THINGS TO DO (At the house)
Tennis rackets and golf clubs are provided as well as base ball bats and gloves are provided.
There’s also a badminton net which can be set up in the garden, with racquets provided.
There is a croquet set and boules which can be set up on the large lawns to the front of the house.
There are a number of board games (backgammon, 2 chess, etc) in the house, plus a bridge table and playing cards.
THINGS TO SEE (In this region)
The Dordogne river was the frontier of the battle between France and England (where British King Richard Lionheart fought and died).
Perigord with its castles, caves, forests was a very important center of the WWII Resistance and frontier of free France between free France and Germany.
Josephine Baker, who bought the castle Les Milandes, was a very active american resistant and intelligence officer.
Nearby are many stunning chateaux that are well worth a visit – Beynac, Castelnaud, Commarque, Les Milandes, Fénelon, Biron, Puymartin and Bourdeilles to name but some.
There are also some exceptional gardens that are open to the public – Jardin/Manoir d’Eyrignac and Marqueyssac as well as Les Milandes spring immediately to mind.
Amongst the many ecclesiastical buildings of note are the Abbeys of St Amand de Coly and de Cadouin.
Fascinating small towns and villages abound – Rocamadour, Domme, Salignac, La Roque-Gageac, Montignac (where the 4 caves of Lascaux are located), St Cybranet, La Roque St Christophe, Léon-sur-Vézère, etc.
In terms of food: truffles and foie gras are a speciality in the many good-to-outstanding restaurants in the region, including the market and restaurants in the nearby medieval town of Sarlat.
There are open-air markets in numerous local towns and villages (Sarlat, St.Cyprien, Montignac, etc.), taking place on different days of the week (details are included in the House Manual) are full of local healthy food and specialties.
Very well worth a visit is the Saturday market in Sarlat, Wednesdays market in Montignac and St.Cyprien’s market on Sundays.
Fairs, festivals and concerts are held in the region throughout the summer, including the amazing party at the castle of Beynac (Richard Lionheart’s) over the Dordogne river on August 15th, including the renowned Film Festival every November. Details are included in the House Manual and are also available in the Tourist Office in Sarlat.
The nearest golf course (9 holes) is Golf de Rochebois at Vitrac (18 kms). Golf de la Forge (also 9 holes) is at Siorac-en-Périgord (20 kms), whilst the 18 hole Golf la Croix de Mortemart is near Le Bugue (25 kms).
Canoes and kayaks can be hired at various points on the magnificent Dordogne river to paddle serenely past beautiful castles and villages and negotiate some gentle rapids (Roquegeoffre is one of the oldest and most renowned).
There are numerous local riding stables where everything from lessons to pony-trekking can be arranged.
Hot-air ballooning is a special attraction, with many ballooning organisations to choose from.
The pre-historic caves of Lascaux (iv) in Montignac and their fascinating cave men wall paintings are world-renowned. Also well worth a visit are the Grotte du Grand Roc, Grotte de Rouffignac and the Gouffre de Padirac (and its incredible under ground river), Le Bugue (with an excellent aquarium), etc.
