In an area of such beauty and diversity, it is difficult to adequately cover an area that ranges from Bordeaux in the West, to the Pyrenees in the South and The Massif Central in the east.
It is not dissimilar to Tuscany with its green rolling land, wooded hillsides and gently winding rivers which also include the Vezere flowing through an area rich in pre-historic caves including Les Eyzies and the Unesco World Heritage Site at Lascaux, Montignac and Rocamadour is just a short drive away.
Some of the best vineyards in the world lie within a two hour drive at St Emilion and a little further west will see you on the right bank of the medoc with the classic vineyards of Margaux, Pauillac and St Julien. Nearer to home are the more regional and affordable wines of Bergerac, Monbazillac and Cahors.
The English, under the Plantaganet kings such as Henry 11nd (who was married to Eleanor of Aquitaine) and Richard the Lionheart ruled the area of Aquitaine for 300 years during the Middle Ages, and the area around us is rich in this period’s history with numerous chateaux, abbayes, chapels and churches.
There are beautiful Bastide towns such as Domme and Monpazier and Sarlat is - “the best preserved medieval town in France.” Brantome is known as “the Venice of the Dordogne, Perigueux boasts a Cathedral, Roman theatre as well as a medieval vielle ville. Bergerac is capital of the perigord pourpre and is a pretty town with a Musee de Tabac and an excellent wine tasting centre in the Recollets Cloister.
The food of the region is world renowned as the home of foie gras, truffles, confits and Perigourdine specialities and there are many restaurants where you can enjoy excellent food and wines. You can also buy many of the ingredients if you are self catering at the numerous lively and colourful markets.
There are many varied activities which are easily accessible and everybody will find something to do that they enjoy! These include canoeing, fishing and swimming on the river, hot air ballooning, visiting markets and vineyards, picnicking, searching for antiques, cycling, eating,walking, golf at several courses, tennis, tree walking and horseriding. Sarlat has many free attractions including street theatre performers, acrobats, musicians, jugglers, concerts and exhibitions.
