The town of Martel is not, in fact, famous for the brandy (that's Martell with two ll's) but is well known as the capital of truffles and a great producer of walnuts, two of the region's specialities.
The town itself is very pretty, with a central cobbled square that is home to the weekly market.
It has seven towers which dominate one's view, and there is plenty of medieval architecture to discover hidden along Martel's pedestrianised streets.
Centering around the old 'halle', or market hall, which is covered in flowers and climbing plants, the old stone buildings hold a charm that we have come to expect of the Dordogne towns.
The market, hosted on Wednesday and Saturday mornings is full of fresh and seasonal fruit and vegetables, alongside meats such as sausage, duck in every form, foie gras, walnut oil and local cheeses - Rocamadour and Cantal being amongst the better known.
