BELVES
Perched
high above the River Nauze, this lively, ancient market town, 22km to
the south-west of Beynac-et-Cazenac, has a well preserved old
bastide core with some attractive Gothic and Renaissance houses.
Bell towers are it's speciality, but it also has a timeless ambience and
makes a pleasant base for a couple of days.
Horse-riders and hikers may be particulary happy, with several horse-riding
outfits in the area and the GR36 passing close by, via the dense Foret
de la Bessedeto the west.
INFORMATION
The
old town is between the busy D710, 2km below, and the D53 to it's
west. At it's heart is the place d' Armes; overlooking this, in the
old Maison des Consuls, is the tourist office ( Tel / Fax. 0553291020.
Email. belves@perigord.com. WWW. www.perigord.com/belves.) The tourist
office has a pay-by-card
internet facility.
THINGS TO SEE AND DO
On
place d' Armes there is an imposing 15th-century covered market with
stone and wooden pillars.
Spot the pillory chain in a glass case on one of them, once used for
tying up criminals.
From
the tourist office, you can get tickets for the nearby Abris Troglodytigues,
an underground series
of rooms where people lived from from the 13th to 18th centuries.
Guided visits lasting 45 minutes daily
except Sunday
PLACES
TO STAY:.. Ferme
de Tayac **+20
min. drive from Ferme de Tayac**
