Return To Domme

Domme was founded as a fortified town by Philip the Bold of France in 1281 and its walls were completed in the first decade of the 14th century, just in time to host some of the Templars imprisoned by the king when he seized the assets of the wealthy brotherhood of knights.  Mrs THC and I have found Domme, on our visits and stays over the years, to be more hospitable than the Templars experienced, so we are happy after three years of no international traveling to finally return.

Perched on a cliff about 400 feet above the Dordogne River (and about a three hour drive from Bordeaux, where we landed), the town retains most of its walls with driving access only possible through two narrow gates.  Within the river valley and surrounded by hills and cliffs for miles, this area has been much fought over, particularly during the Hundred Years War, when England controlled much of the valley and later during the late 16th century Wars of Religion between Protestants and Catholics.

Today Domme is a quiet, small town (the commune, which includes the walled town has a population of only a thousand) and tourist attraction, those less heavily congested that some other points in the region.

Some photos from a walk this evening:

Down this street you can see one of the town gates:

This is the church on the main square.  The original church was demolished after the Protestants captured the town in 1589.  This photo was taken as the bell was ringing announcing it was 7 pm. 

The next two are of street scenes:

This is the Esplanade which overlooks the river:

Looking across the river and past the monument to Jacques de Maleville, a famous native of the town. 

Hard to get up that cliff.

The Dordogne River Valley.  A few miles downstream among those hills are the castles of Beynac and Castelnaud of which I've written before.

Mr THC