Down on Le Lot

We went off to visit some australian friends who are currently living beside the Lot river in southwest France, not too far from us.  The Lot starts in the Lozére region in the  Parc National des Cevennes north of Montpelier and winds it’s way slowly west across southern France until it joins the Garonne between Agen and Marmande - 480 kms away.  

the house is a converted barn

all the usual - potted geraniums, blue shutters and bicycles

At Castelmoron-sur-Lot, where we stayed, it is wide and calm and deep enough for boats to putter about. There are heavy mists on these french rivers, but after they lift the skies are a wonderful shade of blue for the rest of the shorter days.

mist rising as the morning wears on
- and it was just a bit chilly on the boat

"our" jetty

the local chateau

the village of Fongrave, 

the Club Nautique opposite - lots of rowing and sailing and fishing from here

Across the river is the little village of Le Temple-sur-Lot, so named as it was a Templar settlement. The Commanderie was built at the end of the twelfth century and includes multiple towers and a chapel. It was burned down during the Hundred Year’s War and later rebuilt. Part of it is now a restaurant , naturally.

La Commanderie de Brulhes - in summer,
the area in front is a series of fountains

"guard" dog - too friendly

one of the towers - love the local building style of red bricks 

watching over everything

beautiful ironwork

red bricks and autumn coloured leaves

how to scare off those pesky unwanted visitors

We visited the hilltop medieval village of Puy L’Évéque for lunch. We had planned to eat at the local hotel where the dining room overlooks the valley and river Lot below. The views are magnificent, but the restaurant was closed for the winter so we resorted to eating at the bistro. Good food and friendly service, just no view. We decided that we must all return in spring.

We spent the late afternoon playing petanque in the garden - with varied results.

champion throw !

those balls are heavy

serious discussion is compulsory

the day always finishes with a great dinner, good local wines
and the world being put to rights in front of a roaring fire

This is a beautiful part of the country ( where isn’t ?) and well worth making the effort to visit.

sunset over the river

à bientôt