Autour de la Sombre

The source of this watercourse is on the heights of the municipality of Lafage-sur-Sombre, and it runs for about fifteen kilometres before falling precipitously into the Dordogne. La Sombre, ranked in the first category, is home to populations of Trout, Minnows and Gudgeon that breed in its clean, fresh waters.

The landscape opens onto the immense reservoir which covers more than 700 ha and supplies the last of the Dordogne's large dams, the Chastang. On different scale, below the viewing platform, is the micro-power station at La Sombre. A penstock carries water from the plateau to a turbine 170 m lower. This facility is private.

Overlooking the stream at Le Sombre and the Chastang reservoir, the Roc Grand belvedere offers an exceptional panoramic view. Cliffs and surrounding rocks offer a holiday home for two bird species accustomed to these rocky environments, the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) and the Great Raven (Corvus corvax).

The Dordogne was a favoured commercial route to Bordeaux and the Atlantic coast. Large flat-bottomed boats, called garbariers, well-adapted to the turbulent and dangerous course of the river, carried wood (staves for barrel making, coal, etc.) during the very short flood period, in autumn or spring when the water is referred to as "marketable". The crews of the gabariers then embarked on a dizzying descent, among whirlpools, rapids and rocks.

The fountain is named after a martyred king of Burgundy, Saint-Simon; legend has it that this fountain never freezes; In the past, the Saint's relics were dipped in the fountain so that the rain would start to fall.

A young girl who had seen the White Lady on the edge of a wood spoke to the young Simon Mérillou of Le Suquet about it. He laughed at the story, saying that the White Lady was his fiancée. Later, she appeared to Simon, reminding him that she was his fiancée, "Woe to your Queen," she added, alluding to his young lady friend. A few days later, Simon discovered his Queen, perched on a rock overlooking the Dordogne, and the White Lady reaching out to him. There was a violent flash, and both sank to the bottom of the water. Simon discovered that the two deceased were twin sisters and built a chapel to house his two white queens.