on to cabrerets, france
The walk through th
e Célé River Valley continues, and this day the destination is Cabrerets, a small village at the confluence of the Sagne and Célé rivers. The word “Cabrerets” comes from the Occitan language word cabre, or goat, and from the French verb cabrer, or rise up, rear up. The chemin follows cliffs that rise up and shadow the valley and the rivers below.
DAY 15 à Cabrerets sur Le Chemin de Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle par la vallée du Célé.
Through this section of the chemin one will see trail art. The pèlerin is walking along, maybe trudging through mud or sidestepping stones and roots–et volià–unexpectedly there is a sculpture on the side of the trail.
The trail follows the cliffs that loom to your right as you walk south. Placards with photographs of the area during another time are situated along the way. The trail becomes a helpful museum.
The photograph here was taken around 1880. Obviously the trees are absent and have since grown and covered or shadow the buildings.
If one looks closely, those building can be seen among the foliage. The chemin follows the cut out ridge into the distance. (Click on any photo to see it larger and in more detail.)
Many of the buildings were built into the side of the mountain. Some are ruins now, shells, and now are simply reminders du temps perdu. (Click on any photo to see it larger and in more detail.)
But . . . before opening to the valley below, the hiker walks through some very pretty woods. Often it is like traveling through time in a tunnel. (Click on any photo to see it larger and in more detail.)
I have been asked what I looked like when I walked the Chemin de St Jacques. I traveled very light. I ate little. And . . . frightened many. A self portrait.
I stayed the night at the Gîte du Barry in Cabrerets.
un Voyageur 
I like the trail art. I’m not sure if we have anything like that here. It also looks like the weather is nice and clear for all the walking you’re doing. I bet you’re having good picnics there with some charcuterie, fromage, crusty bread, and wine. That or there are places to stop by and eat a hot meal.