Some of the buildings in the Dordogne are old, and look it.

I don't mean the famous chateaux,
or abbeys, but the smaller buildings where the non-rich people live. These two shots were taken on our visit to Lou Peyrol, and the big church with the roof garden (!) is right opposite the restaurant. The stone of the private buildings is soft and crumbly, so maybe it makes the buildings look older than they actually are, but then the alterations, visible in the structures, suggest otherwise. The church is either much more modern, or built of a different stone. I suspect it is a more recent structure.

We have discovered something called a Plan des circuits pedestres & VTT in our local mairie. The gentleman behind the counter and I conducted a most pleasant conversation in which I spoke English and he spoke French - and we understood each other perfectly. Anyway, it has taken us about three years to discover that the green VTT sign we see about the countryside translates as velo tout-terrain - or mountain bike trails, which we are not about to try.

But now we know about the pedestres or petite randonnee, loosely translated as a short hikes. So we tried one the other day, with map in hand and much arguing between us about when we should turn left or right. Dh does not wish to be caught out by an irate French farmer, but I thought if we took a wrong turn the worst we would face would be an irate French chien barking excessively. And since some of the French chiens are large Alsations, often in pairs, or farmyard mastiff types, that wasn't exactly as comforting as it might sound.

Anyway, we completed our walk, with about as much much good-natured argument as you might expect between husband and wife, and navigated our way exactly as le petite randonnee map suggested. Fields by the monastery, well-tended orchards, a short time in the cool green forests, winding trails, we experienced them all, and on the way passed this very good looking farm house. All in all, a satisfying day.

(PS no barking chien, I'm glad to report)