The nearby town of Brantome, known as the Venice of the Dordogne, is truly delightful. An early evening visit is recommended - dine at Moulin des Abbayes. The local village and chateau of Bourdeilles is also worth a trip.

market days
Monday morning - Tocane St Apre
Saturday morning - Perigueux
Friday morning -  Brantome, and Riberac
Saturday and Wednesday morning - Perigueux - plus a small fresh produce market held every morning.

local produce and wine
The Dordogne is one of the gastronomic centres of the world, famous for its foie gras, duck, truffles and mushrooms. There are many excellent, inexpensive restaurants in the area that use traditional cooking recipes. The famous vineyards of Medoc and St Emilion are close by and the local wines of Bergerac, Yquem, Monpazier and Cahors are also excellent. See www.bordeaux.com for details of the vineyards around Bordeaux.

The vineyards of Bergerac - via Bergerac to Montbazillac (see the chateau) and then to Pomport to a wine tasting at Chateau Belingard, Sigoules, Saussignac, Duras and then back via Eymet (eat at Restaurant des Italians).

The vineyards of St Emilion - via Bergerac and Saint Foy Ia Grande to St Emilion, stopping on the way at Velines LFB to buy Limoges porcelain at excellent prices. Lunch at L'Hostellerie de Plaisance in St Emilion or if not on the way back at Port Sainte Foy.

the Dordogne region
The Dordogne is rich in pageantry. The English ruled Aquitaine for 300 years in the Middle Ages under the Plantagenets and there are many castles, bastide towns and fortified churches to visit. See the old town of Bergerac and take a small trip on the Dordogne by boat. Antique market the first Sunday of the month until 12 noon. Or visit the cathedral town of Perigueux with a Roman theatre.

prehistoric cave art
The Dordogne and Vezere valleys are world famous for the art of prehistoric man and are known as the 'birthplace of art'. The region has over a hundred prehistoric painted caves up to 22,000 years old, the most accessible including Lascaux II, Fonte-de-Gaume, Rouffignac, Cougnac and Peche Merle in the Lot.

golf & sports
The area has an excellent choice of courses including Chateau des Vigiers at Saussignac (27 holes). Marsac at Perigueux. There are a variety of other activities to choose from including horse riding, canoeing, bicycling and fishing and, of course, walking.

Kayaking
Wonderful kayaking through Brantome, Bourdeilles from our local river venue at Renamon in Grand Brassac

Cap du Ferret
This is the largely undiscovered (except by the French) sandy, pine ridged peninsula jutting south of Bordeaux. Wonderful waves for surfing to the west and gorgeous, estuary/mucking about on boats beach life to the east among the oyster beds. All contained in an area 30km by 8km. Two hours from Grand Brassac to its sandy tip with views across Le Bassin du Archachon towards Pyla, Europe's largest and mountainous sand dune stretching 2kms along the coast.