Local Area Information

'We've been here two weeks and still have so much to see... we'll just need to come back!'

Okay, when our guests said this to us last year it may have been a bit tongue in cheek.  But perhaps not.

It's true there is so much to see and do in the local area that it would be impossible to fit it into two weeks or even, we suspect, two months.

This is just a flavour of where you might want to go if you can tear yourself away from your swimming pool and the peace and quiet of Fon du Bourg.  If you would like more details about any of the activities on offer just ask and we can help you put a plan together.

Just one quick word - you will need to have a car to make the most of your visit.

The Bastides

The area of South West France now known as Nouvelle Acquitaine is rich in history.  In medieval times it marked the boundary between France to the north and English held territory to the south.

Many of the conflicts of the Hundred Years War centre around this area of France.

Partly as a result of the war and the need to raise money a series of towns were built by local nobles, starting with Villefranche du Perigord.  The local noble (either English or French) would get a license to build a town and give people tax breaks to come and live there.  Because of the war there weren't that many people about and so any hub of population attracted markets... and the local noble would tax the traders and the routes into and out of town, turning a nice little profit.

The thing about the towns is that they were all built to pretty much the same plan: a grid system for streets, a central square with two roads at each corner, a covered market area (Les Halles) and the church off to one side; they are 800 year old new towns!

And these towns still exist, many in their original format... and they are fascinating.  There are at least six of these Bastides within twenty kilometers of your base here at Fon du Bourg.

The closest is Castillonnes only five kilometres away.  We often walk to town along the relatively quiet roads, have a coffee (or a glass of wine and some lunch) and then walk home.  It makes for a lovely day out and the walk takes just over an hour.

Other Bastides close by and definitely worth a visit are: Villereal with it's restaurants, market on Saturday and Brocante (antiques fair) every Sunday, Monpazier with large square and brewery.  Manflanquin on its hilltop is in our opinion the prettiest Bastide in the area and with stupendous views across Lot et Garonne to the Dordogne but there is pretty Eymet, Beaumont du Perigord and loads more all within an easy drive.

Gourmande Nocturne

Many of the Bastides through the summer put on night markets but with a difference.

Tables are set up in the square and there's often a band which is paid for by the stall holders.  You grab any table you can find and buy your food and wine from the traders and have a wonderful, convivial evening in the company of locals and tourists, listening to music in the warm summer night eating the lovely food prepared for you right there.

The Bastides will normally have their Gourmandes on a fixed day - for example Castillonnes is a Sunday, Beaumont du Perigord is Monday and so on.

We think a visit to at least one Gourmande evening is a must!

Markets

Local markets are still very much part of French life.  Most towns and villages still have them; sometimes they are quite small with a few stalls selling staples such as meat and vegetables.  Others are much bigger affairs where you can buy just about everything from lavender to a rug!

Castillonnes's market is on a Tuesday but the biggest is probably Issigeac on a Sunday morning.  Issigeac is worth a visit in any case - it's a medieval walled village - but the market is fabulous, filling the streets with many, many stalls.  But be warned - during the summer it gets very busy indeed so go early before the crowds arrive.

If you fancy visiting a market on a different day just Google and you'll get a full list... in our opinion the market at Monflanquin is particularly lovely.

Lot et Garonne

Although we're only five kilometres from the border Fon du Bourg is actually in the Departement de Lot et Garonne.  Apart from the Bastides Lot et Garonne has lots and lots to offer.

The county town is Agen - well worth a visit, especially to the old town.  Pujols and Penne d'Agenais are lovely villages in the south of Lot et Garonne and Villeneuve sur Lot has a lovely square very close to the river where you can hire boats and canoes.

Over to the west there's the town of Duras - very pretty in its own right but with a reputation for excellent wine.  You can book a wine tasting visit or often turn up on the day.

There are lots of countryside pursuits close by.  Horse riding is popular and there are many cycling circuits called Randonees.  The roads are generally quiet and you can enjoy the peace and tranquility of the countryside from your bike without having to worry too much about traffic - although do watch out for the tractors!

There are many rivers to explore - the Lot and the Garonne rivers to the south and the Dropt river that runs close by.  You can hire canoes on the Dropt at Allemans and Eymet - both about fifteen kilomtres away.

The Dordogne River

The River Dordogne is only about twenty kilometres away.

Visit the ancient settlement of Bergerac with its old town, restaurants and river boat trips to explore.  Bergerac is a bustling town with lots of shops both modern and ancient and a very good market every Saturday.

Heading east from Bergerac following the road that runs alongside the river we recommend a visit to Tremolat where the road climbs to the Cingle de Tremolat - you can look down on the two enormous meanders of the river.  Drive on to Limueil where the River Vezere joins the Dordogne.  There's a very good cafe bar over looking the confluence and the two road bridges - one crossing the Dordogne, the other the Vezere.

You can swim in the Dordogne at Limeuil where there's a very nice beach.  You can also hire a canoe - the hire company will take you up stream to Soirac and drop you off.  It's a three hour gentle paddle back to Limeuil through some very pretty countryside, villages and even passed some pretty dramatic cliffs.

Further east you come to the really spectacular towns of Baynac and Castelnaud.  Each has a dramatic castle perched on a cliff - one built by the English and the other by the French.  Park at the bottom of the hill in either town and walk up to the castle if you are feeling energetic.  Alternatively you can drive up and explore on foot when you reach the summit.

Keep an eye on Google because at Castelnaud there are regular demonstrations of medieval weapons and battles.  Children get to dress up as medieval warriors and even fire the trebuchet.

Move on again and you will reach La Roque Gageac - a town built right up against the rock face and often into it.  The road and houses are forced into a narrow ribbon because of the dramatic over hanging cliffs.

Once again you can hire canoes here and take a leisurely paddle along the river.

Further Afield

There's just so much to do if you travel just a little further.

In fact, there's so much we could be writing pages and pages...

But here are just a few options for you to research and perhaps come up with a plan for when you arrive.  If you need help just get in touch and we'll be able to make some suggestions too.

Prehistoric life - follow the River Vezere east and you will come to Les Eyzies and Lascaux.  Both are important historical sites with some of the earliest evidence of humans on the planet.  The cave paintings are particularly entrancing - to imagine a human painting on the walls of the cave 15,000 years ago.

There are natural wonders to behold, too... just look up the Gouffre de Proumeyssac cave to see an example of what's in store for you...

Lascaux is simply stunning - a World Heritage site and worth the fairly long trip to see.

Sarlat de Caneda is a medieval town with a very well preserved old quarter.  Very well worth a visit.

At Le Bugue you'll find a water park and aquarium.

Heading west the world famous wine town of St Emillion is about an hour away and the fabulous city of Bordeaux is just one hour and thirty minutes.

Wine

We're going to finish this section by talking about wine.

Just fifteen kilometres to the north of Fon du Bourg, just were the soil changes from clay to chalk you will find the world famous wine producing region of Monbazillac.

The gorgeous chateaux and town are up on the hills overlooking Bergerac and are very well worth a visit.  You can organise wine tasting or have a meal with paired wines if you want to make an occasion out of it...

But there are many chateaux around, often offering wine tastings (you'll see the signs for Degustation) and tours.  You can even visit the wine co-operative at Segoules - twenty kilometres away.  The wine is great, you can try before you buy and you'll be supporting local wine producers by buying directly from them... and you'll get a 5% discount if you mention Fon du Bourg!

We buy our wine by the box from Segoules!

All around the region there is so much to do for children and adults alike...