A slow roll along the single street of La Roque Gageac. Surrounded by ancient manors and crowned with cliffs, La Roque mirrors itself in the waters of the Dordogne river. It was an important fortified place in medieval times, the village adorned itself with rich manors in the Renaissance period. The village streets blossom with tropical and mediterranean plants.

Many of the buildings here are troglodyte structures. They are built partially or wholly into caves in the cliffs. This type of dwelling is common where limestone cliffs are found along rivers. Sometimes the caves are natural and sometime they are the result of quarrying. Homes tend to be warm and dry in the winter and cool in the summer. This is also a very popular way to store wine commercially.

Restaurants here are often situated on second floor pavillions, giving a terrific view of the river with the castles of Castelnaud and Beynac in the distance. Beer tastes especially good in surroundings like these. Gabarres, antique river launches from the eighteenth century (with a twentieth century motor) dock here and proceed down river as far as Castelnaud, giving twenty to thirty people at a time a waterside view of the area. As you troll along pick out a site for a picnic.

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