Sarlat Christmas Market.

Trees, Santa’s Grotto, decorations of every kind, chocolates, candy canes, gifts for the family and friends, plus an ice rink… Ah, the joyous sights and sounds of the holiday season! Christmas comes alive with a wonderful array of festive delights.

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Below the market, among the trees lies Santa’s Grotto, a magical place where children’s dreams come true. With its glistening snow-covered roof, Santa’s Grotto welcomes all who want to whisper their wishes into Santa’s ear. The excitement is palpable as children eagerly await their turn to meet the jolly old man himself, and perhaps even receive a small token of his generosity..

Each year Sarlat chooses a country to represent in the Christmas Market, this year it is Norway. As you navigate through the bustling themed market stalls, you cannot help but be drawn to the dazzling array of decorations. From handmade ornaments crafted with love and precision to whimsical figurines which add a touch of sparkle to any Christmas display, there is something for every taste and style.

Whether you prefer a traditional look or a more contemporary flair, these decorations offer endless possibilities for transforming your home into a festive haven.

Of course, no Christmas market would be complete without the tempting aroma of sweet treats wafting through the air. Chocolates of every variety, from rich and velvety truffles to crunchy caramel-filled delights. Hot chocolate with cream or marshmallows or both, mulled wine and fresh pastries entice you to indulge in the irresistible flavors of the season.

Amidst all the festive delights, you’ll also find an abundance of gifts for your loved ones. From unique and artisan treasures to timeless classics, the market is a treasure trove of ideas to surprise and delight those dear to you. Whether you’re hunting for the perfect present for a family member, a cherished friend, or a special someone, the market offers a wide range of options that are sure to bring joy and smiles to their faces.

As you make your way through the festive wonderland, you stumble upon an ice rink, gleaming with the promise of laughter and joy. Couples gracefully glide hand in hand, children spin and twirl with glee. The air is filled with the sounds of blades scraping against the ice, laughter echoing through the crisp winter air, and the melodies of familiar Christmas tunes.

Indeed, this Christmas market is a place where memories are made, where traditions are celebrated, and where the spirit of the season truly comes alive. So, immerse yourself in the enchantment, savor the sights, indulge in the treats, find the perfect gifts, and embrace the joy that Christmas brings.

A Very Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year.

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Event:- One of the special treats in the village of Daglan is the truffle market, which is held in the school grounds (behind the Mairie) and is open from 11 o’clock on Sunday morning.

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Château Montdoyen.

If you are looking for a wine tour which guides you through magnificent vistas of the Perigord Purple. A vineyard which stretchers as far has the eye can see, with an informative and excellent guide to the various wine process, culminating with a very pleasant tasting of the wines. This is the vineyard to go to.

Château Montdoyen was recommended by a friend of ours, Graham from Planches and Plonk, and Plonk and Plus in Belves and after tasting a bottle or two of the wines produced at the Château Montdoyen that Graham had recommended we just had to book a visit and go and see for ourselves.

Château Montdoyen is situated South West of Monbazillac in the heart of the Perigord Purple.

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The domane covers eighty three hectares, forty or which have vines being cultivated.

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Grape varieties are red grape Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. The white grape varieties are Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, Muscadelle and Semillon.

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Grapes are harvested by hand, then maceration for about twenty four hours, pressed, rotated, strained and fermentation before the wine is aged on lees. The lees are regularly stirred and after months of attention they are ready for the next process of ageing.

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Imagine that you are taken to a dark room then the lights are switched on, oh my wow, this was the sight before us. All oak barrels labelled with the wine and date so they people know when it is ready to bottle. The very large barrel is quite special due to the fact that the grapes go straight into the barrel by a funnel at the top. When the oak barrels get too old they are sent to be used in the process of making Cognac.

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A mobile bottling plant is hired every year from a team that goes from vineyard to vineyard.

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Bottled and ready for labeling. By this time we where ready for the tasting of the various wines so onward to the tasting room.

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Here is a list and prices of the various wines they make at Château Montdoyen.

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The wine tasting room.

Check out their web site:-

Château Montdoyen.

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Belves Revisited.

Every Saturday in Belves is market day where you can buy fresh produce, clothes and craft wares. Belves is one of our favourite medieval towns to visit, on this particular day we headed first to the tourist office and secondly to the wine and beer store which is run by our two friends Graham and Damon.

