The Area:
The Dordogne, rising high in the Massif Central, meanders through some of the most beautiful scenery in France, cutting through limestone gorges, dense forests, lush green meadows and fields of maize and tobacco, which eventually make way for the vineyards of Bergerac and Bordeaux, along their banks are farms, honey stoned villages, medieval towns, magnificent chateaux and fortified 'bastides' striking reminders of the Hundred Year war, when under English rule in the middle ages the area was over run with fighting armies. Our pretty village of Villefranche de Lonchat is one of these 'Bastide Anglais' The medieval streets of St Emilion are filled with wine shops, and restaurants (15 mins) Bergerac- with its old town, tobacco museum and vineyards is 40 mins away. Perigueux, is the cultural heart of the region. Its lovely ancient streets wind around its famous five domed cathedral, and the centre is always bubbling with life! (50 mins away). The Atlantique beaches are only 90 mins away.
Today:
Good living is the all-pervasive theme of the Dordogne, and good living with a long history. Palaeolithic Man lived here and recorded the abundance of game on numerous cave walls. Nowadays, bison and mammoth are gone but a huge and tempting diversity of food is still on offer: tender lamb and game, confits of goose, duck or pork and famous pates flavoured with the 'black diamond' of the oak woods, the truffle. Just as well that the river and its siblings offer so many possibilities for sightseeing and exercise: canoeing, swimming or fishing or walking and riding. Gastronomy: Red and white wines of Bordeax-Medoc, St Emilion, Graves, Entre Deux Mers; red and white wines of Bererac, including Montbazillac sweet desert wine; red wines of Cahors, Foie gras; confits of goose, duck and port; tender lamb and game; pates flavoured with truffle; walnuts and Archachon oysters are all specialities of our area.
Prime attractions:
Bordeaux is synonymous with wine. The warm, sunny climate which favours the ripening of the grapes also makes this an ideal holiday is with an annual average temperature of only half a degree less than the Mediterranean. Villefranche de Lonchat nestles right between the Bordeaux and Bergerac vineyards. The village 'cave ' has a good inexpensive range of all the good regional wines. The local vineyards have plenty of wine tasting opportunities! Bordeaux, itself merits exploring with its fine 18c architecture, excellent shopping and restaurants, and at its heart the restored pedestrian-only area of the old city. Festivals: La Felibree folk festival is held on the first Sunday in July, each year. Villefranche de Lonchat hosted it in 1997, and it was a great day! Also in July, there is an international folk festival in Montignac, a jazz festival in Soullac. Another music festival takes place in Augus in Gourdont. The village fete of Villefranche de Lonchat is in August
Other Activities:
Wine tasting
