English stronghold

A tour around the region today, taking in villages, churches with 13th century frescos, vineyard with wine tasting and so on. All very interesting and relaxing.

A grey day but mid afternoon the sun broke through as we visited Monpazier. This is one if the 400 bastides - strongholds - built by the French and the English to consolidate their grip on the land here in the 13th century. This one was founded in 1284 by Edward the 1st and is remarkably preserved. One of the features of the bastides is that it gave the local population some security for them and their animals; and some rights of freedom with women sharing some rights with men. Not all rights, but many more than they had been used to.

On the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta seems right for the blip.