronomic heritage, typical of the Périgord Noir .  Domme It was the French king Philippe III , called the Bold, who had the idea to found Domme in 1283, in order to gain a strategic position over the Dordogne valley and to thwart the English inclinations.  Endowed with important privileges (it had for example its own currency), Domme played a major role during the Franco-English wars and was the seat of the Sénéchaussée of Périgord Quercy since the 14th century. Still very prosperous, going through the troubles of the reform, Domme resisted the Huguenots and it was not until 1588 that the bastide fell into the hands of Geoffroi de Vivans. The latter will not leave it, driven out by the Catholics, until 1592! Unusually for a bastide town, the village reta...

Tuscania Tuscania is one of the most evocative medieval villages of Tuscia , along its cobbled streets you can still breathe a timeless atmosphere of rare charm. Standing on seven tufaceous rock promontories at 180 meters above sea level, from its strategic location between the Marta River and the Capecchio Stream, Tuscania dominates the great communication route connecting the Tyrrhenian Sea to Lake Bolsena . This charming village is distinguished by the ancient traces of the Etruscan civilization and the medieval architecture that make it the ideal movie set; many acclaimed historical films such as The Incredible Army of Brancaleone , Pasolini 's Uccellacci and Uccellini or Zeffirelli 's Romeo and Juliet , have been partially filmed here.   Tuscania Tuscania In town, the predominant colour is the brownish of the tuff, dotted with flowers and bright doors. Walking through the medieval alleys of the historic center, the path will take you through some beautiful ancient c...

The area of Saint-Emilion extends around the homonymous village, near the city of Libourne, along the Dordogne river.  Here, among gentle hills covered with vineyards, some of the most prestigious French red wines are produced.  And walking in this wonderful landscape is a pure pleasure! Saint Emilion The main grapes are Merlot and Cabernet Franc, followed, in a much lower percentage, by Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. The wines of Saint-Emilion are quite different from those produced in Médoc; this is due both to the different composition of the soil (mainly limestone in Saint Emilion) and to the greater use of Merlot grapes that produce wines much rounder and softer than the Médoc ones. Grapes, Saint Emilion The tourist office in Saint Emilion offers plenty of brochures and maps to explore the surrounding area. During our weekend there, after visiting the beautiful city centre , we chose to walk the 11Km long circular trail called 'Entre Combes et Coteaux' .   T...

Saint-Emilion is the ideal destination for a weekend break in the countryside and a must stop on a road trip through France. Saint-Emilion Saint-Emilion is known all over the world for its wines and its beautiful chateaux surrounded by vineyards, but very few people know that this village has a rich history of 2000 years. One of the testimonies of this historical baggage is underground, in the 200 Km of galleries that run under the village; the rest is above, in the many religious buildings and monuments to visit .  The village was founded in the 8th century by a Breton monk, Emilian. Since 1999, Saint Emilion and the 8 municipalities within its jurisdiction have been listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site .  Here, the omnipresent limestone provides an exceptional soil for the vines. And the same limestone was used to build the elegant medieval city and many buildings in Bordeaux. As soon as you enter this small town, you will come across the ancient ruins of a former Dominic...

Gateway to the Périgord-Limousin Regional Natural Park , Brantôme is the pearl of the Périgord Vert. Its position on an island nestled below a cliff, between two arms of the Dronne river, earned it the nickname "Venice of the Périgord". Brantome Brantôme has the appearance of a magical city that reveals its beauty around its medieval alleys: its imposing abbey, its beautiful Renaissance style houses and its gardens crossed by canals project the visitor back in time. Brantome The majestic Benedictine abbey, founded at the end of the 8th century, rises by the river, watched over by its Romanesque bell tower (one of the oldest in France), while, behind the limestone cliff, a little jewel shelters: the remains of the troglodyte monastery including the enigmatic Cave of the Last Judgment adorned with two monumental bas-reliefs.   Bell Tower, Brantome  Last Judgement cave, Brantome  Saint Sicarius fountain, Brantome It is said that Charlemagne consecrated the abbey a...