When we discover a region, we like to alternate nature hikes and knowledge of the local heritage. It is therefore faithful to this custom that we took the car to visit these three villages in the Dordogne: Monpazier, Biron and Issigeac. We invite you to take you there virtually in this article.
When you pass through villages in this region, it is common to see a sign indicating “bastide”. This denomination evokes a type of fortified town construction with a regular plan in the Middle Ages. In Dordogne, they are generally centered on a square square and with a checkerboard-shaped layout. Why so much detail on what a bastide is? Well quite simply because Monpazier is one of the most perfect illustration of this. A must see, therefore, even if the city looks more like an open-air museum than a real village full of life.
Our second stop is not really a village, because we did not stop in the town, but a castle. More precisely, the castle of Biron. The latter was built in the 9th century and is especially famous for having belonged to one of the four Baronnies of Périgord. If the interior of the castle is rather empty, the view from the top of its towers allows you to admire the region. It is therefore with going that we move towards the entrance.
Unfortunately, the difficult sanitary period did not allow us to visit it (sanitary pass obliges). A little disappointed, we try to do the tour. However, the path stops quickly and our adventure almost ended there. However, we met a person in the process of setting up an artist’s residence at the foot of the castle which allowed us to hear a good number of anecdotes. In short, a disappointment that turned into a beautiful encounter!
Unlike other bastides in the region whose plans are based on orthogonal lines around a square square, the village is round. Indeed, the square is round and the streets turn in this clearly circular town. It is therefore particularly pleasant to walk there to admire the old stone buildings. Moreover, visiting the village of Issigeac is a great classic of the region.
We hope that the sight of these three villages in the Dordogne makes you want to visit the region. And if you want to discover other places in France or elsewhere, it’s here:
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