Bergerac France

The French countryside is breathtakingly beautiful.  I travelled out of Bordeaux hitting the road early in the morning.  My plan….to kick around Bergerac for a day and then continue on to Rocamadour.

Here are the places I visited while in this area.  

Chateau de Biron stands at the between Périgord and Agenais,in a highly strategic position. Its history is directly linked to the great Gontaut-Biron family, the holder of the castle for eight hundred years.

Marked throughout the XIIth to XVIIIth centuries by all sorts of vicissitudes (word for the day; means a change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant.), this monumental building offers a XIIth century donjon (an early word for Keep), a two-storey chapel, Renaissance appartments, impressive vaulted kitchens, etc. An incredible juxtaposition of buildings is what makes Biron so exceptionnally attractive from an architectural point of view.

You will also see the scenery of the French film " Les Visiteurs II ".  

 I sooooo would not have liked to be a guest in this room!

The tour lasted about 45 minutes so after taking pictures it was time to head to the next photo op.

The next stop offered the added bonus of stones and grapes.  The castel de Monbazillac, property of the Monbazillac Cellars Company since 1960, is an awesome looking place from the outside and I was floored by the fully furnished castle on the inside as well.  It is a unique and original architectural blend of medieval defensive fortifications and Renaissance exuberance.  Absolutely gorgeous!

 

The tour of the castle ended with a winery and a sample of really good Monbazillac wine and a trip to the Guild store.

It was really good though I do admit white wine is more to my taste.

This is the place to purchase not just wines (Monbazillac and Bergerac) but exceptional local Périgord gourmet produce (foie gras and conserves, stuffed prunes and walnut oil), select fine delicacies and fine wines from Bordeaux and the whole world.

I found myself ready browse around Bergerac and then settle in for the night so off I went. 

Now I admit that I have a hard time passing by anything chocolate and what do you think I saw at a café as I meandered around Bergerac?  Chocolate Chocolate icecream with chocolate chips and whipped cream!  It was the best thing ever!!!!

The town of Bergerac is full of beauty and charm.  Lots of interesting houses of stone and much to my surprise I came upon a statue of Cyrano de Bergerac!  

I stayed at La Flambee, which was close to the statue of Cyrano de Bergerac.  I chose it because it had a restaurant on premises and complimentary parking for guests. 

My taste buds were watering as I smelled the delicious aroma coming from the restaurant.  I decided on Carpaccio de magret de canard aux noisettes (Carpaccio of duck breast with hazelnuts), Filet de bœuf grillé, sauce béarnaise (grilled beef filet with béarnaise sauce) and for dessert Crème brûlée à la vanille de Madagascar (No translation needed it was like heaven!)

After dinner I opted for a swim in the pool before turning into bed.  Here are photos of the pool and the room. 

Morning brought with it a beautiful sunrise so after a breakfast of fruit, cheese and bread on the terrace, I hit the road toward Rocamadour. 

Here is a photo of my view of the town as I got closer.  More on Rocamadour next time and maybe we just might have to try out one of those gorgeous hot air balloons for a better view.   

See you soon! 

La Belle au Bois Dormant (Sleeping Beauty)

Wow!  I can't believe this trip is finally underway!  

The city is located in South West France, on the Atlantic coast. It city is built on a bend of the river Garonne.  Bordeaux consists of "arrondissements" (districts) but people refer to them as quarters (quartiers).  Each has it's own name and distinct flavor.

First how about a brief (very brief I'm afraid because it has been around a loooooong time) history of Bordeaux?

Burdigala (the ancient name for Bordeaux) became a port around the year 100 AD. The Romans were the first to build facilities here, a tricky task since the Garonne can rise by over 5 metres (depending on the tide). In 1875, the Port of Bordeaux had more than 1,000 buildings along some 2,700 metres of quays! Elegant steamboats transported passengers downriver as far as Pauillac and upriver as far as Marmande. The city grew on the banks of the river and prospered thanks to it.

Okay on with the day.  Our lodgings will be within the city itself.  I thought about staying outside of town a bit but then decided that I would tackle this much like I do the French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana.  Stay in the thick of things then head out on foot!

