About the Area

climate
The weather in the Dordogne is typically warm and hot with plenty of sunshine hours. That's not to say it never rains - the thunderstorms can be spectacular. Average monthly temperatures are as follows :

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
7°c	9°c	12°c	17°c	22°c	25°c	27°c	27°c	24°c	16°c	10°c	8°c

the dordogne region
More than any other region of France or Europe, Périgord offers marvels for all tastes. This old countryside situated in the heart of the sunny south-west is the ideal region to spend ones holidays, a magical kingdom which will enchant all those who visit it.

Under the reign of English kings from the Middle Ages, Périgord was the theatre to the 100 year war, and the traces can be found everywhere; fortified churches, over 1000 castles and bastides, fortified towns built by the French and also the English to defend themselves. The best examples of these towns being Monpazier and Domme.

The Périgord can rightly be regarded as one of the most beautiful provinces in all of France. Everything there is worth seeing: the landscapes, intimate rather than vast, are sublime in their simplicity; endlessly undulating, with forests of chestnut trees separated by valleys which, once seen, are never forgotten: Dordogne, Vézère, Isle, Dronne; here are villages which remain intact, with sturdy old roofs whose tiles are burnished with age and scorched by the sun, not to mention countless châteaux.

According to legend: when the good Lord had finished strewing turrets and manor houses throughout the kingdom of France, he realised that far too many still remained in his basket. So he offloaded them with a thrust of his shoulder and, as luck would have it, those that were left were tipped into the Périgord!.

The Dordogne has no fewer than 1,500 châteaux, mansions and manor houses! This land rich in prehistoric remains which draws visitors from around the world is also the site of important vestiges of the Gallo Roman period, while the Roman era bequeathed almost 800 fortified churches to the Périgord, such as Saint Amand de Coly, Trémolat and Paunat, as well as other buildings. The sheer beauty, profusion and diversity of the monuments are very evident, for the Périgord embodies a veritable digest of the history of art in France. The relaxed rhythm of life that exists there today, together with the worldwide reputation of its gastronomy, make it an unforgettable location for your next holiday! Well aware of this singular state of affairs, the seventeenth century historian De Thou coined the following delightful adage: This land is so full of nobility that it can hardly contain it all.

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.

nearby spots to visit
A short drive will bring to the superb medieval town of Brantome where it is a delight to walk around the remarkable and ancient abbey founded by Charlemagne (742-814). With its soaring campanile this is one of the most elegant medieval and Renaissance buildings in the Dordogne, complete with caves used by the monks as kitchens and cellars. The town sits on a bend of the river Dronne and a stroll along the riverside is an unforgettable experience. Loads of brilliant restaurants complete the experience – you will come back. There are also boats trips available.

About 10 km down the river you come to the pretty village of Bourdeilles where there are two chateaux of different periods built on a fortified hill – a medieval fortress (13^th – 14^th century) and a Renaissance palace (16^th) with a remarkable collection of furniture. On the River Dronne you can rent a canoe.

Just a short distance away there is the little town of Riberac and is renowned for its Friday market – the best in the area and well worth a visit.

Not very far away is the town of Grottes de Villars and a short distance north of the town are the caves with some impressive stalactites and paintings more than 17,000 years old. It was discovered in 1953 and is the largest underground network in the Perigord. The underground river has hollowed out huge chambers connected to each other by galleries.

Nearby is the Chateau de Puyguilhem in a village of the same name. It is a fascinating structure way out in the woods a Renaissance masterpiece that fell into disrepair but was carefully restored after WW2 It contains some suburb Aubasson tapestries and fine furniture and several fireplaces that are carved with exceptional beauty.

Going a little way east from La Germanie just over the Charente border is Aubeterre sur Dronne. Its charming narrow streets wind through white stone houses and ancient buildings. Built in the shape of an amphitheatre this former stronghold is classified as one of France’s prettiest villages. The most outstanding and impressive monument in Aubeterrre is the underground church of St John. Carved entirely out of rock the main naïve reaches a height of 20m.

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