Wander in France

We hadn’t planned on visiting Belvès. In fact, we were simply making our way back from a day in Sarlat when a spontaneous turn off the main road led us into one of the most peaceful and picturesque villages we’ve come across.

Perched high above the Dordogne Valley, Belvès has a quiet elegance that’s immediately disarming. The warm stone buildings, medieval arcades, and cobbled streets seem to invite you to slow your step and take it all in. We parked the car without much of a plan and began to wander, drawn into the village by its gentle rhythm and understated beauty.

Along the main street, we came across a small brocante, a wonderfully chaotic little space that felt more like a treasure hunt than a shop. Stacks of old books teetered beside boxes of vintage postcards, while mismatched ceramics and curious antiques spilled across tables and chairs. The charm was in the disorder, and we found ourselves smiling at each odd discovery. The owner greeted us with a warm bonjour—as is customary in France—and we spent time poking around, half-lost in the nostalgia of it all.

Belvès isn’t a place that demands attention, it earns it slowly, with grace and authenticity. What started as a simple detour turned into a quiet highlight of our day and a reminder of why the best travel moments are so often the ones you never plan.