Château de l'Herm
The hotel is a manor house along the banks of a little river with a very welcome open fire. Pictures tomorrow.
From Jim’s journal:
After breakfast at our hotel in Brantome, we board the vans for Perigeaux on the Isle River (Le Perigord Blanc). Most of the postage stamps of Europe are made in this lovely town. We park our vans and head for the old section of town. On the way we stop at the ruins of the Vesunna Temple, a 2nd Century circular structure where Celtic priests once worshiped the goddess “Tutela Vessuna.” We proceed on to the center of the ancient city and St. Front Cathedral—a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This church was an important stop on the St. James of Compostella Pilgrim’s Way, following the Vezelay Route. The church was built in the shape of the Greek Cross with five distinct cupolas and a 12th Century bell tower. Following our visit, we have a couple of hours for shopping through the ancient and narrow streets of the old city. The Wilson’s pause briefly at St. Louis Square. The gals then begin a search for something heart-shaped as a gift for Lani. The guys find a coffee shop for some cappuccino and some rest (gift for Buzz? Are you kidding!). up Two local “birds” drive by and honk, building the ego of the guys. The heart purchase having been made, we drive to the start point of our late morning hike—near le thot. First stop is the Chateau de L’Hern, the “jinxed castle,” only a shell of which remains. Among other things, the castle’s owner was poisoned by his wife, a woman he should have known had the potential to do him in. We picnic along the trail. After lunch we hike on to Montignac on the Vezere River. Then we take the van to our next hotel—the Manoir de Hautegente near Coly, a charming manor house hotel with the Roethe and Schmicker rooms in a converted stable adjacent to the main house. This hotel was formerly a 13th century forge, later converted to a manor house and hotel, burned down in the 1950,s and rebuilt to its original grandeur. Total hiking this day – 6 miles. We are warned that on the morrow we will have our longest hiking day (10 miles) for those up to the challenge.
