MAISON FORTE DE REIGNAC: 27.VI.09

This monument is the strangest castle in Perigord, the most secret, the most extraordinary and also the most mysterious. Built beneath the escarpment, it rises from the rock of which it is built and conceals enormous subterranean vaults that have witnessed fascinating periods of our civilisation for more than 20,000 years. This house opened after 50 years of scientific and archaeological research. I rank this place as one of my favourite trip highlights.

Prehistoric people settled here 200 centuries ago, a stone's throw from a ford across the Vézère.

Reignac is the only monument in France of this "Château falaise" type totally intact and preserved in exceptional condition, with period furnishings throughout.

The kitchen and food preparation area.

Behind me is a small fireplace and above it is an indented piece of rock where food was kept warm.

A fireplace so big it could accommodate large game on the rotisserie. For my French-speaking readers, the arm that holds the pot is called a crémaillère. A house warming is called "pendre la crémaillère" in French, i.e., get some food cooking to welcome your guests.

This is a fancy bread box, protected from rodents and insects high above the ground.

This would have been the sleeping quarters for house staff.

Since this house spans centuries, you can see the various forms of chimneys, from a simple hole in the roof to a constructed fireplace.

This is the Comtesse's bed chamber. As you can see, the decor is definitely becoming more recent.

Geese at large. No forced feeding here!

Ok, it just wouldn't be a complete report without a photo of the dessert. Karl ordered the largest sundae on the menu and he moaned and smacked his lips for a looong time!