about the area
A holiday here is about pottering about, drinking wine and coffee and eating local delicacies in a beautiful backwater of France that has been by-passed by much of modern life
The immediate area around the house is a conservation area known as the Enea Valley. There is a ruined chateau 300 metres away. The area is ideal for cycling or strolling; there is a network of quiet country lanes connecting the many small hamlets and villages within a 10 mile radius of the house. The River Dordogne is nearby to the South.
This view is from Castelnau, an ancient fortified castle and village nearby that looks across the Dordogne valley.
5 minutes away there is a cycleway that has been developed on the bed of a disused railway track. It provides a fantastic and really safe family-cycle experience. It passes alongside the River through some great countryside. There is also an 'adventure ropes course' and tennis courts within 10-15 minutes drive away.
Sarlat, the market-town centre of the region, is 15 minutes from the house. Sarlat is a preserved 16th century town (largely pedestrianised). It has a rural, street market each Saturday where local people buy genuine 'from-the-farm' produce; vegetables, cheeses and fois gras and wines. It also offers a great many excellent, very reasonably priced, restaurants and bars
The Dordogne and the Vezere River valleys offer wonderful countryside. There are spectacular gorges channelling broad tranquil rivers that are clean and beautiful.
There are a many good bathing spots. A good example near the house is a small shingle beach at the Bridge by St Julien de Lampon.
It is easy to hire kayaks or a large open canoe and paddle or drift downstream beneath 800ft cliffs riddled with caves and cliff houses dating back thousands of years. There are a number of places that provide large open canoes for hire. The river is gentle and safe even for family groups. You paddle or drift downstream and the hire company will pick you and the canoe up by minibus later.
Local amenities/ shops
The nearest source of bread and corner shop products is Carlux, 5 minutes drive away where there are also a restaurant, post office and a traditional butchers shop. For serious shopping, the E. LeClerc supermarket 10 minutes drive away, (en route to Sarlat) is most convenient. The Tourist Office is situated in the centre of Sarlat's pedestrian-only old town.
Restaurants
There are great many very good restaurants in the area. Sarlat has a wealth of them and there are a great many small but excellent places in isolated spots in the countryside.