In the house you will find a file full of leaflets from the nearby chateaux, museums, open-air cinema... There is full information regarding pony-trekking, donkey hire, carriage rides, canoeing/kayaking, painting courses, hire of bicycles etc. We have also put together a summary of this information, with the necessary phone numbers, to make it easier for guests to plan their time. Should you wish to make any arrangements before you come out, perhaps to enquire about painting courses or long-distance pony-trekking, taxis or bicycle hire, please let us know in good time and we will forward this summary to you.
July and August is the season for village fêtes. Every local town and village of any size has one or more fêtes. Expect sideshows, feasting, music, dancing and fireworks, which can often be seen from the garden. This is also the season of brocante fairs. Local markets are in every sense a feast, and St Antonin (which featured in the film 'Charlotte Gray') with its very large and very popular Sunday market is only thirty minutes away. In early September Cordes holds the 'Fete de la Bonne Vie', which is a food-lover's dream!
The countryside around is perfect for walking. We are close to several long distance GR footpaths including the GR des Gorges du Viaur and the GR 36 Gorges de l'Aveyron, Najac et Cordes. From the house we very much enjoy strolling along the little lanes, enjoying the views of Najac and Cordes and across to the Aveyron Gorges to the west. There is very little traffic on the lanes and such local drivers as you do meet are quite likely to offer you a lift! We have several books of local walks and maps for visitors' use, and have made a note of a few of our favourite walks, some on footpaths, some following the lanes. For those who like river swimming there is an excellent spot at Lagarde-Viaur, about 20 minutes from the house.
