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Strolling around the area |
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Take your time whilst visiting the region to stop and stare. Notice the shapes of the barns, the groups of isolated farm houses, and appreciate the perfect proportions of a manor house…
Built with local materials and know-how these buildings form part of our rich heritage. Often accompanying these are wells, fountains, washhouses, ovens and dovecots situated near the crosses and mills which dot the landscape. |
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The Tourist Office offers guided tours (using your own cars) in order to discover the rich local heritage.
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Fountains, Wells and the Springs of life
For centuries the fountains, washhouses, wells and springs were the “springs of life, now made redundant by mains water. They were meeting points, and work places. People exchanged the latest gossip and news while washing their clothes, and both men and animals came to drink.
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The Dropt, a historic river
The agricultural wealth of the valley is due to the Dropt’s alluvium deposits, and this is why the area has been inhabited since ancient times, and is what led to the establishment of the bastide. The area boasted 60 mills, all now disused. The boats and barges which carried cereals and Bergerac wine have also stopped.…
However, the Dropt is still used for fishing and irrigation. Several dams and reservoirs have been built to control the flow of the river. One of which, Lake Lescourroux, is the biggest lake in Aquitaine. Set in a peaceful environment, it is a wonderful nature reserve.
You can stroll along the banks of the river and savour the peaceful countryside, “bastides”, the old villages, the manor houses, castles, churches and the chapels… relive history!…
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The wells
They come in all shapes and sizes: round, square, or sometimes covered to help prevent evaporation and pollution (notably from animals).
As an essential element of life, they are always situated near to houses.
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Castles for pigeons!
The dovecots are the most beautiful buildings built for animals… As pigeon droppings were a rich source of fertilizer, the pigeons deserved chateaux! On columns, cylindrical, cubic, integrated into a wall of a farm or standing alone. Either made of stone or wood, the variations and sites are end less.
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Crosses
You can find them everywhere, from the humble to the magnificent. Not only in the village squares, parks and cemeteries but also at crossroads. Elaborate or simple, they are made of wood, stone, iron or cast iron.
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Windmills and Watermills
The silhouettes of windmills are familiar landmarks on our hills.
There have been mills on the river Dropt since ancient times. Their role: to supply the local population. They were built on the river and produced flour and walnut oil.
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Houses in the vineyards
These modest building used as temporary shelters or for storing tools are no longer used but still retain their original charm.
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The ovens
The ovens were either private or shared among several homes or the village. Not only were they used to bake bread and cakes, and to cook meat, but also to sterilize the washing and to dry fruit. The ashes and charcoal were also put to good use for various household tasks!
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The other heritage
Sometimes our heritage is easy to see but sometimes it goes unnoticed.
For instance, the war memorials, the houses at level-crossings, bridges and quays, public weigh-bridges, cranes in the vineyards, terracing and dry stone walls. Paying attention to them will help safeguard them.
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