Slickrock and Shadow

Jardin de Marqueyssac and Manor The Garden of Marqueyssac sits above the lovely town of La Roque-Gageac.  Right across from this cliff-top garden is the imposing Castelnaud castle.  Anyone visiting the Dordogne region should consider a visit here among the many other spectacular sights.  It is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon, taking a break from the castles.  Instead, you will find yourself wandering through lovely manicured gardens. You can wander through various trails, getting lost.  A cliffside trail gives wonderful views of the Dordogne River and ends at grand view point.  You will certainly enjoy it.  My personal opinion is that this is a notch below some of the other spectacular places in the Valley.  Bush Heads at Garden of Marqueyssac Typical View from the Cliffside Trail in Garden of Marqueyssac

Quai de la Riviere:  a sign in lovely La Roque-Gageac The perfect little town of La Roque-Gageac in the Dordogne region of France is the location that I stayed for 3 days while visiting this region.  The region has a lot to offer with the incredible castles of Beynac, Castelnaud, the picture-perfect town of Sarlat, rolling hills and farms, the living river and the Garden of Marqueyssac.  After a lovely dinner, I wanted to capture some of the gown itself.  This is a little challenging because it sits between the river and a cliff.  It is very narrow and you really cannot step away from the town to see it entirely.  Instead I tried to focus on the details, smaller parts of the whole.  Hopefully that will satisfy. Boulangerie in La Roque-Gageac Burst of Sunlight at the End of Day Window Treatments Step into the Past Shooting into the Sun

Dordogne River, taken at sunrise from Domme Sitting atop a hill overlooking the Dordogne River Valley, the town of Domme is in a strategic position.  I'm sure that is why it was initially founded centuries ago.  In the safety of modern times, getting up here takes a little bit of time.  From Cenac town, you can follow the signs going up switchbacks to the town  of Domme.  Take your time on this climb. Once he reached the town, a series of signs will tell you which way to travel in the narrow streets.  The streets are primarily one-way.  Following the signs will take you in a counterclockwise circuit through the town.  You will pass an ancient cemetery on the northeast corner of town.  Right after that there are areas to park your car and enjoy a wonderful view.  Looking north, you can see the lovely Dordogne River and the beautiful, manicured farmlands stretching as far as the eye can see. Sunrise is an excellent time to visit becau...

Beynac Castle Beynac Castle is a splendid monument to the Middle Ages.  This castle was part of the Hundred Years War and was possessed by the French during that battle.  It has been meticulously cared for and is in wonderful condition . . . except for the cobblestone street leading up to the castle.  I happened to be traveling with a child in a wheelchair and the cobblestone was very difficult for him.  Apart from that, this is a wonderful sight to see. The castle has a commanding view of the river.  The river takes a turn here and the castle was at the elbow of that curve/turn.  You can see down river and upriver easily.  This is a very strategic location.  There is another castle on the other side of the river that was British during the great war.  This is easily seen and also imposing.  The name of that castle is Castelnaud.  There are plenty of opportunities to get artistic with photography here.  The ancient stone, ...

Sarlat Cathedral Sarlat, France is in the heart of Dordogne region.  While visiting this area, my family took a day trip here from our headquarters in La Roque-Gageac.  The drive is a lovely, pleasant short trip.  Parking on the southern part of town, we began wandering into the pedestrian only streets.  There are many lovely villages that we had visited in France but this exceeded them all.  It exceeded my expectations.  Wonderful restaurants, old buildings, interesting shops and a lovely town square invite one to wander and explore. On this particular day, we arrived in time for a Catholic mass and the cathedral.  The cathedral is beautiful inside and out.  Hearing the sermon, music and absorbing the French culture and religion is a wonderful way to spend an hour.  The massive column that was near my seat in the church have the names of soldiers who had died in World War I inscribed. After church, we sat in a square and listened to...

Red Poppy Flowers of France Going to California each spring, I loved to see the wonderful wild poppy flowers.  I came to associate poppies with that wonderful orange color so common on the west coast.  Little did I know they come in another color in Europe:  blood red.  Seeing this fields filled with red poppies or smaller clusters of them here and there delighted me every time.  I could see Monet and his wife in these flowery fields as he painted her.  This particular field was south of Sarlat, France.