April 26, 2010 - Château Bonaguil and Monpazier

Set the alarm for a change. Right after breakfast we drove to the pharmacy to get something for Ed’s cold. They gave him pills and cough medicine. When we tried to pay, we discovered he’d left his wallet at home and I had no euros. We drove back, got money, returned and got the medicine that he quickly took.

Back through town to continue south on D46 and then on to Château Bonaguil. For once an easy drive and we didn’t get lost. There is limited parking at the château entrance and we managed to get the last place. Hooray!

Paid, entered and climbed all over the magnificent ruin. We did not climb the 800 steps to the top of the Keep. Yesterday was enough climbing and the view was just fine from where we were. Château de Bonaguil, 47500 Saint-Front-sur-Lémance, France; tel: +33 (0)5 53-41 90-71;
Click here for the Château Bonaguil web site

Château Bonaguil - Entrance

Château Bonaguil

Château Bonaguil - suit of armor

Château Bonaguil

Château Bonaguil

Château Bonaguil - the Cementario

We decided to lunch in Fumel but it turned out to be an unpleasant industrial city and we saw no open restaurants so continued north on D660. Few towns and fewer restaurants . . . all closed at noon. Do restaurants close for lunch? We saw an ad for La Petite Auberge in Villefranche so made a detour. It was a charming place in the woods near Villefranche and we had a good but not memorable lunch. Ed’s trout was fine however my duck was tasty but tough and most was cut up and added to some mashed potatoes. Nearly no sauce/gravy. The salad was excellent and could have been the meal. Too bad the duck was so tough and skimpy. [La Petite Auberge, Les Peyroulières, 24550 Villefranche du Perigord, Tél: (0)6 49331785; [email protected]; Click here for La Petite Auberge web site]

We backtracked and turned west on D660 to Belves and followed signs to Monpazier only to discover we should have turned 10 km earlier . . . but it was a pleasant drive and we found Monpazier, free parking and lots of other tourists. Monpazier is one of many bastide towns in the area and is a Plus Beau Village so it was enjoyable to explore. We found a rather dramatic château hotel but right across from it was a simple and very beautiful stone cottage surrounded by flowers so I took several photos. An elderly man sitting across the street asked if we like the little stone house and we were enthusiastically affirmative. As it turned out, it was his house and he obviously took great pride in it. We chatted a bit and left him to his flowers.

Monpazier - Place du Forail N

Monpazier - upper floor of the Ancient Grange

Monpazier - entrance to Place des Cornières

Monpazier - Place des Cornières

Monpazier

Monpazier - Église Saint-Dominique - Statue

Monpazier - Église Saint-Dominique - pulpit

Monpazier - Église Saint-Dominique - stained glass

Monpazier - Église Saint-Dominique - make a donation; pound in a nail

Monpazier - Gate at the Chemin de Tour de Ville

Monpazier - corner of rue de la Lumière and rue de St. Pierre where we met the owner

Monpazier - Place des Cornières

Monpazier - one of the Plus Beaux Villages of France

Belves - driving past on the way home

Chateau at Beynac-et-Cazenac

La Roque Gageac along the Dordogne River

Had no problem wending our way home. Both Sylvia’s and Xavier’s shops were closed . . . no postcards and no sausage. Perhaps tomorrow . . .
I hooked up my computer and discovered the mouse isn’t working . . . neither is the touchpad. Nasty! I tried all my tricks and nothing worked. We ate dinner and I managed to copy my photos using mostly the keyboard and fighting with the touchpad. It’s late; I’m tired; will deal with it tomorrow.