Waking up just because it is getting to warm inside the car…means the day is breaking! When the sun is out, everything is just a little bit nicer! Shower and a breakfast next to a flowing river…We prepared for a cycling trip into the countryside. We first headed northwards to Calux where we visited the old ruins of chateaux de Calux and enjoyed the vistas on top of the hill. We cycled on towards Sarlat passing by huge goose farms and a Marche Artisanale at St. Nathalene. After 14 km. we drove into Sarlats boundaries and at first sight we were a bit dissapointed. It was just not the same as our travelguide covered the story, but tucked away behind the main road, the old city was hiding itselves together with hundreds of tourists. The narrow cobbled streets were a joy to get lost in. We lunched a crepe and continued our way back to Rouffillac using backroads passing by rolling landscapes before jumping into the river Dordogne for a well deserved cooling down. Diner at campingrestaurant Le Bar having steak de tartare and a salade while watching Roland Garros final between Wawrinka and Djokovic. Suddenly it poured down from heaven for half an hour.
We got up at 8am and within 2 hours we were up and running for a day long chateaux viewing. The start was a bit dissapointing at chateau de Fenelon. A kilometer walk uphill (we parked the car too early) ended with a gate and 9 ero entrance fee. We wanted to see more castles this day so we decided to walk back and continue to the next Chateau de Montfort which was not open at all for visitors. Next stop…Jardins de Marqueyssac. Beautiful gardens atop of cliffs just next to the river La Dordogne with Le Belvedere as very nice viewing point overlooking the region. Final stop for the day before we would left this region was chateau de Castelnaud where we had a view inside. Explained was how the castle survived (or not) the past 500 years focusing on different kinds of machinery and defending. Because almost all the castles are build on top of a hill, also from the balconies of this castle prima vistas included!
We visited the grocerie store and headed for department Quercy and after an hour drive we stayed the night at a free camperplace along the river Lot at Saint Sylvestre-sur-Lot.