These are two charming medieval villages a half hour's drive north of Castelmoron.
They attract a lot of people from the UK, tourists and expats.
It's funny to walk the streets and hear English voices.
We drove up to Issigeac yesterday to look at its weekly market and to have lunch ... but the restaurants were booked out.
So we came back through Cancon and stopped at a village restaurant/bar.
Incongruous with the brasserie-style exterior, the interior decor was plain. There was only one occupied table, three men dressed like farmers who talked at the top of their voices.
But we noticed the back room was full of elderly people enjoying a buffet lunch, so we thought we'd stay and give the place a go.
The menu for 15.50 euro comprised an entre, main course and dessert. The proprietor, a rather gaunt, angular-faced man in his 50's, said if we took the lunch menu there was a soup thrown in.
Our meal was good and we rounded it off with the nicest dessert I've had for a long time. Cliona had an excellent creme brule and I had crepes filled wth ice-cream and dressed with a raspberry/cherry coulis.
Towards the end of our meal, a young woman and baby came in, much to the delight of the waitress, who we figured was probably the child's aunt.
She took the infant from her mother and waltzed around the restaurant for a few minutes, then moved to the back room ... which stopped the conversation. Many grey heads turned, eyes smiling up at the waitress with the baby in her arms. They all made such a fuss of that little girl, who was giggling and lapping up the attention.
The farmers left their table and threw a friendly "Bon Appetit" our way. They stood at the bar, where they drank coffee and continued their raucous conversation. One of them popped outside regularly for cigarettes, joined by the proprietor.
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| Issigeac |
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| The archway entrance to Eymet's central square |
I'm not especially fond of the "painting" over the archway! OTOH, the laundry hanging between two windows is very couleur locale.
ReplyDeleteHahaha!
ReplyDeleteIssigeac market is busy all year round as it's the only local market held on a sunday. It's worth going up there during the week when it's not busy for a good lunch at the Auberge du Cafe de France. Some of the little back lanes are a photographer's delight. Glad you enjoyed your day in the most southern part of the Dordogne.
ReplyDeleteThe Auberge du Cafe was closed and lifeless. From the outside, it looked like it had seen better days.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised. Usually that's the busiest place in town. Probably en vacance while they can before the easter rush of tourists. That's what happens with many businesses at this time of year.
ReplyDelete