It’s great to think that the world has reopened to travel once again and in the last few weeks we’ve caught up with 3 lots of Aussie visitors, two from England plus our regular from the Channel Islands – “Big Brother” Dave.

Summer has also arrived after some chilly Spring weather, the sun is shining, the pool is open and every weekend there’s something going on somewhere close, although the official summer season here in France doesn’t begin until July.

Just a few photos below of various travels, it’s funny how it often takes an overseas visitor to trigger an outing to that place ‘we must visit sometime’ 😂 For example the Unesco World Heritage site the Lascaux Caves. It only took a couple of Aussie archaeologists to tempt us down to the Périgord to view the stunning project that is Lascaux IV, thanks Jane and Ginni!
Although this is a recreation it is incredible and considered to be the most sophisticated facsimile in the world opening in 2016  a titanic project requiring a budget of 6.5 million euros and 4 years continual work. Well  worth a visit!
The original caves were closed to the public in 1963 because of the damage caused to the paintings by the breath and moisture in the air, due to the one million plus visitors who flocked to the caves after their discovery in 1940.

We also looked in on the beautiful medieval villages of Beynac and La Roque-Gageac where castles cling to the rock face as the Dordogne river meanders through the valley.

La Rocque-Gageac

We did a bit of walking but nothing like the some 1200kms little brother Rob has just completed!! His travels and useful advice on walking the pilgrims trail through Spain can be found on his YouTube channel robscamino.

It was brilliant to have both brothers here in France, one from Sydney and one from Jersey and to all be together again for a week, can’t think how long ago that would have happened! Photo below on our short little stroll into the local boulangerie.

Back in April we celebrated 3 ‘special ‘ birthdays which all pop up this year, when Chris sister plus nephew, niece and partners came over for a long weekend – 3 from UK and 2 from QLD.

Although a short stay we did manage a trip to nearby La Rochefoucauld to visit the castle which had the first foundations built in 980! In the same family since that early fortification the most recent addition to the chateau was in the 18th century, when the western wing was rebuilt after a fire. The circular staircase (wide enough to ride a horse up it) is attributed to Leonardo da Vinci as are the galleries built in a Renaissance style according to Leonardo da Vinci drawings given to Anne de La Rochefoucauld by the King of France in 1520. An incredible and wonderful building.

Certainly recommend a visit if you’re anywhere near the Charente, unfortunately my few photos don’t do it justice.

We also found time to indulge in some French treats with a visit to the artisan chocolate maker at the foot of the chateau and the following day afternoon tea at Gateaux in Tusson our neighbouring medieval village.

Gorgeous gateaux in the sunshine

Finally a new addition to the family has been installed guarding ‘Pigsty Studio’ 😊