Local Information

The Perigord Vert

Under English rule in the middle ages, the Perigord was renamed from the Dordogne under Napoleon. It was divided into four regions or corners — Blanc, Noir, Vert and Poupre Perigords. The Perigord Vert is aptly named because of the rich landscape of trees from nut and pine trees to heather and water. This green region has retained its character and to this day remains tranquil and unspoilt. This beautiful and unique area is now contained within the Perigord Limousin National Park.

Nights Out

Being a rural region, nightlife here usually tends to revolve around eating and drinking out in local restaurants, but having said that, a great deal of effort is made to entertain visitors during the summer. Several towns in the area offer Son et Lumiere shows, combining fireworks, lighting and music. Several towns hold annual night markets complete with outdoor restaurants. Anyone who knows the area will tell you that almost every weekend one village or another will be holding its annual fete, inevitably finishing with a spectacular firework display. Even small villages host concerts, recitals and fetes.

Days Out

There is a wealth of treasures and heritage to explore in the Dordogne from caves, chateaux, medieval cities and picturesque villages along with some of the most spectacular scenery. Whether you prefer cycling, trekking, horse-riding or canoeing down the rivers, wandering through the quaint old towns, there is plenty to see and do. Whatever your choice there is something for everyone. Just a few examples of other interesting visits are Brantome — known as the 'Venice of the Perigord' with its beautiful abbey, monastery gardens and canoeing. Also St Jean de Cole, “one of the most beautiful villages in France”, especially during the floralies in May. There is of course, Limoges and St Yriex for Porcelain and further down in the south of the Dordogne is Le Bugue with its famous caves, aquarium and its medieval village.

The region's rivers are ideal for canoeing. At Brantome, several businesses offer canoe hire for very reasonable rates along the stretches of the River Dronne — safe and suitable for all the family; life jackets and equipment are provided. There are various swimming lakes in the area including one in the nearby St Mathieu. The largest lake is in St Estephe with its water sports surrounded by cafes and bars. St Mathieu also offers fishing, tennis and horse riding. The narrow streets of old Perigeaux are well worth exploring for their wide choice of small cosy restaurants. Nontron is a nearby medieval town, famous for its knife-making, where you will find a selection of supermarkets, bakeries, butchers, banks, post offices and tourist information.

Eating Out

If you enjoy eating out then you couldn't have chosen a better region for your holiday. The Perigord is world renowned for its cuisine and fresh produce. Famous delicacies include the Foie gras, truffles, walnuts and of course the wine!

The region is abundant with good quality restaurants. Local villages offer most services and there is even a mobile shop which brings a range of fresh produce into the hamlet. Most of our visitors go to the Presbytere Restaurant, which offers great food, fantastic food and lovely views.

Markets

There are so many markets within the region that it is possible to buy books on the subject that will tell you all about the local speciality market days. Close by Piegut, Nontron and Brantome host local produce markets selling anything from shoes, clothes and crafts to fruit, vegetables and livestock – even including live goats! Local farmers come from miles around to sell their fruit, vegetables and meat produce. The area is extremely popular and famous for its renowned gastronomic delights with fresh produce every day of the week in the local towns and villages.

Shopping

Perigeaux is the regional, cultural and gastronomic capital of the Dordogne, but in addition to this, it also has a wealth of shopping possibilities to satisfy most tastes, ranging from boutiques to provincial department stores. Limoges and Angouleme are excellent for shopping.

Access

There are a number of airports the nearest being Limoges with daily low cost airline flights from London Stansted. There are also airports at Perigeaux, Bordeaux and Bergerac. Also Eurostar serves Limoges and Angouleme from Ashford International and London Waterloo. Angouleme being the TGV line. We are also well connected to main motorway links. The drive from Calais to Les Brousses is approximately 7 hours, depending upon traffic and auto route stops.

Additional information

Please do let us know if you require any further information on anything to do with the holiday property, surrounding area and/or region.