June 7, 2012 Dordogne area France

Chateau Beynac

Castle gates

Taken from the top of the castle.

Today we started off to do a circuit of the area to see some places of interest starting with this magnificent castle, Chateau Beynac which sits high above the village of Beynac.

Very hard walk up from the village which is at river level, as you will see how high it is from the photos. Exhausting and very  hot.

We walked around the castle and went right up as high as we could. Great  views. Then we had to walk all the way down again to learn that you could drive right up as they had parking places up there. 

Beynac village below castle

Then onto La Rogue Saint Saint Christophe which is the caves where there is the remains of a large Trogolodyte town. The shelter was used as a human dwelling 20,000 years ago and was demolished in 1588. It is on a cliff overlooking a section of the Verzere.

Steps lead up to the original entrance of the fortress which was the only entrance to the town and therefore was an integral part of the town’s defence system. The entrance is narrow and has a look out post from which rocks, weapons etc could be thrown down to invaders.

Holes were hacked into the rock to support beams which were then used to construct ceilings and roofs. The front of the houses were built in the in the traditional half-timbered style common in medieval times. Holes were also hacked into the rock to make storage areas.

One section is a massive long area where the rock above overhangs a 275 metre long area and the natural shelter was the main part of the town.

As we were heading out to the caves we got THE PHONE CALL re the car to say that they were delivering it at three today at our hotel. Really stuffed up our day out as straight after the caves, we had other places to see but instead had to rush back to hotel. At this stage we were stressing as car was low on petrol and every time we found a gas station the pumps were closed.  A lot closed for two hours during midday so the lesson is always have plenty of petrol.

So we now have our car so can get on with our trip and put it all behind us. (eight days late).

Last night we meet some really nice people in this small accommodation only six rooms overlooking the river with an outside restaurant very peaceful. They do a meal cooking the meat/fish on hot stones. We had a lot of fun.

What we missed out on seeing today we will see on the way out tomorrow on our way to Rodez, half way stop before crossing the Millau Bridge and on to an area near Arles and Nimes still in France.

Overhang of the cave

Drawing of how the dwellings looked

 Looking over the valley