Tower of Shadows (24 page)

provide you and your partner with a feast for the eyes!

THE ROMANTIC PAST

At the time of the
French Revolution
the old Perigord region was

renamed the Dordogne after its 290-mile-long river, and the whole

departement
covers an area of 3,500 square miles. The Dordogne

is divided into three areas, named by colour: Perigord Blanc,

Perigord Noir and Perigord Vert.

The Dordogne area is regarded as the prehistoric centre of Europe.

The famous
Lascaux
cave, discovered in 1940, contains some of

the most impressive wall paintings in the world, dating back over

20,000 years.

Cyrano de Bergerac,
the soldier and poet, whose doomed love for

Roxane has been immortalised on stage, and latterly screen, is

linked with the Dordogne, and his statue can be seen in the old

town of
Bergerac.

The region is steeped in legend and folklore. For example, as a

sign that she intends to be mistress of her home, a bride may still

follow the custom of bending the second joint of her finger as the

wedding-ring is slipped on to it, thus temporarily halting its

progress; at the annual fair held at
La Latiere,
unmarried girls

drop two pins into the water of
the
village fountain, looking for

them to form a cross as a sign that they will marry within the year;

and, owing to November's morbid associations, superstitious

couples in the Dordogne avoid marriage during that month!

Banished from the Round Table for love of Guinevere,
Sir

Lancelot
divided Perigord among his knights.

THE ROMANTIC PRESENT
- pastimes for lovers. . .

The Dordogne is an ideal area for lovers to explore. Since it boasts

over a thousand castles, a visit to one of the best known is a must.

Why not take a guided tour around the fairy-tale 16th century

Chateau Monbazillac
before descending to the wine museum in

the cellars and indulging in some wine-tasting?

Immerse yourselves in the romantic atmosphere of one of several

wonderfully preserved medieval towns in the region.
Monpazier,

Domme
and
St-Emilion
are well worth visiting; also not to be

missed is
Sarlat,
one of the Dordogne's prettiest towns, where you

can enjoy the tranquillity of the 17th century public garden and its

breathtaking view.

A true city for lovers is
Bergerac,
a charming place where the

medieval past blends with a thriving modern town. Take in the

sights and sounds of the bustling
markets,
held every Wednesday

and Saturday, which sell everything from clothes and jewellery to

delicious local produce, and then relax with a walk along the

characterful
lanes
of the northern quarter before enjoying a

romantic meal in one of Bergerac's many excellent restaurants.

The city is surrounded by the famous Monbazillac
vineyards,

producing rich, sweet wines well worth the tasting!

Choosing your meals in this part of France will be an enjoyable

dilemma! You can sample local specialities such as the famous

confits
of chicken, duck and goose, preserved in their own fat; also

renowned world-wide is the
pate de foie gras,
traditionally served

with Monbazillac wine. Alternatively try freshly caught
salmon,

trout
or
crayfish,
or deliriously prepared game, complemented by

a bottle of one of the Dordogne's well known wines —for

example, a Bergerac, Cahors or Pacharment.

DID YOU KNOW THAT . . .?

* the Dordogne is famous for its
truffles,
often still hunted for in

the traditional way by trained pigs.

*
walnuts
are one of the region's major exports.

* inhabitants of this part of France are always referred to as

Perigordin as opposed to Dordognais.

* the French currency is the franc.

* If you want to say 'I love you' in French, say
'Je t'adore'
or '
je

t'aime'.