Limoges (LFBL) - Toulouse (LFBO).
Dordogne River near Trémolat.
During another heavy rain shower we crossed the River Dordogne. Connecting the Auvergne with the Atlantic harbour of Bordeaux, the Dordogne was used as a major trade route back in Roman days. Despite its importance, it was not very navigable until major construction works during the 19th century and even then its fluctuating water level required a very specific kind of vessel - the so called “Gabares”.
Église Saint-Avit in Saint-Avit-Sénieur.
Event through the rain and fog you can make out the massive shape of the Église Saint-Avit, a romanesque church and the last remnant of a famous abbey of the Benedictine Order. It was founded on a spot to which Avitus, a former soldier of the Visigothic king Alaric II., retreated as a hermit during the Merovingian era.
Fields near the Château d’Arasse.
Originally I took this shot due to the beautiful scenery with the small pond embedded in the hilly fields. After some research I found out that I stumbled over a major crime location: Here, north of Foulayronnes, which served as a resting spot for pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela during the early 18th century, highwaymen dug hideouts into the hills to rob unsuspecting travellers who stopped to visit the local healing springs.
Beaumont de Lomagne on Gimone River.
Another town on which history didn’t went easy: Beaumont de Lomagne was founded during the 13th century during a rapid urbanization of Southern Occitania. It grew in importance and wealth until the catastrophic wars of religion in France led to multiple sacks and occupations due to the cities’ support of Catholicism. As a hub of viticulture (wine-production) it suffered massively during the early industrialization which led to an explosive growth of unemployment as the winers and their farmhands couldn’t compete with industrial production.