Читать книгу Walking in the Dordogne. 35 walking routes in the Dordogne - Sarlat, Bergerac, Lalinde and Souillac онлайн

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When you reach the dam, it is possible to continue along the banks of the Dordogne as far as Cale de Prigonrieux, another 5.5km, making the return trip 19km. There are buses back into Bergerac from Prigonrieux, but ask at the tourist office or check the bus timetable (www.la-cab.fr) first as they are infrequent.

At the Cale de l’Alba, which is just before the end of the riverside path, you can still see the small slipway going down into the river, opposite the old building once used for loading merchandise.

The small port of Cale de l’Alba, from the 12th to the end of the 19th century, was the terminus for most of the wood coming from the hinterland. This was unloaded into warehouses, and the gabarres (large flat-bottomed boats) continued with some of the wood to the Vieux Port, to be joined by barrels of wine for the onward journey to Libourne and the Atlantic port of Bordeaux.

Walk back towards the Pont de Louis Pimont, past some very upmarket houses and gardens on the right, and go under the bridge to join the tree-lined promenade beside the road. Continue along the Rue Albert Garrigat towards the next bridge, the Vieux Pont, and cross straight over towards Vieux Bergerac, along the Rue Hippolyte Taine. You soon reach the Vieux Port, from where you can take a trip out on a gabarre.