Checking in at the Ecolodge des Chartons, 23 Rue Razé, was easy and the staff were very friendly and helpful.   The room is nice and comfortable and there is a continental breakfast in the mornings!  

 The common area is warm and inviting but.....

 The bed is comfortable and roomy!  Nice way to rest up.

I had no plan for the city of Bordeaux other then to walk out the front door of the hotel and head in a direction the first day.  The weather was beautiful and I set out with camera in hand.  Turning right I followed the Rue Raze until coming to Rue Notre Dame.  I've always liked the name Notre Dame so I figured why not?  I decided to turn left (what I thought was somewhat south) and ventured on until seeing a sign for the CAPC, musée d'art contemporain de Bordeaux.  I opted to hold off on museums until later and continued on Cours Xavier Amozan and ended up at the Jardin Public.  A beautiful, tranquil park that was lush and green. 

The entrance to the park was awesome wrought iron!

I spent the morning just relaxing in the park, wandering and taking many pictures.  My backpack held my camera supplies but I neglected to pack any munchies so wrapping things up at the park 

I decided to head toward the Bordeaux Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-André de Bordeaux).  It is a Roman Catholic Church and was consecrated by Pope Urban II in 1096.  Only a wall in the nave remains of the original Romanesque architecture but the Royal Gate is from the early 13th century with the rest of the building dating from the 14th to 15th centuries.  "Old Stone" to say the least!

Awesome Old Stone!

Exiting the Church I ventured next door to Tour Pey-Berland, originally intended to be built as a bell tower for the Cathédrale Saint-André to protect the building from the vibrations of the bells. Not super interesting, but the view of Bordeaux after walking some 283 steps up a very narrow spiral staircase is pretty good.

You may be wondering about food.  I have a bad habit of wandering,getting lost in my lens and loosing all track of time.  I found it getting late in the day and myself getting very hungry so I began heading toward the river and looking for a bite to eat.  I knew the river would take me back very close to the hotel.  Of course it helps have your friendly Droid Global as a traveling companion :)

Okay I admit I couldn't resist this little chocolate shop along the way.  It was chocolate heaven!

Okay after that I was really hungry and getting very tired.  I saw a McDonalds but I was NOT going to take the easy way out.  I hailed a taxi and saved myself some walking while getting close to the guest house (hotel).  Finally I found a restaurant close to my domicile.  Chez Dupont on....Notre Dame just a few blocks around the corner from the hotel.

I decided to go with something easy since the day was long and I was tired.  According to information I downloaded onto my phone (thank you internet):

"Although this restaurant is found behind the walls of an 18th century colonial residence on the Garonne quayside, its cuisine is completely modern and sophisticated. Dine in smart surroundings with beautifully set tables and from transparent plates that let you really appreciate the beauty of the regional dishes. On the menu is shad, a rare and much sought-after fish from the Garonne region, with gribiche sauce made from hard-boiled egg yolks, oil, vinegar and mustard. International items include sashimi and chicken kebabs with sweet and sour sauce."

I decided to try the shad.  I've only eaten fish twice and it wasn't bad at all.  It seemed a little expensive but I've noticed the dollar doesn't stretch as far when converting to euros.  Oh well.  You only live once right?

On that note I bid you farewell until we meet again.  I promise that we will have more of a plan when next we meet.  First stop on the agenda in the morning...the tourist center!

And So We Begin....

Bienvenue!  My name is Michelle Hawkins and I am preparing to undertake a web quest through France.  For my photographic journey, I plan to start in the city of Boudreaux working my way across country to end in Marseilles.  I plan to visit Rocamadour, Saint Cere, Figeac, Toulouse, and Montpellier as well.


View Larger Maphttp://reegnum.co.cc/bordeaux-france-1707.html


I will be "seeing" France with my trusty camera in tow because I am fascinated by "Old Stone". 

photo from: http://reegnum.co.cc/bordeaux-france-1707.html

I am excited and anxious to begin exploring some truly fascinating places!  Come along with me and see what I see.  It will be an adventure as we learn more about the history, the people and the areas of France. 

See you soon!