New Happenings in Daglan.

A few years ago you could not buy any vegetarian products in France. Well slightly not true, you could buy the freshest vegetables you have ever tasted, picked that morning to sell at the market. However, tofu or soya etc was not to be found. Even restaurants gave me a sympathetic ‘poor thing’ response when I said that I was vegetarian. With one response saying that they would “take the meat out of the soup”!

In more recent times things have changed for the better. Now you can order vegetarian meals in most restaurants and you can buy vegetarian products right here at the 8 à Huit in Daglan. Tofu and BIO foods, absolutely brilliant.
 

Here you can see more of the range of products on offer. Do come and try out a few.
 

Chris and Virginie are always there to help.
 

They also sell a good range of wines too and are open from eight in the morning to eight at night during the summer season.
 

Daglan is in full bloom and more and more planting is taking place.
 

Gorgeous, well done.
 

Last but not least a wonderful new jewellery stall has appeared in the Daglan Sunday market.

Superb jewellery made from Capim Dourado ( Brazilian for golden grass). The plant which is transformed into such gorgeous jewellery is indigenous to the central region of Cerrado in Brazil and is only harvested from the end of September to the end of November.

Capim Dourado, with its sustainable and environmentally friendly growing and harvesting is the main source of income for the Xerente ethnic group of people that live in the area.

In order to import these golden jewels a partnership was developed directly with the local artisans. So that the entire collection’s origin is certified, all of the jewellery is handmade in Jalapao to the strict regulations of the area.

The only material used in the collection is the ‘golden grass’, with gold-plated mounts in order to keep the jeweller’s quality. Which is amazing and so light. I particularly like the ear rings and the bracelets.
 
 

Events:-

Free Rock Concert on the 21st June at La Roque-Gageac from 7pm in the village.

Fête de la Music begins 21st June in Sarlat.

Sports Day from 9am, hiking, football, archery, paintball and a bouncy castle on the 24th June at Vitrac.
 
 

Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink.

–Samuel Taylor Coleridge
 

We two have paddled in the stream, from morning sun till dine;
But seas between us broad have roared since days of long ago.

–Robert Burns.
 

Parking Reserved card holders and Residents was an odd sight on a sign in what is left of a camp site in Beynac yesterday.
 

The swelling of the Dordogne River was at its peak yesterday morning.
 

The trees on the left should be on dry land.
 

The terrace of this restaurant was under more than a metre of water.
 

D53 Route Barrie to Fayrac and Milandes and also the D703 to La Roque-Gageac.
 

Update on the water level at Castlenaud.
 

The statue stands in what is usually a very pleasant picnic area which is temporarily a tranquil lake.
 

It does not look too good at the moment with more rain due this afternoon and for the rest of the week. However, spring is just around the corner, we have new growth in our courtyard and flowers will be bursting through soon.
 
 

Event:- Burns Night- 25th January, where haggis is eaten and whiskey is drunk to honour a brilliant Scottish poet.
 
 

Stop! You need a canoe.

We traveled to Castelnaud-la-Chapelle this morning then on to Beynac before returning home through Vitrac Port and Cenac checking out the roads and fields. Our findings were that quite a number of fields are under water and a few roads are closed.

The D53 between St Cybranet through to Cenac is closed.

The D53 from Castelnaud la Chapelle to Les Milandes is closed.

The D703 leading from Vitrac Port to Montford is closed.

The picnic area by the banks of the Dordogne river at Castelnaud la Chapelle this morning. We have never seen the Dordogne water level so high covering all of the picnic area and the embankment.
 

Looking at Castlenaud from across the river. The treeline in the middle of the river is usually where the banks are.
 

This is where we like to picnic on the shore at Beynac. Today no land was to be seen it is completely water logged.
 

The boats above were on dry land last week.

 
 

Gabarres at La Rogue-Gageac

It is dismal grey and pouring with rain outside so I thought that a little sunshine was needed to brighten up the day. If anyone is planning to holiday in the Perigord this Spring, Summer or early Autumn. One of the places that you need to visit is La Rogue-Gageac. What better way is there on a warm and sunny day than to travel down the Dordogne River on one of the gabarres which are moored at La Rogue-Gageac. Gabarres are traditional flat bottom boats which were used to transport merchandise down the river.

Just close your eyes and picture yourself relaxing down stream with a cool breeze in your face on a sunny day with blue sky’s above. To add to your enjoyment you can either listen to a commentary in French or use one of the supplied headsets programmed for your language. We opted for the headphones this time. The commentary is told in the form of one of the men working the gabarres in the 18C which is informative while being entertaining at the same time.

Inland water transport expanded rapidly in the 18C and to meet this demand boats were built with flat bottoms because the water level was so low in the Summer months. Traffic was so dense along the Dordogne River that by 1860 there were 571 gabarres.

You get a good view of the shops and restaurants as you pass by.

Quite a few of the gabarres on this part of the river were only one way, going down stream with their cargo and then dismantled on arrival at their destination and cut up for firewood. Thank goodness a few also came back up stream with the help of oxen, man power or both by pulling the boats against the current by rope.

Château de la Malartrie dates back to the 12th Century. It was once a hospital for lepers, then in the 19th Century the Count of Saint-Aulaire, Ambassador of France in England had the Château transformed into the renaissance style that it is today.

Just lazing around on the river. Kayaks and canoes are also available so you can see the river at your own pace.

The largest gabarres were made of oak with strengthening rails along the sides. They had three or four masts and were about twenty metres in length, they could carry about thirty tons of merchandise: coffee, sugar, and citrus fruit were favourite.
 
 

Event:- Sarlat Truffle Festival and market on the 20th and 21st of this month. Not only truffles are sold you can buy truffle macaroons and other delicious cakes, cookies etc. Plus there will be cooking demonstrations by the top Chefs from the Perigord.
 
 

Summer comes to Daglan

Traffic has been steadily increasing for a few weeks but the real sign that summer is here is that the Supermarket next to our home is now open every day including Monday for the summer season, and “Wonder Woman”, our new name for Virginie due to the fact that she can lift the most heavy gas containers, is hard at work.

Virginie (Wonder Woman) looking good
 

People make time to stop and chat in the Sunday market.
 

This glorious display was for Mothers Day which fell on May 28th in France.
 

If you visit Daglan make a point of wondering the side streets where you will find some of the hidden gems. This picture was taken at the end of the lane at the side of our home.
 

A stunning array of roses in full bloom cascade down the side of this property.
 

Trying to hide from view. This is gorgeous Meemow, so named because she talks to you none stop.
 
 

Event:-

The Tour de France comes to the Perigord Noir on Tuesday, 11th July. Stage 10 begins at Perigueux, passes through Montignac, Sarlat, Vitrac, Domme, La Rogue-Gageac, Beynac, Saint Cyprien and on to Bargerac.

Check out the 178km route at http://www.cyclingnews.com/