I Love My Town: Lalinde

On the way from Bergerac to Sarlat you can't help but pass through the small town of Lalinde.  I was one of the many people that drive in intending to pass on through, but say wow, find a parking place and stop and explore.

Lalinde is what's called a Bastide town, which means a town, typically built in the Dordogne valley around the 13th Century.  They were built using a grid system, spreading out from the main square, where often markets were (and in Lalinde's case still are) held.  

Although they were not fortified, the style of the Bastides helped to protect the villagers during the hundred year war, between the French and English.

I find it interesting that many hundreds of years later, the centre square is still the focal point with restaurants, cafes and buzzy with everyday village life.

Lalinde is a beautiful town and we have our fair share of tourists, but it is also a living town year round, with nothing closing out of season.  

We enjoy the wine festival, the music festival, the flower festival and many other fun events happening though the seasons.  Locals are happy to mix with people from all the different parts of the world and this makes it a very happy place indeed.

Add to that the fact that it is situated along the banks of the river Dordogne, with all the beauty and wildlife that it brings with it.

What more can I say, just ...........  See you here soon!