Paris and the Dordogne Workshop 2006

Petit Rousset – Our home, an 18th century farmhouse, provides many opportunities for painting, sketching & relaxing – in the garden, on the terrace, by the pool.

Eymet – Our 'hometown' is a 40-minute stroll from Petit Rousset, past rows of grapevines, fields of sunflowers and meadows of grazing cows. This bastide has a perfectly intact 13th century center square which bursts with activity on Market Day. Little streets radiating off the square are dotted with houses made of wattle and daub. As we explore, we’ll learn about the medieval conflicts that gave rise to the many bastides in the region.

Bergerac – The town made famous by the poet-Musketeer, Cyrano, is now the capitol of the wine-growing region. At an earlier time, its fame rested upon its tobacco production. A museum of this now much maligned weed documents 15th century globalization. We'll visit Old Town, with its medieval houses clustered along the banks of the Dordogne River. Nearby is the fairy tale Renaissance Chateau de Monbazillac. We'll visit the chateau then taste the golden, mellow wine of the same name.

Les Eyzies – The capitol of Prehistory, we'll visit a cave embellished with polychrome prehistoric paintings.

Issigeac – A tiny hill-town, sleepy every day but Market Day, when meandering streets and pedestrian paths burst with activity.

Beynac – We'll visit the village with the Chateau at its summit. Built during the One Hundred Year's War, the Chateau de Beynac perches high atop a cliff dominating the Dordogne River. Now we marvel at the views of the valley below, but its imposing profile attests to its original military purpose.

Sarlat – Founded as an Abbey Town, when Charlemagne visited, he brought a fragment of the True Cross with him. Nearly all of Sarlat's restored town houses were built during its years of greatest prosperity, from 1450-1500, giving it a rare architectural unity preserved by the Loi Malraux.

Monpazier – Hailed as the most perfectly preserved bastide in Southwest France, the 13th century houses surrounding its totally intact market square, are identical in size, unique in appearance.

Molieres – An unfinished English bastide, surrounded by walnut trees. Try the walnut press for a taste of the celebrated Périgord walnut oil and learn how ‘terroir’ affects the quality of these delicious nuts.

Final Day – St. Emilion

After breakfast, we depart for Bordeaux. En route, we visit St. Emilion, a favorite of both medieval popes and English kings. In 1999 it was classified a world heritage site, the first vine-growing area to achieve this status. After free time in St. Emilion, Coach drop off at Bordeaux airport and/or train station. Onward journeys after 3pm are advised.