family owned boutique bistro with their own working farm, wines and walnut mill. One of the twenty restaurants with alfresco dining terraces in the heart of the traditional medieval town of Martel built as a stop off on the road to the great pilgrimage site of Rocamadour accessed via the Grand Escalier staircase.


Suspended between heaven and earth, every year around a million and a half visitors and pilgrims flock to Rocamadour. Visited for a thousand years by kings and queens and pilgrims from Europe who climbed the 216 steps to acquire religious holy medals to pardon them of petty crimes. They often died of exhaustion wearing shackles on their hands, feet and necks praying every step of the way to get to its seven chapels. Including the Basilica of Saint-Saveur Chapelle, the Chapelle de Notre-Dame devoted to the 12th century Black Madonna sculpted out of walnut wood, and the Chapelle Miraculeuse containing the tomb of Saint Armadour, the hermit who first lived on the site. La Foret des Singes, a magical conservation park where Macaques roam free, is to the northeast and The Rocher des Aigles bird park with more than 400 birds of prey, colourful parrots and falconry shows, lies to the west.


There’s something for everyone in the Dordogne and with over a thousand historic chateaux and alluring gardens to choose from, there’s one to visit every day of the year!


Most have medieval


displays, children’s games and themed tours and the gardens designed around water, topiary and even bamboo!


We


visited the most romantic, picturesque and famous nineteenth century “Les Jardins de Morqueyssac” located in Belvedere of the Dordogne, another classified UNESCO world heritage site. It’s the most popular Italian style ‘hanging’ garden in Perigord clinging to the edge of the limestone cliffs and boasting an incredible maze of 150,000 only


evergreen shaped boxwood trees,


where show-stopping blue peacocks dance in the grounds and you will experience breathtaking 360 sweeping panoramic views of the Dordogne countryside from the highest point.


River life is vibrant and fun. Fish, swim, canoe, explore the ancient caves or take a boat ride on the famous traditional flat-bottomed Gabares that were used for transporting goods including timber along the Dordogne since the Middle Ages. Travelling at a stately pace it’s a leisurely way to get closer to nature, local wildlife and miles of stunning scenery.


For food and heritage lovers, the historic market town of Sarlat to the south and the old Roman town of Périgueux north are gastronomic essentials – and wonderful lively bases for exploring elsewhere in the Dordogne. An open-air modern glass elevator housed above the food market within Sainte-Marie’s bell tower in Sarlat offers


a unique experience and zips sightseers up for great photo opportunities surreymagazineonline.co.uk 13


to capture a 360 viewpoint of the paved streets, impressive honey stoned walls, the Lauze roof tiles and most important monuments in the city untouched during the war.


Off the beaten track perched high above the banks of the Vézère River is Terrasson- Lavilledieu. A more tranquil ‘town for lovers’ with a romantic ambiance. Stroll across the old bridge dating from the 12th century and up the many steps to the ancient abbey ramparts. A city of legends to discover (that of monk Saint Sour), mysteries (the Cluzeaux, The bones), bijou art galleries, artisan boutiques and studios around every corner. Watch a glass blower, potter, jeweller and bronze sculptor at work then a short drive away, dine alfresco under cool shady vines at “Le Cantou” located in the village of Collonges-La-Rouge - a medieval hamlet straight out of a fairytale. It is the first French village to have been classified as one of the most beautiful villages in the South of France and is characterised by its red sandstone houses.


In Brive-la-Gaillarde there are fabulous places to stay with luxury B&B’s like “La Belle Vista” www.labellevista.fr and “Hotel Miel Des Muses” Tel: +33 (0)5 55 23 79 65 - a hip hotel that was once a historic building and hardware store. Each room uniquely decorated and styled to suit its guests! With an abundance of good restaurants in Brive, we were seduced by the tasty more refined dishes by Chef Nicholas Eche at his chic bistro “En Cuisine.”


The Dordogne has all the ingredients to take you away on a surprising journey of a lifetime. For more information go to: www.visit- dordogne-valley.co.uk and book your flights at www.aeroport-brive-vallee- dordogne.com


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