VALLEY OF THE DROPT
VALLEY OF THE BASTIDES

Evoking the Valley of the Dropt, fifteen centuries ago, the Latin poet Sidoine Apollinaire saw in her " a picture of the paradise "…
Born in Périgord, the Dropt jumps from mill to mill and draws its furrow through the Guyenne and between-two-seas until the Garonne River. A furrow of 130 kilometers, hemmed with fields of early fruit and vegetables and tobacco, fringed of vineyards and orchards, prairies and wooded hills… Landscape of calmness, measure and harmony.
Populated since the early ages, the valley of the Dropt is a land of history. One will keep, in particular, the great confrontation of kings of France and England that took place there, three centuries lasting... Until this famous battle of Castillon, in July 1453, that put end to hostilities. This uneasy period let us many testimonies, which constitute a heritage of an exceptional wealth. Medieval villages, churches, abbeys, chapels and castles, fortifications, mills and roman bridges… And, of course, little forts of the XIIIth century, about fifteen to the whole, of which some count among the most beautiful of the Southwest… as many " new cities of the Middle Ages ", where this astonishing urban plot is always perfectly read, as many memory places, that resounds the clash of sieges and battles again…

THE DROPT, FROM THE SOURCE TO THE MOUTH…
ALONG THE DROPT, ALONG WATER, ALONG THE TIME…
In the middle of the Aquitaine, from the Dordogne to the Gironde passing by the Share-and-Garonne, the Dropt irrigates the South of the Périgord, the High-Agenais, the North of the Guyenne and between-two-seas. From the source of Capdrot until the mouth of Caudrot, the quiet river invites the visitor to discover a rich medieval heritage, established on its strands and the neighbouring small hills. In a preserved environment full of charm, follow the course, let the slow rhythm of the waters of Dropt guide you…
For a pleasurable walk to discover the old stones "and other places, streets, carreyrous, alleys and other carrérots that make the plot of the bastides… For the sports activities, on the river and paths… Or for a gluttonous jaunt to the meeting of wine growers and producers - fat livers, truffles, prunes, early fruits and vegetables…, to the will of markets that punctuates the life of the valley and blossom the language.

THE LEFT BANK OF THE DROP RIVER…
The small fortress of Villefranche-of-Périgord (1261), in the East of the territory, is the capital of the cboletus, the walnut and the chestnut. Near the source of the Dropt, big national site, the small fortress of Montpazier (1284) is one of most beautiful of Aquitaine. In some places: roman buildings, castles of Biron and Gavauduns, Saint-Avit, the Capelle-Biron… In the North of Monpazier, two small fortresses are mixed: Beaumont of the Périgord, founded in 1272 (covered of room central, beautiful walled church) and Molières (1284 - vast Gothic church, ruins of a strong castle, house with arcades).In the neighbouring: Saint-Avit-sénieur (Abbey classified in the World Heritage of the UNESCO), Montferrand-of-Périgord, castle of Bannes…
Constructed on a circular plan, in opposition with the urbanistic neighbouring small fortresses rigor, Issigeac is a stage of charm: labyrinth of alleys, medieval houses, classified church, and palace of bishops of Sarlat…
The canton of Sigoulès is famous for its wines and its monuments: castles of Bridoire, Monbazillacs, Saussignacs and Puyguilhems (where we used for the first time in the region the artillery of gunpowder, in 1338), chapel of Monbos and its erotic marquees.
In direction of Eymet, the small fortress of Fonroque preserved only the tracing of its streets.
The Sauvetat-of-Dropt possesses an imposing medieval bridge and of beautiful old houses. In vicinities, perched on a small hill, the village of Soumensac dominates the landscapes of the valley and the beautiful natural site of the lake of the Escourroux.
Duras, city of Dukes, wine-making and gastronomic stage… The first stones of the castle have been sealed in 1137. Ruined many times and rebuilt, the big built contains today a museum and animations theaters.
To vicinities: several chapels and Roman churches - of which the Monteton built on a privileged site.
Pellegrue has been founded in 1272 on an already inhabited site, in contrast to a lot of other small fortresses of the region, which were veritably the «new « cities of the Middle Ages. On the township, castles of Boirac-Ségur, Puch-of-Gensac and Lugaignac.
No far, the small fortress of Blasimon is most recent of the territory (1317-1322); its population was a failure and marked the end of the big movement of fortress foundation, which begun 70 years earlier. Near the city, the abbey and its superb portal (XIIth), the walled mills of Labarthe and Laborie.
Doors that gave access to the small fortress of Sauveterre-of-Guyenne (1281) have been preserved, what gives a good idea of its defences. One will note however that some small fortresses have never been grasped of battlements, whereas others will be protected a long time after their foundation. Close to Sauveterre are the beautiful medieval complex of the Castrum of Apple trees - mill, bridge, chapel, fortifications and small walls, the village of Castelmoron of Albret (the smallest township of France), churches of castelvieil and Mauriac, the mill of Cleyrac, and the abbey of Saint-farm, admirable Roman whole…
The medieval village of Saint-Macaire is built close to the mouth of the Dropt. The church of Saint-savior and its wall paintings, the prieuré(religious community under the authority of a priest), the room of the Mercadiou, homes of merchants, fortifications show that the city of Saint-Macaire was auspicious, before and after the war of Hundred Years, thanks to the " privilege of wines ".