Recently in London someone asked me about my origins, I answered my mother’s family was living in Périgord, and that’s when the lady became very excited because she knew very well that part of the Southwest of France, its towns, castles, and especially its winding roads “as in the 19th century.”
It is true that the situation of the city of Nontron on its rocky promontory in the heart of the Périgord Limousin regional park, did not promote industrial expansion, but activities such as art crafts like its famous knife. Its surrounding landscape is a stunning beauty, and, finally, these small roads comparable to the ones of 19th century have become a way of taking time to contemplate the blazing forest in autum.
Périgord Vert en automne
Dernièrement à Londres, on m’a demandé quelles étaient mes origines ; j’ai répondu que ma famille maternelle habitait dans le Périgord, et c’est alors que mon interlocutrice devint très enthousiaste car elle connaissait très bien cette région du Sud-Ouest, ses villes, ses châteaux, et surtout ses routes sinueuses « comme au 19ème siècle ».
Il est vrai que la situation de la ville de Nontron sur son promontoire rocheux, au cœur du parc régional du Périgord Limousin, n’a pas favorisé une expansion industrielle, mais des activités d’artisanat d’art telles que sa célèbre coutellerie. Son paysage environnant est d’une stupéfiante beauté, et, finalement, ces petites routes comparables à celle du 19ème siècle sont devenues un moyen de prendre le temps de contempler la forêt flamboyante en automne.
This is a beautiful image of what I imagine must be lovely country. I never got so far south in France, but this photo makes me wish I might. I like the idea of the roads that force one to take one’s time. Industry isn’t everything! Thanks for the post.