Out walking to Chateaux de Bannes

Over the last few weeks we have been out and about exploring our area, not only in the car, but also walking. Only a few kilometres north of our village is the Chateaux de Bannes. There are a lot of walking tracks near it, so after parking the car, we began following a path through the woodlands. Not another person in sight. We did see plenty of birds and a cat sleeping on a little jetty overlooking a fishing hole. We thought he was ever hopeful! Were they going to jump into his mouth..

The fences and gates here were all hand made, no nails in sight everything just slotted together.

After about 2 kilometres we saw the chateaux on the horizon.

There it was high up on a rocky hill.

We walked to the top where we met a fellow walker who said to go past the small church and graveyard and we would get a better view.

We did stop to have a look inside the church which had the family initials on the gate. It was used by the tiny village which had once surrounded the castle. It is believed that the castle was there in the C14th but now it is privately owned since the 1980’s. There were many Bannes family names on the graves.

As we made our way around the church the castle became more visible and it was a sight that could have come from a fairytale.

We could see the stables to the left and what looked like a huge house at the foot of the castle. It is definitely a working farm/ business. All the same, it was pretty breathtaking from where we were standing.

It is surrounded by an amazing garden with so many roses. Roses here grow in such abundance and they appear to survive the very hot summers . As we walked on there were wheat fields and rows and rows of walnut (?) trees. I just love the colour of this field, almost golden.

We walked a big loop and eventually found our way back to the car. Such an amazing morning!

Time is passing quickly.

We have bought a little Renault Clio after travelling many kilometres to look at some terrible ones. One memorable quote, “ Oh you would like to try it out, I’ll just have to put some fuel in it!” 

Now Rene, yes we named it, is flying around the countryside visiting Vide de Greniers, large, often open air village wide markets and recycle stores. We have collected up some furniture and of course the odd folly. 

We now have a functioning lounge which we just love and a dining table so more than two chairs!

One day we came across “Ali Babas” in tiny village. It is a house and a series of other surrounding buildings absolutely stuffed full of brocante. The elderly couple who run it live upstairs and according to an English woman in her 30s who we met there, has been going strong for years. She could remember her first visit with her parents when she was 7. It was so full of stuff it took your breath away.

At the same time, we are really enjoying stopping, exploring  and of course sampling pastries. We spent some time in Cadouin last week. It’s such a  pretty village full of amazing gardens and an Abbey. 

You just turn a corner and there is another hill top village with a castle or chateau seemingly hanging onto the edge. 

Following the narrow roads, you can often spot the next village by a church spire poking out of the green. Couze and St Evit Senier are two favourites.

The weather has been amazing with two days last week in the early 30’s. The house has thick walls and with the tiled floors downstairs it stays very cool. We just have to remember on those days not to fling open the windows.

We have just bought a tent, and are off to do some camping around Rocamadour this coming week. Ian is in his happy place and it’s not school holidays so it shouldn’t be busy. 

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