The Surrounding Area

Aquitaine is steeped in history and there are countless towns and historic villages that are fascinating in themselves as well as offering a diverse range of activities to enjoy, from the pleasures of experiencing the area's superb cuisine and wines all the way to the thrills of go-karting in Bergerac or canoeing down the Dordogne.

Here's a taste of what the region has to offer

Bergerac

Both the nearest town to the gite and the largest after Bordeaux, its history is primarily as a port, acting as an export hub for the areas wines and wood products. To that effect there are a number of fascinating museums including the Inland Waterways Transport Museum, the Costi Museum and Bergerac's wine museum.

The town is also the home of the well-known French nobleman Cyrano de Bergerac whose profile was raised dramatically by the fictional play by Edmond Rostand

Structures of interest are Bergerac's spectacular churches and the extraordinarily picturesque old bridge, dating back to Bergerac's days as a thriving port.

Eymet

The medieval bastide of Eymet sits on the river Dropt in the département of the Dordogne. Founded in 1270, it continues to be a vibrant market town to this day.

Eymet’s turbulent past provide an excellent focus of interest for the history lover. The town also features several good restaurants and the market is always guaranteed to be both busy and engaging.

Beynac

Beynac is the site of probably one of the finest castles in France.

The castle played its part as a fortress for both the English and the French in the Hundred Years War, ending the war as a French stronghold. It's spectacular architecture and masonry have fascinated photographers and painters alike.

Ste Foy la Grande

West of Bergerac, Ste Foy la Grande is the first major town that you will encounter on the way to Bordeaux. The town contains many ancient buildings and enjoys one of the largest markets in the area.

Interestingly, the town also boasts a considerable legacy relating to the Knights Templar dating back to the 13th century and several properties in the region have stories to tell relating to these historical figures.

Duras

Situated just over the border in Lot et Garonne, Duras is situated on top of a hill and provides a spectacular view overlooking the countryside of the neighbouring Gironde.

Chateau de Duras has daily tours in the summer and its history will engage young and old alike. The town has several excellent restaurants and has a first rate market every Monday morning.

Bordeaux

Famous as the very heart of the wine trade that was built up between England and France prior to the Hundred Year War, Bordeaux remains the most vibrant city in Aquitaine, both culturally and economically.

The city sits on the Gironde and has a busy city centre accessible by its modern tram system. Bordeaux, as well as being easy access via the péage, is a straight–forward train journey from Bergerac. All varieties of entertainment can be found at its centre, be it in its glorious opera house, in its many superb restaurants or dancing into the night in its night clubs.

Activities

Aquitaine offers many possible entertainments during your stay. Here we give you just a small taste of the myriad options available.

Wine Tasting

A visit to Aquitaine simply wouldn't be complete without taking the opportunity to sample the region's first class wines. Bergerac itself is most noted for the Pécharmant wines and one doesn't have to go too far afield before one encounters the world famous St Emilion and Haut–Médoc. Tours of some of the greatest chateaux in the world are readily available.

However, for those not wishing to drink and drive, some very pleasant table wines are also available from our neighbour's chateau!

Eating Out

Attempting to name all of the fantastic eateries in the area would take forever, but there are a few that are particularly worthy of mention. La Tour in Ste Foy la Grande offers fantastic wines and superb gourmet cuisine at a reasonable price. L’Hostellerie des Duc, situated only a couple of villages away in La Force, offers superb value with its Plat du Jour. Sel et Poivres in Bergerac is a friendly, family–run restaurant providing traditional French cuisine at a reasonable price. L’Imparfait in Bergerac lies at the very top of the culinary market. Connoisseurs of excellent wine and food will savour the experience, however it is advised to reserve in advance.

For those with a taste for spicy Vietnamese cuisine La Lune d'Asie in Bergerac town offers a fantastic menu.

Golf

Chateau des Vigiers golf course is a half-hour drive away from the house and boasts an excellent European–standard 18–hole course. A little further afield is Tombeboeuf, situated in Lot et Garonne, which while being a smaller 9–hole course, offers a very challenging game.

Go–Karting

Just on the edge of Bergerac, you can find an excellent open air go–karting track that will prove an exciting way to spend a day during your stay in the area.

Canoeing & Kayaking

With both the Dordogne and the Gironde rivers within easy reach of the house, many companies offer the opportunity to rent a canoe or kayak to take in the beautiful scenery on either river. Many different routes are available with the option to pick a route as long or short as you wish.