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Very large 17 M iron doors on market entrance in Sarlat-la-Canéda
There was a lot on controversary on the design of these doors as to whether they integrate into the architecture of the market? We were looking forward to a visit with our friends Susan and Harry who live in Carlux, a pretty village near Sarlat-la-Canéda in the Dourdogne department. A few years ago, they retired early from their Canadian jobs, bought this former bakery and converted it into a residence and a guest house. They did a fabulous job by renovating the wood and stone structure into a very comfortable home while maintaining much of the original design. On one of the stones, the year carved was 1752 (I think). Unfortunately it was quite rainy the 3 days of our visit and we were unable to get the full enjoyment of the beautiful gardens and grounds surrounding the property. Susan and Harry did give us a good overview of the area which has a long medieval history and dramatic, scenic topography. It was quite evident what attracted them to Carlux. We were treated to great hospitality and it was a welcome break to have some delicious homemade meals which featured readily available local fresh fruit and vegetables. Many thanks to Susan and Harry.
As we made our way to Provence, the next stop was Carcassonne in the Languedoc area. This is also a
medievil town with a very large Cite (Citadel). Some parts go back to 13th century. It was similar to Mont Saint-Michel but not as large. We were only there one night and even though it was quite rainy we did manage to tour around a bit. The next day, we decided to detour to Bouzigues, a small coastal town on the Mediterranean. Of course the appeal was the seafood and we had a very civilized lunch of oysters, mussels etc. on the waterfront. Our last 2 nights were in Uzes before checking into our Villa in Provence.
The weather greatly improved while in Bouzigues and stayed with us for a couple days which made our tour of Pont de Gard much more enjoyable. Pont de Gard is an astonishing example of Roman engineering prowess. This aqueduct was built between Uzes and Nimes covering a distance of 50 Km. The Pont (Bridge) crosses the Gardon river and has been restored to the original part of the aqueduct. The incredible technical challenges of the rugged topography and distances were a testament to how advanced the Roman Empire was in the 1st Century AD. Just as intriguing was the Arena in Nimes
La Cite Carcassonne
Viewed from different angles at a distance this looks like just pieces of yellow paint on the ancient citadel. At the entrance the art becomes more evident and was part of the celebration of Carcassone being designated as a world unesco sight which was built around the same time as the Pont de Gard and is one of the best preserved of the more than 400 Ampitheaters built by the Romans during the Empire‘s development.
In order to vary our tours, a stop into the Haribo Candy Museum just outside of Uzes, allowed us to go from the 1st century AD to 19th century. The museum was part of the company’s numerous manufacturing plants throughout Europe. In many respects, it reminded me a lot of the old Ganong factory that was built in 1873. After stocking up with some treats for the road, we‘re off to Avignon and the Fleur de Provence.
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Linda Mac
non-member comment
France
Very informative and enjoyable reading as always. I am eager to hear about your meeting your " crazy" friends in Avignon ? PS I am still receiving your blog through Alan Hugs to you both