13^th Century Belves on Market Day.

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At the Tourist Office.we were looking for information about the Medieval Festival which reopened once more last year after an absence because of Covid. It was a brilliant fun day last year, you are transported back in time to the Medieval Period to enjoy the costumes, musicians, dance and more, follow the parade through the streets of Belves and drink in the atmosphere. That is not all, there is also a Medieval Market where local and ancient crafts can be seen and bought.

This year the Medieval Festival will take place on Sunday 7^th August. Watch this pace for further information, but we can highly recommend a visit.

Our second call of the day was to Plonk and Plus which is owned by two friends of ours Graham and Damon who know everything that you will ever need to know about the wines and beers from the local area, it is always well worth a visit.

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And here we see a little Hobbit (me) standing along side Graham, who gave us a glimpse into his extensive knowledge of wines.

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On the left a Rosé and on the right is a dry White Wine We have not tasted these before but both are highly recommended so I shall let you know in a future blog.

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Graham and Damon also own Planches and Plonk which is a cheese and wine bar that can be found at 34 Rue Jacques Manchotte. All produce is made by local, independent producers. Again well worth a visit to enjoy a glass or two of excellent wine and a selection of their gorgeous cheeses. Or you can stay longer in their bed and breakfast accommodation where you can explore more of Belves and the Perigord region.

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Terre Sauvage.

This is the recently opened Terre Sauvage shop which is also situated on the main shopping street in Belves.

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It is where a local artist displays his work. I particularly like the skill which is evident in the animal and bird creations on display, made from recycled metal and you can buy at a reasonable price.

The artist has captured the birds brilliantly in these two works of art.

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Vintage Daglan.

We love France and of course our home in the village of Daglan. Steeped in history, nothing really major has changed in the village since our home was built. Due in part to the National System of Heritage Protection which means that any restoration work to the structure of an ancient property needs to pass through a variety of systems before approval.

To Paul and I this was not a problem we did not want to change anything but rather preserve the property in keeping with the period in which it was built, the 1820’s.

I love finding information from books and various people about the history of Daglan village and of course our home, here is a brief history of what I have discovered.

A postcard of Daglan in the early 1900’s.

The name Daglan has its origins in the Celtic for “Good Valley”. In the early 1300s the village became the seat of an Archpriest and continued until the Revolution. The church of Saint Martin dates from the 14th century although the apse and the choir date from the Romanesque period.

In the 18th and 19th centuries the economy of Daglan was based on wine production and thanks to the several local water mills along the river Ceou the village grew in prosperity. During that period there was an increase in properties being built in the village and surrounding hamlets.

An epidemic of phylloxera in the late nineteenth century caused a great exodus leaving the valley all but deserted.

In the last 100 years Daglan has again become a bustling and beautiful village.

In living memory our home has been a tax office for quite a long time, then it was the home of the Maire, followed by a family home which was inherited by the previous owner.

Across from our home are three properties which where originally one large property and a large stable with land. The stable was then turned into a fourth property at a later stage.

Two of the properties are truly fascinating with concealed connecting doors. These connecting doors were put to good use during the Second World War when resistance fighters would hide in one house and make their escape through the other.

Hopefully in the future we will find more information about the history and the former inhabitants of Daglan which we will document.

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Event– Daglan Truffle market open every Sunday from 11 o’clock.

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Plonk and Plus.

Planches et Plonk, the fabulous cheese and wine bar in Belves have recently opened Plonk & Plus, a wine cellar in Belves central square. Selling great value delicious wines from local vineyards and artisan beer. Perfect for your barbecue, lunch or dinner parties or a glass or two while relaxing in the gorgeous sunshine. Or why not a bottle or two for that perfect present.

Looking good in his Medieval outfit in the new wine cellar.

A large selection of quality wines to choose from

Whatever your choice you will know that the bottle will have been selected by the two experienced owners, Graham and Damon,.who have a very good knowledge of wines and are always ready to advise and help you with your choice.

An artistic display of local artisan beers.

We had to stop and have a glass of wine in Planches et Plonk. Love the Medieval outfits.

Remember this is the fabulous cheese and wine bar in the centre of Belves offering a high quality of food and service. Also, they offer bed and breakfast accommodation and gourmet breaks.

Lastly, two more pictures from the Medieval Day in Belves.

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Stories told on stilts

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