Location description from owner

The Dordogne region

Aquitaine/Dordogne

The Dordogne is located in south-western France, between the Loire Valley and the Pyrenees. It is a beautiful, unspoilt region, rich in wildlife and history, with a multitude of tourist attractions, including chateaux, vineyards, sports, ruins, museums and more. It benefits from mild winters and warm summers, with temperatures around 25-30 degrees in summer, but it can be as high as 35 degrees.

There is a wealth of historic sites in the region, including Roman ruins in Périgueux, the painted cave of Lascaux, and over 1500 medieval and renaissance castles. The centre of pre-historic studies is the small town of les Eyzies, home to the newly rebuilt Museum of Pre-History. The valley of the River Vezere is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, containing 147 prehistoric sites dating from the Palaeolithic era and 25 decorated caves.

The region is noted for its cuisine, especially products related to ducks and geese, such as foie gras, and is the most famous truffle area of France. Regional wines include Bergerac, Bordeaux, St Emillion and Monbazillac.

La Douze

La Douze

The cottage is situated close to the peaceful village of La Douze, on the main road between Perigueux and Le Bugue. Although the village is within walking distance, a car is recommended.

La Douze is located in a lush green valley, with a backdrop of nearby trees. The village is organised around a central plaza, occupied by an immense town hall. There is a beautiful Gothic 15th century church, ample parking, an open market on Sunday mornings, two bars/restaurants, charcuterie, epicerie, bakery, and fruit and veg shops.

There is a golf course within just 10 minutes' drive of the cottage, and an 18-hole course at Perigueux, 30 minutes away.

Perigueux

Perigueux is a medieval city, some 20km away, situated on the banks of the river Isle. It is divided into 3 sections: the Cité (the old Roman town), Le Puy St-Front (the medieval town) on the slope of the hill, and to the west, the modern town. It is a cultural centre and offers many festivals, exhibitions and concerts especially during the Summer months. There are Roman ruins, museums, markets on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, theatres, cinemas, swimming pools and excellent restaurants, cafes, and terrace bars. The Cathedral of St-Front is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France. Le "Petit Train" will take you all around Perigueux's most interesting sights.

Other places nearby:

Picturesque Sarlat is 25km away with its stunning architecture, restaurants and famous Saturday market. There are also drama, music and film festivals as well as several large supermarkets.

Lascaux caves and other historic sites and museums, including the "Gouffre de Padirac" and monastic buildings in the pilgrimage village of Rocamadour.

The river Dordogne is great for watersports, and canoeing is one of the best ways to see the fortress chateaux perched on the cliff-tops in the valley

There are lakeside beaches around the region, and white sandy beaches and the largest sand dune in Europe is 2 hours 30 minutes away, near Arcachon.

Activities nearby: Bird Watching, Canoeing, Cycling, Drawing and painting, Fishing, Golf, Gourmet dining, Horse riding, Mountain biking, Photography, Rambling, Riverside activities, Shopping, Swimming, Walking, Wine tasting