Wednesday 17 July 2013

We’re now quite close to our target, the source of the Dordogne, so after our usual start we continued to Clermont-Ferrand, taking a brief stop to fill up with cheap diesel at a hypermarket. 

Chateau de Rocher - no choccies here though

Then we started a long climb into the mountains and took a lunch break at Le Parc des Volcans D’Auvergne, situated at around 4000ft, so the temperature was a little more comfortable.

Le Parc des Volcans

From here we headed for Le Mont-Dore. Just beyond the town, at Puy de Sancy, a summer walking and winter skiing area has evolved and it is here also that the source of the Dordogne is to be found. It is the “confluence” of two small mountain streams that appear from the rock above, the Dore and the Dogne. That this gives the river its name is actually a myth, the word Dordogne being from the 9^th century Dordonia, itself evolving from the ancient word Duranius, meaning torrent.

The source of the Dordogne

So back down into the town of Le Mont-Dore with a plan to find somewhere to stop for a couple of days to chill out. Camping Municipal des Crouzets is situated close to, though not in view of, the river and only around 400m from the town centre. There is an Aire de Camping Cars co-located but we would rather have full facilities for more than an overnight stop. Set up, awning and chairs out then relax with a cuppa in the cooling mountain breeze.