banb-dordogne.co.uk
Les
Vignes, Bed and Breakfast
Please
contact
us to book a room or to enquire further
Telephone: +33 (0)5 53 60 75 35
Mobile: +33 (0)6 32 07 29 23 or +33 (0)6 26 88 76 39
UK: +44 (0)1454 312847
Whole
House Rental
is Also Available.
Please
Contact
Us
for Details.
Whole
House Rental
is Also Available.
Please
Contact
Us
for Details.
Sandie and I thought we knew France. We'd spent winters
in the mountains and the summers anywhere you can name where the sun shines.
Nobody told us about the Perigord Vert in the Dordogne. We found it for
ourselves. And we stayed.
Our
house is a rambling 18th Century former farmhouse in Abjat, a village
in the heart of the wonderful Limousin-Perigord national park, and although
we still go to the mountains, this is where in the summer we meet our
many friends from all over Europe. The paradox of the Perigord-Vert is
that, although in the department of the Dordogne which is renowned for
its suffocating summer crowds, we enjoy here a sublime anonymity that
is largely undiscovered, even by the French. North of Perigeux and south
of Limoges, it is lush farmland and working villages, green hills and
valleys dotted with medieval townships - all that one dreams about in
the country which is still talked of as the gem of all Europe.
Somewhere
in the locality is a street market almost everyday of the week with stalls
piled high with everything from cherries as big as plums, foie gras and truffles,
duck in all its forms and producers selling wine straight from the vineyard;
without forgetting, of course, a myriad of locally made items from embroidered
tablecloths to the local Limoges pottery. Our village has a magnificent 8th
Century church, two lively bars and some shops including a traditional boulangerie
producing not only the best freshly baked baguettes in France (at least we
think so) but ensuring that we have superb straight from the oven croissant
each morning for breakfast. We are surrounded by lakes, some to fish in and
others with a beach and safe swimming. One such lake, is at Saint Saud Lacoussiere
just 6Km's away and many other attractions for a day out are easily reachable.
Prehistoric caves abound - forty eight at the last count - with traces of
life going back thousands of years before the pyramids were built. Visitors
can see astonishing engravings and paintings of horses, ibexes, reindeer and
bison. The whole area is steeped in history. Remember this is part of Aquitaine
with astonishing associations with our own history. An English king, Henry
II and his wife, the magnificent Eleanor of Aquitaine , ruled a kingdom which
stretched from the Scottish border to Bordeaux. Their son was the wonderful
Richard I (the Lionheart) who we all revered as schoolchildren. He was killed
with an arrow in his chest just up the road from us while besieging the castle
at Challus.
Just
a car drive away is a magnificent medieval town of Brantome with its Benedictine
abbey dating back to Charlemagne on the banks of the Dronne and early sixteenth
century stone bridge. This lovely town with its superb sightseeing, market,
restaurants and coffee shops is truly referred to by the rest of Europe as
'the Venice of Perigord'. We could mention the old town of Nontron, just down
the road with its antique doll and knife museums, the medieval town of Bergerac
or even the little village of Piegut-Pluviers, a mile or so away with the
remains of the 12th Century fortress pillaged by King Richard ('plus a couple
of good restaurants where you can feast, foie gras included, for English bar
food prices' - Marshall). Naturally we must not forget the sort of activities
that families look for on holiday and we have them here in abundance. Canoeing
at Brantome, for example, the Acrobois at Bussil Gallant with assault courses
and daring swings through the trees, to give a thrill to all ages. A few miles
from Abjat is what has been described as the grand prix of go-karting tracks.
Everyday
is filled with interest but you're not compelled to go anywhere once you've
enjoyed croissant and superb coffee on our terrace. You can simply stay at
home with us, if you prefer. We have a pool and a cool glass of wine always
on hand and a buffet evening meal if you wish. Our rooms are all tastefully
appointed, some with facilities en-suite, from 50 euros per night per couple,
breakfast included. We look forward to seeing you.
Please Contact us to book a room or enquire further.
Telephone:
+33 (0)5 53 60 75 35
Mobile: +33 (0)6 32 07 29 23 or +33 (0)6 26 88 76 39
UK: +44 (0)1454 312847
Whole House Rental is also available
