Monpazier

An old lock house on the Lot river.

We woke up to a beautiful morning with the above view. Mounted the bikes at 10 a.m. and headed north into the dark oak forests of Périgord Noir.

Chestnut trees were frequent amongst the oaks. 

The chestnut nuts are a treasured element in the local cuisine.

The first waypoint today was the bastide Monflanquin which is a medieval fortified town built on a high point in the landscape. 

We reached the bastide at noon and lunched at the foot of a newly renovated memorial for the local victims of the WW1.

Yesterday's purchase at the Foie gras museum was consumed in total, – and enjoyed.

Mixing foie gras with prunes and armagnac is highly recommended.

This town sports a newly developed dog-doo bag which appears to be highly improved as compared to the black 'doggy bags' that are used in Denmark. This idea is now up for grabs by local entrepreneurs back home.

Passed many fields of all-withered tournesols but this specimen was still in full bloom and was being pollinated by a huge carpenter bee.

The ancient fortress of Gavaudun still occupies a strategic position perched on a 'mesa' of limestone. The castle was built in the 12th century on the main road between Périgord and Agenais. It was destroyed for the first time already in 1165. During the Hundred Years' War it was of central importance in the conflict between England and France.

Then we exited the Lot-et-Garonne departement and entered the Dordogne departement.

Our last waypoint was the grand castle of Biron, visible from far far away in the landscape. Château de Biron was seized by the Cathars in 1211 but retaken by Simon de Montfort crusaders the following year. The Plantagenets (English kings) held it at times during the 14th and 15th centuries.

Eva taking a photo of me taking a photo of her taking a photo of me ...

Adjacent to the castle itself we  stumbled over a café and convinced ourselves that we did indeed deserve good French coffee accompanied by some homemade walnut tart.

Et voilà ! – Somehow it all disappeared.

We are now accommodated in the bastide town of Monpazier in Hotel "Edward I" (a Plantagenet King of England (1272-1307) and also the duke and ruler of this part of France. He was a tough nail and was in his time also known as 'Edward Longshanks' and 'Hammer of the Scots').