We had an incredible breakfast at Les Fontaines. Marie outdid herself, serving fresh croissants, fresh bread with homemade jam, jambon and cheese, fresh fruit, fresh local apple juice, and more. We left soon after breakfast to drive south, through Montreuil-Bellay, a pretty town with a large cathedral and chateau, then Thouars, with a 15th century chateau now used as a high school. We drove to Parthenay and walked around the ancient chateau walls. On to Melle where we walked around a bit and couldn't find anything open. Everything was closed everywhere! Banks, stores, patisseries! Seems things are closed on Sundays and Mondays in France! We drove on to Brantome, the Venice of the Perigord, where we walked around the ancient abbey. Its a beautiful town on the Dronne River. From Brantome, we drove to Bourdeilles, with a castle and a chateau, then got on a one lane road for miles to find our bed and breakfast. La Bastide de Chapduil is remote and they are happy to have Americans, only their second American family in five years! The owners served us coffee and cake, with almond pastry from her hometown, Aix-en-Provence. We had cloudy, then rainy weather today. We're hoping to get out and walk around more tomorrow. Loving all the chateaux!
