Walking Tours in france
The Dordogne Valley - 8 days
* Ramble on the Riverbank and Round the Villages
* Walk to Hilltop Castles and Bastides
* Character Accommodation
The Dordogne, as the Frenchsay, is a land with ‘un peu de tout’, a little of everything; a gentlymeandering river, lush pastures, wine, walnuts, geese, the warmsouthern sun and of course a web of trails and paths making it idealfor a walking holiday. Don’t be surprised to hear English voices,either on vacation or in residence, as the English have long beenassociated with this fertile green valley where they fought and died inthe Hundred Year’s War. They held the South bank of the river Dordogneand built many of the castles and fortified villages.
Theeight day walk begins with an overnight at Sarrazac. From here you walkto Turenne, with its hill top castle and on to Meyssac or Collonges, anexquisite medieval village in warm, red sandstone, enclosing a priorychurch. The route follows the GR480, across rolling farmland and alongwoodland paths to Beaulieu sur Dordogne and a valley of outstandingnatural beauty. Climbing out of the valley, over the ridge, you descendto the River Cere and continue via the massive red castle of Castelnauto the waterfall and 'gentihommieres' of Autoire. From the prettyvillage of Loubressac, perched on a scarp with splendid views, you canvisit the wonderful caves of Padirac, before descending to the charmingvillage of Carennac with its sun warmed roofs clustered above theDordogne. From Carennac you continue along the picturesque route of the'Cirque de Montvalent' to the delightful village of Creysse. Here the 8day walk ends.
The10 day walk begins at Meyssac, close to Collonges la Rouge and followsthe 8 day tour as far as Creysse, with a rest day and an additionalnight at Carennac. Our next day takes us first to Martel where the sonof Henry II, (called Henry Court-Mantel for the new short cloak he madefashionable) died during the Hundred Years' War; the house is stillvisible today. The walk continues over the plateau to Sarrazac, fromwhere your final day takes you back to Collonges la Rouge and Meyssac.
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