Adventures Online: Southwest France, From Bordeaux to Perigord

Activity note: Today’s session will start at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time and end at 5:00 p.m.

Afternoon: 2:00 p.m. Welcome, Orientation, Introductions. The Group Leader will greet everyone and review the program theme, the up-to-date daily schedule and any changes, Zoom meeting protocols, roles and responsibilities, and answer any questions. We will then say hello to our fellow Road Scholar and our Study Leader, Libby Chandler. 2:15 p.m. Lecture. Aliénor d’Aquitaine (1122-1204) — who we know as Eleanor — was Duchess of Aquitaine, Queen of France, and Queen of England. We will learn about her life as the most powerful woman in 12th century Europe, a patron of the arts and courtly love, a warrior, diplomat, and much more. When she died at Fontevrault, the nuns of the abbey wrote: “She was beautiful and just, imposing and modest, humble and elegant…who surpassed almost all the queens of the world.” 2:45 p.m. Virtual field trip. We will “explore” Bordeaux and some of its highlights including the Musée d’Aquitaine and the Cité du Vin that opened in 2016 with its extraordinary architecture and exhibitions exploring the many and varied facets of wine across time and space. We’ll also “visit” Saint-Émilion, a medieval city and UNESCO World Heritage Site in the heart of wine country; the Eglise Monolithe, a unique church carved underground over centuries; and the Médoc region, highlighted by a wine chateau where we will learn about wine production and how the terroir affects the way wines taste. We will also explore the Bay of Arcachon. 4:30 p.m. We’ll have a Q&A session and wrap up with notes for tomorrow. 5:00 p.m. Today’s session will end.

Activity note: Today’s session will start at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time and end at 5:00 p.m.

Afternoon: 2:00 p.m. Review of the day. 2:05 p.m. Lecture. France comprises a dozen historic regions and within each region are smaller “départements.” We will learn about the history and culture of the Périgord in the Dordogne Valley, inhabited by Gallic tribes long before the Romans. The Périgord abounds in beautiful landscapes, stunning chateaux, medieval villages, great wines, and traditional French gastronomy. It is also where art in prehistoric caves attest to human creativity since at least 10,000 BCE. 2:30 p.m. Virtual field trip. We will “explore” the Cave of Rouffignac — known as the Cave of a Hundred Mammoths — and see the replica of the world-renowned prehistoric cave, Lascaux IV. We will also see some of the most famous sites of the Dordogne Valley such as Domme, Roque Cageac, Les Jardins (Gardens) d’Erignac, the 17th century Château des Landes, and particularly Sarlat. This charming medieval town developed during the Carolingian era and today is renowned for its local market and products such as foie gras, truffles, nuts, and many other local specialties. 4:30 p.m. Q&A, wrap-up, and notes for tomorrow. 5:00 p.m. Today’s session will end.

Activity note: Today’s session will start at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time and end at 5:00 p.m.

Afternoon: 2:00 p.m. Review of the day. 2:05 p.m. Lecture. The modern region of Occitanie encompasses two former regions: Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées. While it dates administratively from 2016, it is in fact one of the oldest and most historic places in France. The vast area was known for centuries as the Languedoc, from langue d’doc, the language of “yes” in the native Occitan language. Its development was distinctively different from the north of France. Perhaps for that reason, it proved to be fertile ground for the popularity of the Cathars, who were declared “heretics” by the Church of Rome. Their anti-materialist beliefs — centered on poverty and achieving spiritual perfection — were considered so dangerous that the Pope declared a crusade against them. The invasion from the north, characterized as the Albigensian Crusade, began in 1209 and lasted for 20 years. The Cathars were destroyed and the Languedoc was added to the territory of the French crown. 2:30 p.m. Virtual field trip. We will “visit” the Gouffre du Padirac, a chasm more than 300 feet deep; Rocamadour, a medieval hilltop village; Albi and its cathedral, designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site; and the Musée Toulouse-Lautrec with the world’s largest collection of works by the artist from Albi. We will also “travel” to Carcassonne and Toulouse to see some of their highlights. Carcassone is famed for its towering stone walls and turreted towers, the most picturesque of all France’s medieval towns. Toulouse, the fourth largest city in France, was founded by the Romans and is now the capital city of Occitanie. It is a place of great art, architecture, and numerous cultural attractions. 4:30 p.m. Q&A, wrap-up, and farewells. 5:00 p.m. This concludes our program.