Our Mid Life Crisis Gap Year: Brantome Or Is It Venice?

Yesterday, we had a casual day. We found the local supermarket, well, nearly local.....about a 15 minute drive on the outskirts of the biggest town in the area, Perigueux. So last night we had home made Beef Bourguignon, a very nice Red Bordeaux, and an early night.

So after a "rest day" we were keen to do some exploring. Whenever you read any tourist information about the nearby small town of Brantome they like to refer to it as the Venice of France. With publicity like that we had to go and see it.

Brantome is just 30 minutes away along a series of narrow, winding roads mainly through forests...so the drive is quite picteresque in itself.

Brantome lies on the River Dronne, and the older part actually is an island as the Dronne divides into two and reattaches as it flows through the town, thereby forming the island. The Benedictine Abbey of Brantome dominates the north part of the town, but still seems to fit in with the great feel of town.

Benedictine Abbey of Brantome Overlooks The Town

In one part of the town, well either side of the Abbey actually, there are a number of buildings built into the cliff face.....it looks amazing.

Buildings In The Cliff Face

Because we had got there reasonably early, we found many of the shops open, so we went for a look around. Brantome is yet another of those French towns that is a picture opportunity every time you turn around, a really lovely town.

Great Little Shops

Lovely Streets

The abbey was initially buily in the mid 700's, but with the various wars has been rebuilt a number of times. So it gives you some idea of how old this town is. I must admit that these figues blow my mind....I am so use to talking about our old house that we renovated back in Australia, you know, that really old one, the 120 year old one...lol.

As we walked around the town we noticed that for a small town they had heaps of places to eat...this place must be popular in the summer....but what do they all do out of season?

Now That's A Restaurant With A View

Another Restaurant With A View

An Old Mill Converted To A Restaurant

You Guessed It...Another Restaurant

It does not take long to walk around Brantome, it is not very big, but there is so much to see. The river changes as it makes its way through the town, it flows under beautiful arched bridges, over waterfalls, through water wheels, it is ever changing.