Sarlat

Several days in Sarlat

After three enjoyable days in the Loire Valley, my next destination was the Dordogne River region. I was headed to Sarlat, which is at the end of the line by train.


Only one train was late during my entire trip, and it was this one, from Tours St.-Pierre-des-Corps station to Bordeaux. We made it Bordeaux 25 minutes late, and I had to run to get on the train to Sarlat right before it pulled out. (I had only given myself 29 minutes of connection time--not good!)

While the Sarlat train station is a ways from the medieval city, the walk into town was pleasant. Here was my first view of the main market square, Place de la Liberté.	I had booked a room with the Toulemons in Sarlat. Here is the front door (the dark one), just a few steps from Place de la Liberté.

The room was gigantic for 45.30 euros ($63) per night! Here was the first floor: a bed and a table. I was able to get Wifi here some of the time, so I did my e-mailing from this table.	From the first floor, there were stairs up to the bathroom level.

The bathroom was very nice. It included a sink, toilet, and shower. No bar soap, though (only liquid).	The top floor was the bedroom. It had a small closet and tons of historic touches. The room was naturally cool, so I didn't need air-conditioning or a fan. How refreshing!

My first night, I ate at Auberge de Mirandole, a couple of tiny blocks from my hotel. I chose the 11 euro ($15.50) menu.

For my first course, I got fois gras. Like lobster and crab, it is a delicacy I now know I don't care for.	My second course was delicious beef, potatoes, and green beans. Yum! The potatoes were the best!

After dinner, I followed the self-guided tour of Sarlat from the Rick Steves book. This is the 16th-century house of Etienne de la Boetie.	Behind the church was this unusual building, the Lantern of the Dead.

A few steps from my hotel was this Square of the Geese with a little, fun geese statue.

Here is a view of Place de la Liberté from the door of my hotel. Notice all of the rock roofs (called lauzes).	My first morning in Sarlat was a Wednesday. I stepped out of my hotel to see the Place de la Liberté filled with vendors. It was market day!

I got a provencal crepe for breakfast. I got to watch it be made at this market stand.	Here is my crepe. It cost 3.50 euros ($5). It was OK but not great. I would probably just get a ham-and-cheese one if I got one again. I bought a large orange juice at the grocery store, too. (They didn't have OJ juice boxes.)

The market was very crowded, but it was a pleasant type of crowded. I walked around for a long time.	The first thing I bought from the market was candied walnuts (noix) from this walnut stand.

Second, I purchase 100 g of dried strawberries from this stand for 1.90 euros ($2.70). This was the cheapest price for dried strawberries I saw on my whole trip.	The third thing I bought was a walnut cake (gateau noix) from this man.

The last thing I bought at the market was potatoes from this food stand. I had watched him set up in the morning (across from the crepe vendor) and cook both the potatoes and paella.	Here was the small size of potatoes I bought. They were flavored with cepes (porcini mushrooms). As much as I loved potatoes and mushrooms, they weren't very good :(

My second night in Sarlat, I ate at Chez le Gaulois, just down the street from where I had purchased my crepe and potatoes earlier in the day.	I chose raclette, a dish of potatoes, melted cheese, and sliced meat, for 13 euros ($18). It was delicious but a lot of food. I left stuffed!

After dinner, I had my walnut cake for dessert. It was not good :(

For my final dinner in Sarlat, I ate at Pizzeria Romane.

First, I had the mozzarella-and-tomato salad.	Next, I had the Capri pizza (onions, green peppers, mozzarella, and a bit of tomato sauce). Good!

As I was walked to the train station to leave Sarlat, I looked up and saw an interesting blue street sign.	Yes, I was on Pierre and Marie Curie Street! (Interesting that in the US, we always say Marie and Pierre, yet here they are referred to as Pierre and Marie.)

Sarlat train station was lonely, on the way out of town, and under construction.

Back to itinerary

On to the next pictures