Travelling with MM: May 2022

31 May 2022

Beautiful Villages of the Garonne France

Day 22 Travelled: 227km from Bergon to Auvillar, La Romieu, Fources and Montréal France

Stay: Dax (Saint Paul les Dax area) free motorhome parking area in forest environment 43.7350, -1.0784

After a peaceful time on the canal, we continued our journey towards Dax and our appointment for new tyres. We managed to stop at 4 villages along the way all classified as “ the most beautiful villages of France” and all part of Saint James Way (to Santiago de Compostela). Along the way to our first stop in Auvillar (only 15mins away), we got a closer look at the nuclear power plant.

At the entrance to the village was an imposing 17th C clock tower.

The main square was a delight with its unusual circular corn exchange covered hall.

These barrels were used to measure the grain.

There were some pretty arcades and half timbered buildings.

The panoramic views over the Garoone Valley was impressive.

We also ventured in the church that the pilgrims would visit as part of their walk.

We took the roads less travelled to La Romieu, which has a 14th C collegiate church and is a UNESCO site.

We ventured through the open doors into the cloister and then into the church. We think we may have been lucky as as we left it appeared that a funeral was about to start..

The cat sculptures around town are from the legend Angelic who honoured cats as saveurs of villagers due to them chasing rats away.

We drove through Condom, the capital of Armagnac, a brandy style drink, similar to cognac but distilled in cylinder shaped vats rather than round and made from different grapes too.

Fources was a old fortified castle village in an unusual circular shape. We walked over the medieval bridge to the picturesque treed square surrounded by arcaded buildings.

A short distance away was Montreal which has the largest vineyards of Armagnac.

We continued on stopping in the outskirts of Mont de Marsan to do some shopping. Mark was very happy to find some German beer. Then we did our washing €16 at Dax and filled up with petrol €1.84 before heading to the aire for tonight. We were lucky to get the last spot.

Oh and Bluey hit a milestone…100,000km who’s that!

30 May 2022

Bastide Villages in Perigord and The Lot France

Day 21 Travelled: 91km to Villereal, Monflanquin, Villeneuve sur Lot, Pujols France

Stay: Lac Bleu de Bergon - wild camping between the lake and the Canal du Midi (44.1253, 0.8415)

Villereal had a superb arcaded square with some half timbered buildings.

The 14th C covered market hall in its centre was made from oak pillars that had been soaked for 30 years in the nearby river. We presume this had done for most significant medieval buildings.

Monflanquin was another bastide town and has the ‘Most Beautiful Village in France” classification. It is set on a hilltop which we had to walk up from our camping-car designated parking.

It had a pretty arcaded square with trees in the centre.

Our next stop was in a larger town of Villeneuve sur Lot which originally also had a walled bastide historic centre.

Unfortunately due to commercial decline it lacked atmosphere. Although we were wowed by St.Cathrine church. The amazing brick and stone structure was built in Byzantine and Romanesque style.

The Pont Vieux created a picturesque scene with some buildings protruding over the Lot River.

Not far away the charming small fortified bastide village, Pujols, was another “most beautiful village of France”. We admired the flowers on the buildings.

The centre square had a lovely covered market hall and an impressive church.

Through the archway we enjoyed the panoramic view of the Lot Valley.

One of the routes of Santiago de Compestela can be started from here…it’s only 1140km away!

Although we still have a bit of driving to do to get to Dax, we where lured to spend some time along the Canal du Midi and call it a day…along the way we passed some lovely fertile countryside.