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

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The route combines two separate circuits, the Boucle Monestier of 5km and the Boucle Couture of 8km, connected by a liaison path of 1.2km, which has to be done twice. The two walks can be done individually by starting the second walk at the village of Couture and walking 400 metres up the road towards Saussignac to reach the signpost saying ‘Liaison Boucle Couture’.

As its name implies, there was a small monastic cell at Monestier, built in the 11th century by a stream at a clearing in the woods; now there is a 19th-century church, a mairie (town hall) where you can pick up walk pamphlets and an attractive-looking auberge. Nearby is the hamlet of la Bastide, a small bastide town founded in 1284 by the English king Edward I, with a small Romanesque church.

From the information board in the parking area, follow the signpost saying ‘Boucle Monestier’ along the narrow road to a post at the junction and go straight over onto a grassy track. At the next post turn right into the woods to reach a cherry orchard, and turn right again, with the orchard on your left and gorse-covered scrubland on your right. Follow the posts round the orchard, to the left then right, to reach a tarmac road where you turn left to see a post further on. Turn right into the vineyards towards the farm of la Tuillère (15min).