Beynac. What a walk ...

Yesterday our plan was to head off for a drive to Beynac-et-Cazenac. Upstream on The Dordogne River this medieval hillside village replete with its own Castle at the very top was to be our lunch stop.

After a quick whip into St Cyprien for a coffee we picked the boys up and set off. Like many of the villages in the Perigord Noir (Black) region, St Cyprien is built on a hillside and the main feature of the village is an imposing church that, much to Ollie's disgust, rings its bells regularly and late. Even though we're in the next village on the next hillside the church is the main view we have from our barn across the small valley. It's well flood-lit at night and the largest eastern yellow sandstone wall catches the bright morning sunshine and really lights up.

Rye de Ramparts. Houses built in the Ramparts if the church above in St Cyprien

Trying to demonstrate the slope of the streets. But nothing to that of Beynac-et-Cazenac. 

Living here would keep you fit

Beynac-et-Cazenac was our destination so we set off, sat nav programmed and away. It is only a few kilometres away but the combination if our driving skills and the narrow windy roads it does take time getting places. We followed the mighty Dordogne admiring the hillsides, that are simply studded with chateaux like a Christmas tree us studded with baubles. {There are over 1500 chateaux in this part of France alone.}

We round a corner and "Park here!" I hear. This is what we see. Beynac-et-Cazenac and we stop. That's a restaurant with the brown shutters so we decide to have lunch before making the climb.

After a traditional lunch of local delicacies, foie gras, confit de canard and tarte au noix (duck liver, confit if duck and walnut tart). All food that is locally grown and produced and provides income for large numbers of the local population.

Bloc de Foie Gras. A pate made with pureed Foie Gras with whole pieces included and sliced when set. 

Like an Almond tart only walnuts instead. 

We soon learn perhaps the best idea is to eat after one walks the steep streets of these villages.

But the view is worth it. 

Great view if the Dordogne

Beynac-et-Cazenac is a medieval village which makes it somewhere between 700 to nearly 1000 years old. It has been classified as Les plus beaux villages de France and it is no wonder, it's beautiful!!

This is a Moss lawn. Probably get very little direct sunlight but makes a delightful yard for this house. 

Another glimpse of the Dordogne

The chateau at the top of the hill. Very Rapunzel!!

I think it's a barn with its thatch being held together by Moss.  

Then a few days later when coming home from Domme, another hilltop town, we got to see Beynac-et-Cazenac from another perspective. This really shows the grandeur and magnificence of the château and begs the question, how the bloody-hell did they build these places?

They have embarked on a restoration programme of this château that will take 50 years