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2017 - France, Dordogne
Off to France to meet up with the
Carthago Owners UK get together
at Soleil Plage on the Dordogne
river.
We crossed the Channel to Calais
after stopping the previous night
at Black Horse Farm campsite at
Densole (just 20 mins from
Dover).
From Calais we headed to our
regular aire at Forges-les-Eaux [2]
just north east of Rouen. This is a
convenient distance and there has
always been space for us.
Next day we travelled south to
Amboise [3]. We have been here
several times and enjoy visiting
the town on the Loire. Very pretty
and a spectacular chateau on the
south bank. The campsite is on an
island in the middle of the Loire.
<-- (left) The aire next to the
campsite at Amboise. It was a very
warm, still evening and we watched
the hot air balloons taking off from
the field behind us.
Our next stop was at our friends,
Tom and Jan in Taizé Aizé [4]. We
met Tom and Jan in Spain in
February/March and they invited us
to call in if we were passing - so we
did!
We parked in their front garden and
enjoyed a couple of days with them
exploring the local area.
Taizé Aizé is in a beautiful area close by the Charente. We enjoyed a day out visiting Verteuil sur
Charante. Here was a charming, old watermill which is now a restaurant. They make their own brioche
which they are well know for. It was delicious - like no brioche we have ever tasted before!
Below are some snaps from the day out. Click on the photos to enlarge the images.
After a two night stop with Tom and Jan we travelled on to Saint Leon sur Vezere [5]. This is one of our
favourite stops in France. It is a charming village and has an informal restaurant right beside the Vezere.
There are plenty of quiet country roads to cycle on and it is just a few miles down to Roque St.
Christophe (which is an ancient troglodyte settlement in the chalk cliffs carved out by the river). We
have visited before on trips to this area when we stayed at Le Paradis campsite.
This time we stayed on the aire right in the centre of Saint Leon sur Vezere.
Below are some photos of the area and the village, Click on the photos to enlarge the image.
The two right hand photos (above) are of the Roque St.
Christophe. The left hand photo is a fortified home called Maison
Forte de Reignac and was built in the early middle ages. Again,
it was cut into the rock to help with the fortification.
From Saint Leon it was just a short hop to Vitrac [6] where we were gathering with other Carthago Owners
for our September meeting. The campsite, Soleil Plage, is on the banks of the Dordogne.
Soeil Plage is a delightful campsite with an on site restaurant, several indoor and outdoor swimming pools,
kayaking on the Dordogne etc. etc.
A short distance away, by bicycle, is the village of Monfort with its chateau on the cliff edge. There is not
much else to see. A few more kilometres and you can cycle to Sarlat en Caneda via an old railway line that has
been changed into a cycle path. If you have never visited Sarlat then you have missed a treat. It is a medieval
city built out of the lovely sandstone of the area. But be aware - it gets very busy on market day! The cycling
is also quite energetic!
Another cycle trip is to follow the river (see photo below, top right) to the village of Carsac-Aillac. This has
more character than Monfort and there are pleasant cafés and bars and it is also the local shopping centre. If
you do not have an e-bike then it is quite a challenging ride back when you are laden with shopping! The
campsite does have its own shop but the variety of stock is limited. It did provide bread every day.
During our stay at Soleil Plage the weather was rather rainy and we were disappointed with the restaurant
food. We took a coach trip out to Beynac, which included a river cruise on a Gabarre (an historic river trading
ship) and followed by an excellent lunch at a riverside restaurant. After lunch the coach took us on to
Domme, high above the Dordogne. Here there is a wonderful panorama looking north but our view was
spoiled by the rainy weather.
After seven nights at Soleil Plage we said our farewells to everyone. Many were going on elsewhere and
continuing their holiday. However, we had to head home as we were due to fly out to USA in a few days
time!
Our map shows our first homeward stop as Chateauroux [7] but
we actually stopped at a small village aire near Chateauroux
(right) the name of which we cannot recall. It was a typical
rural French community. Very peaceful and pretty but it shouted
out that there was little employment in the area and many
businesses had closed. The village shop/post office/café was
still open but that was it.
The aire was beside a small lake in the village centre and had
electric hook up and water so we needed little else. A nice
stopover so must try to remember the name!!
Next day we were on the road early for a longish
haul up to Les Andeleys [9] (left). This is a
favourite campsite stop over. A delightful small
town on the banks of the Seine. We have stayed
here several times before. It is within easy
driving distance of Calais to catch the afternoon
ferry back to UK.
A very pleasant tour of rural France - we will be
back !