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Explore France Holiday Guides Lot-et-Garonne Along the Dropt
| Along the Dropt |
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| Wednesday, 28 February 2007 | |
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Hugging the borders of the Dordogne département the valley of the river Dropt takes in a string of bastide towns of the old Guyenne. The Pays de Dropt has many features of the old Périgord: fine manors and little châteaux as well as humbler farmhouses, often with steep-pitched Périgord roofs covered in flat tiles, prolonged with a Romantiled terrace and, often, ancient wattle and daub walls. A little tour might take you to Miramont-de-Guyenne, a 13th-century English-built bastide set on a plain, where a fabulous three-day street theatre festival takes over in summer. Lauzun is small, yes, but boasts many attractive features: the fine 16th-century castle (open July and August) has quite a history. Originally built in the 6th century by the Romans, it became a fortified castle in the 12th century. Henry IV was one of several kings who stayed here; and the Gothic church is richly furnished. Castillonnès is a charming little market town, with attractive shop fronts and cafés. A French-built bastide, Villeréal’s church was nevertheless built by the English and is a favourite haunt of British visitors and residents – perhaps drawn by the picturesque ancient covered market. Duras has, among other attractions, one of the two finest castles in the département (the other being Bonaguil near Fumel). The castle and its village go back at least to the late 12th century, and there is evidence of human activity here since Roman times. The village is laid out to a grid plan in bastide fashion, although it is not actually one. On one side of the main road lies the castle. From the tower there is a bird’s eye view of the village and surrounding countryside. The château served as a fortress during the so-called Hundred Years’ War which, in fact lasted much longer. It was then transformed in the peaceful periods of the late 16th century into a stately home. The castle was owned by the Durfort family from 1306 to 1819, probably some kind of record. They held the titles, successively, of baron, viscount, then marquis until 1689, when Louis XIV made the then marquis Duke of Duras . Since then ‘le château des Ducs de Duras’ has been its name. Like other hilltop strongholds of the region, such as Pujols and Penne-d’Agenais, the village was probably built in its present form about the end of the 12th century after the castle and was protected by defensive walls and ditches. One of its medieval gates has survived, now known as the clock tower (tour de l’horloge) for obvious reasons. There is also a stained-glass workshop, an art gallery, a museum specialising in the production techniques of medieval manuscripts (Musée du Parchemin) and, just outside the village, a historical exhibition featuring miniature models and figures. Heritage treasures in the area Allemans-du-Dropt: 15th-century church with frescoes. Auriac-sur-Dropt: 11th-century Romanesque church. Esclottes: XIc Romanesque church. Lévignac-de-Guyenne: 13th-century Romanesque chapel and remains of medieval walls. Loubès-Bernac: Bernac church (11thcentury with 15th-century additions) has the arms of Richard the Lionheart at its entrance. Savignac-de-Duras: 12th-century Romanesque church with inscriptions of Celtic origin. La Sauvetat-du-Dropt: 12th-century church restored in the 15th century, medieval bridge, remains of fortifications and of Templar buildings. Villeneuve-de-Duras: windmill in the vines. |
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