Chateau de Puymartin, La Roque-Gageac, Auberge de Platanes..., the Abby Church in St. Cyprien, St. Leon sur Vezere, l'Eglise St. Jacques

Gentle Friends another full post today with a lots to see.....lets start off with.... Chateau de Puymartin 

- the Chateau was built in the 13th century.  It was taken by the English in 1357.  The Consuls of Sarlat bought the domain back from the English, and then abandon the chateau.  It was bought in 1450 by Radulphe de Saint-Clar and he enlarged it significantly.  During the 16th century, Raymond de Saint-Clar defeated the Protestants during the French Wars of Religion. He used the name Capitaine de Puymartin - and he expelled the Huguenots from Sarlat.  During the 18th century, Jean de Saint-Clar fought over the ownership of the Chateau with his sister Suzanne for possession.  Suzanne won and kept Puymartin.  It was abandoned again during the French revolution in the 1790's.  In the 19th century, the Marquis of Carbonnier de Marzac restored it to its former glory and added lots of the noe-gothic touches.  The descendants of the Marquis still own the Chateau and live in it opening up many of the state rooms to the public.

... the garden side of the Chateau....

...in the chapel was this lovely 15th century Pieta...

.... a tower from the original 13th construction, it holds the circular staircase.....

.....  the main door into the big salon....

.... a close up of St Louis, holding the crown of thorns... you can only see the Chateau with a docent led tour - in French - and photo's are not allowed.....  however I didn't get that message.....

.... the main staircase.....

.....  looking into the great Salon...

.... after I snapped this picture the docent heard my camera and told me no photo's - I guess that since I was at the back of the crowd I missed hearing him tell us no photos....  I took this because of the garniture of Chinese porcelain with ormolu mounts on the serpentine chest - just gorgeous!!!  So after the tour we went on to - La Roque-Gageac, a Town perched above the Dordogne river, another of the villages part of the "Les Plus Beaux Villages de france." - and so worth the accolade....

...the church of the village...

.....  the Great War memorial Plaque....

.... facing the door across the courtyard from the front of the church...

.....  looking over the edge of the wall into the village towards the river, the church is behind me...  we went to have lunch in town at....Auberge des Platanes....

.....  it was wonderful outside eating under the trees....

... I had the Salade Perigourdine - salad vert, noix, magret sache, tomate, gesiers d'oie, foie grs mi-cuit..... salad greens, walnuts, slices of duck breast, tomato wedges, slices of duck gizzards and some foie gras - it was a totally loaded salad...

.... the outside of the Auberge were we had lunch....  from lunch we went on to....  the Abby church of Saint Cyprien...... we parked behind the church under the 12th century bell tower....

.....  it is another fortified massively built church....  

....  the front of the church..

...  the Great War memorial plaque...  

....  I love the juxtaposition of art, Icons, statues lots of flowers and plants on alters....

....  the square in front of the church with more picturesque houses....  from here it was on to  Saint Leon sur Vezere....  you park sort of outside of the city/village and walk into town.... we passed a small park on the river (Vezere)  and there was this War memorial covering both World Wars....

.... this village was once a thriving port on the Vezere, but once the river silted up it became a charming back water, which often happens and saves the historic buildings.....  of course there was a church, l'Eglise Saint Jacques, and it's a super one at that.....  it is one of the oldest churches in Perigord and dates from the 12th century when it was built on existing gallo-roman foundations of an earlier building.  Traces of these can be seen on the river side of the building.  It was built in the shape of a cross and has a wonderful two story bell tower.  The roof is covered with "lauze", the flat stones roof so common in the area - that I've mentioned in an earlier post.  Inside the church remain some very early frescoes.....

..... this great doggy was sitting with a lady reading and was super sweet.....  I do love a good pooch snap!!

.... the spots are dust my camera was picking up floating in the air....

.....  some lovely honeysuckle tumbling over an old stone wall....

....  since this was once a very wealthy town/port, there are some super chateaux within the town intself that are privately owned...  This "Manoir" has a beautiful square tower built in the 14th century.  The Manor house itself was built in 15th century.  It once belonged to the Martens family who participated in the defense of Sarlat against the Huguenots.  It passed from the Marten family to the Cheylard family by marriage in 1630 and was restored by them in 1969. I took this picture through a locked gate, the whole garden and house is surrounded by a high stone wall - and is very private and off limits!!

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I think that will wrap up today.  Thanks again for stopping by do stop again!!

Take care,

edgar