Self-catering holiday homes: Bezenac

Bézenac: In the hearth of Périgord Noir, a tiny village widely scattered on the south side of a hill overlooking the most beautiful part of the Dordogne valley.

Though very close of the highlights of Périgord, the place is peaceful, Bezenac is one step apart from the summer rush.

Bezenac, and generally speaking all of the Perigord, has memories of the past centuries. Les Eyzies de Tayac (15 km) is known as the capital of prehistory. The shelters of Stone, last book of Jean M. Auel, is set around Les Eyzies. There are also several famous painted caves closeby, with many enchanting stone sheds lost in the surrounding woods.

From Bezenac, you can enjoy many walks, both in the wooded hills that form the background or in the valley alongside the river. Several routes are well marked with yellow posts and you can find the map of these trips in the Mairie or the tourist office. You can easily reach the castle of Panassou following a little road like a balcony on the valley, or if you are braver, you can reach the fairytale castle of Beynac by taking the route which passes by the little church of Cazenac.

The River Dordogne is wide and twisting at the bottom of the village and an island is growing in the middle of the meander. From a shady beach, you can swim to it or just enjoy a relaxing afternoon in the coolness of the river. This part of the river is exceptionally quiet, even during main season.

Canoeing is a must. The view you get from the river onto the castles of Castelnau, Beynac or the village of La Roque Gajac are simply stunning. Two canoes-renters are located on Envaux beach, one km from Bézenac.

Near that beach is a tree-climbing park with passages on top of the trees overhanging the Dordogne. Ladders, ropes, nets; kids and teenagers will love it!

For the golfers, the Le Domaine de Rochebois golf course offers 9 holes at Vitrac 15 km away, and the Le Golf de L’Olivarie offers a full 18 holes at Siorac, just 14 km away.

An extraordinary experience is to discover the Dordogne valley from a hot-air-balloon, either early in the morning or at the end of the afternoon, when all winds have calmed down. You can find your pilot, Patrick Bécheau, at the Camping du Garrit camp site in Saint-Cyprien.

Stalactites caves are also exciting to visit and highly appreciated by kids. (Proumeyssac chasm 17 km)

For those that love good food and wine, "this is paradise on earth" to quote France's much loved King Henry IV. In Périgord, eating well is a way of life, as well as a source of pleasure and friendship. The country market at the medieval village of Saint Cyprien (4km) on Sundays will provide all the quality products to realise the famous cuisine périgourdine.

You find also at Saint Cyprien a supermarket, several shops and all the services (doctor, chemist, banks and post office) you might need during your Bezenac holiday.

On the main road, at the bottom of Bézenac, is a very well known cake shop/bakery called Lucco. The walnuts cakes are excellent for breakfast and you can even bring them back home.

You will also find all around the different types of restaurants, from the cheap but excellent repas à la ferme to the three stars table. For example, underneath Beynac castle (4 km), enjoy a meal on the terrasse overhanging the river at Maleville restaurant.

A life long is not enough to explore all the pleasures you can find in a circle of 40 km around Bézenac, if you come only for one week the problem is to make a choice!

Written by Hélène Carcenac- Owner of Property 9675 in Bezenac, France

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