It turned out very simple, the lady in the tourist office nicely booked for me a taxi-van for a round trip to the village, I shared the van with a couple from UK, so the fare was only 20 Euros per person and I had almost 4 hours at La Roque-Gageac : from noon to 4:00 PM. Perfect!
I found this old stone house, deep inside a huge bamboo garden in Roque-Gageac.
La Roque-Gageac not far from Sarlat, only 8km, 15'-20' by car. Before I got out from the car, the taxi driver didn't forget to remind me "You should go uphill along the road behind the village, it's beautiful up there!" I followed his advise and it was truly spectacular view!
Located in a stunning position on the north bank of the Dordogne river, backed by a steep hill and cliffs, La Roque-Gageac is truly picturesque village. I couldn't describe my feelings when I saw it, still in the taxi : a kind of excitement, joy or surprise? I was greatly overwhelmed with the beauty of this scenery: a nice long street along the river and on another side - all the golden stone houses with typical red roofs. It was a peaceful sunny afternoon with a fresh breeze from the river. Beautiful!
The old golden houses line the river Dordogne and spread up the hill behind, some houses here quite modest but some - grandiose. One of these big houses was near to the road when I just entered into the village - Châteaux de La Malartrie, newly built in 19th century, in Renaissance style, a nice hotel to stay.
While I was wandering around the village uphill, I found this beautiful villa, located on the mid-hill. I was sitting in front of this gorgeous house, looked down to the Dordogne river to enjoy the amazing panorama.
to the river Dordogne downhill...
From the main road I found the staircase leading uphill, I started to discover the village, following this stairs. It was very quiet, very few tourists...and that made me feel better as I didn't like the crowd, especially while walking through the narrow alleys. As I went uphill, so it was surprisingly while passing by like veranda but on the 2nd floor.
I didn't measure this main door but probably no more than 2 my handspans!
Time for me to go down, it was getting hotter, I tried to find a place in the shade to sit down, to enjoy these fabulous cakes that I bought in Sarlat this morning. It was super delicious, I didn't expect at all. Not because I was hungry, but by chance I got these cakes from the patisserie that has been voted as the best in the world on TripAdvisor.
Not only bamboos, along the road I still saw familiar banana trees, flowers...that was probably thanks to the cliff behind the village protecting it from the Northern cold air, and with the open view to the South ensuring the village to catch a plenty of the sunshine...that explained why many tropical plants in this village.
Another way to explore La Roque-Gageac was from the river, I wish to have more time to take one-hour cruise down the river on the traditional flat-bottomed boat which used to transport the merchandise along the Dordogne long in the past. As tradition these boats once reached this area of the river would never return, as they all were dismantled to be sold as firewood.
Traditional boat - cargo barges of the old times, now carry only visitors in this area.
I went down to the main road around 3:30 PM, I didn't believe that I spent almost three hours wandering through all narrow alleys in the village. I didn't have time or more precisely "energy" to go up to the top. Some time was spent for taking these photos but most of it - I was amazed at the beauty of this village and the wonderful panorama while standing up there.
Time to say goodbye to my beautiful Sarlat, beautiful Roque-Gageac, I hope to come back here next year, if no change in my career plan, to visit this village again and some other neighbourhoods. But tomorrow I will be heading to Carcassonne - a real medieval castle! Will see you there!
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