The Aquitaine / Dordogne / Dordogne region

The house is perfectly situated for exploring some of south-west France’s best-known sights. In every direction there’s something worth exploring. Head south and within an hour you’ll discover the châteaux, cliffside villages and cave dwellings of the Dordogne valley offering such delightful attractions as the bastide village of Domme, the château and village of Castelnaud and the architectural beauty of Sarlat ,a popular historic town with superb Saturday market. Périgueux, the area’s main town, is just 30 minutes’ drive from the house. With its mediaeval pedestrianised centre it’s a delight to wander around, offering such local delicacies as truffles, foie gras, walnut products and Bergerac wines. Bordeaux and its vineyards, too, are within reach for a longer excursion. Travel north and you’ll find the lesser-known Limousin area with its many fishing and swimming lakes and great tracts of chestnut forests. Brantome is a very attractive town on the northern edge of the Dordogne department.The Benedictine Abbey on the river’s edge is superb and this along with the old stone bridge, weir and pretty mill now turned into a splendid hotel and restaurant all make for a very photogenic scene. Limoges, famous for its porcelain, is well worth a visit. Further east and you’ll venture into the Corrèze with its spectacular scenery and the famous horse-breeding centre of Pompadour, 40 minutes away, with guided tours of the stud and its picturesque racecourse in the very centre. The warm sunny climate is perfect for spending the day in languid exploration by canoe of the area’s renowned riverside scenery – and there are a number of rivers within easy reach, including the Vézere, Dordogne and the smaller Auvézère. The maze of quiet country roads and tracks are ideal for walking or cycling whilst fishing and horse-riding are also readily available.

The Excideuil / Saint Germain des Pres area

Just walk out of the gates and you’re on a track that leads to a plethora of off-road trails, wandering through woods, walnut groves and across fields, and traversing little hamlets – this is an ideal location for walking or off-road cycling. The village of St Germain des Prés, with a bakery/grocery store, is within walking distance. The market town of Excideuil is 5kms away with cafés, restaurants, bank, post office and excellent supermarkets; also a market every Thursday where you can buy all sorts of duck products, cheeses, wines, fresh vegetables and much else. In the other direction is another nearby market town famed for its foie gras, Thiviers, with a bustling market every Saturday. Just beyond Thiviers is one of France’s designated ‘most beautiful’ villages, St Jean de Côle. Golfers can enjoy a round at one of the best and newest courses in the region at the Domaine d’Essendiéras, just outside Excideuil. As well as golf the estate boasts a top-class restaurant and bistro. A must-see is the recently-discovered Tourtoirac cave system, opened just a couple of years ago. These caves, with some incredible stalactites and stalagmites, have been sensitively and imaginatively developed and offer an unforgettable experience. Don’t forget to visit the château at Hautefort, an impressive edifice perched above the pretty village and dominating the skyline for miles around. There are guided tours of the interior and the gardens are also open to the public with great views of the surrounding landscape from its terraces. For children, just a couple of kilometres away is a tree-top adventure park with all sorts of acrobatic challenges. Thiviers and Excideuil offer excellent public swimming in their large outdoor pools. Excideuil also has a pool for very small children.

Fishing

Fishing in this region of France is varied from rivers, lakes and fresh water streams. Fishing trips can be arranged for beginners or the most experienced angler. You can find many rivers and lakes that offer great coarse fishing including trout, bream, perch, pike, carp and cat fishing. Close to the property is the River Isle, well known for its large cat fish, among many other species. Permits can be arranged for river or lake fishing, please enquire through Themed Holiday Ideas.