Rochechouart France

Day 39 Friday 12 June 2026

After having a look at a few villages this morning we decided to slow the pace down and so we found a shady spot along the Vienne River for the afternoon.

This morning we consulted the maps and chose a route that we have not taken before towards Brittany.

Our first stop was in Chalus. It is known for being the place where the English King Richard the Lionheart was mortally wounded in 1199.

After buying our croissants breakfast we went for a walk around.

After a brief stop in Oradour sur Vayres.

We then continued on to Rochechouart. The town buildings are made from the stone created by a huge meteorite, that struck the earth over 200 million years.

The Church of the Savior is a beautiful Romanesque church built in the eleventh century and modified in the thirteenth century, is characterized by its octagonal bell tower of the fourteenth century, topped by a rare spiral arrow dating from the eighteenth century.

The majestic Castle is located on a rocky outcrop overlooking the confluence of the Vayres and Graine rivers. It has likewise undergone many renovations through the ages and now showcases modern art.

Feeling like we needed a bit of down time, we did some research and decided on a shady spot on the Vienne River. There was a pleasant walk over the bridge that took us around the island that had some interpretive signs along the way.

85km today

Prehistoric Perigord France

Day 38 Thursday 11 June 2026

Today we visited one of the many sites that show examples of how the limestone caves in the area have been used since prehistoric man.

Then it turned out to be a ‘driving’ day as we travelled through some villages and farmland stopping in the pretty village of St.Jean de Cole.

Having previously seen one of the many troglodyte sites we decided on having a look at the Roc de Cazelle. Arriving just after opening time at 10am we pay €10pp and with our map and english translated pamphlet go and explore. The visit takes you from prehistory to the Middle Ages, when the site was excavated and then converted into a fortified castle. We followed the path that took us up into the steep cliffs, that had been entirely excavated into caves, refuges, underground passages and habitats in which countless tools and weapons carved by prehistoric man have been collected. There were over 100 perfectly-recreated characters and animals, including life-size mammoths and woolly rhinoceroses.

The visit ended at the monolithic house of the last inhabitants of Cazelle, which was carved entirely out of the rock (troglodytic dwelling) and was still occupied in the 1960s. The traditional dwelling has been reconstructed, in keeping with local Périgord customs and history.The route was easy, fun and effortless, organized in chronological order to take us  on a journey through time.

A prehistoric couple..

When you stop to buy a baguette, you can stop anywhere 

We then pointed Bluey in the direction of St.Jean de Cole, a classified pretty village of France. It was once a bustling town ideally located on the road between Thiviers and Nontron. It is characterized by a charming set of medieval village houses , which converge on a central square, flanked by a 12th century castle and just opposite, a church and its priory . The village was attacked by the English in 1394, then taken over by the French in 1404. It was the Pope who then ordered the reconstruction of the church around 1436. Unfortunately it suffered further destruction during WWII.

 

We continued to the medieval bridge, in Romanesque style built during the 15th century. Next to it is a lovely mill.

113km today