wish i was here... Dordogne

The River Dordogne meanders through a fertile green valley. No new hotels or motorways spoil it. Opposing castles, built of sandy- coloured limestone, glower at each other from densely wooded hills, legacies of 14th-century wars in which England fought France for this territory.

Read Michael Crichton's Timeline and, on a misty day, it is easy to imagine medieval armies laying siege to these fortresses. The ancient French towns such as Beynac seem unchanged by the centuries. Lascaux and other prehistoric sites are not far away.

It is not all history though. There's food too: pate de foie gras, duck, goose, walnut bread, walnut honey (they grow a lot of walnuts here), goat and ewe cheese and the local Bergerac wine. There is even exciting canoeing and swimming to be done in the river, although perhaps not on a full stomach. When I visited the village of St Cybranet on Bastille Day, the celebrations were home spun, although all the better fun for that. The band played from two in the afternoon until the fireworks display at midnight, while villagers dressed as Asterix, Gauls and Romans danced the night away.

David Elliot Do you have a special place? Why not share it with us and send it to: [email protected]

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