Dordogne

Dordogne

Dordogne

Our highlights from a week’s holiday in the South West of France, exploring the excellence of the area by e-bike, canoe — and our dinner plates! Jump to the trip details.

Our highlights from a week’s holiday in the South West of France, exploring the excellence of the area by e-bike, canoe — and our dinner plates! Jump to the trip details.

Our highlights from a week’s holiday in the South West of France, exploring the excellence of the area by e-bike, canoe — and our dinner plates! Jump to the trip details.

The view of the house
The view of the house
The view of the house

We hopped on the Eurostar from London to Paris, switched trains at Montparnasse (with just enough time to stop at the Poilâne bakery for a few tasty treats), before the TGV took us on to Bordeaux. We hired a car through Virtuo from Bordeaux station to drive inland to Biron (around 2 hours).

We hopped on the Eurostar from London to Paris, switched trains at Montparnasse (with just enough time to stop at the Poilâne bakery for a few tasty treats), before the TGV took us on to Bordeaux. We hired a car through Virtuo from Bordeaux station to drive inland to Biron (around 2 hours).

We hopped on the Eurostar from London to Paris, switched trains at Montparnasse (with just enough time to stop at the Poilâne bakery for a few tasty treats), before the TGV took us on to Bordeaux. We hired a car through Virtuo from Bordeaux station to drive inland to Biron (around 2 hours).

A bakery in Paris
The bakery exterior
A bakery in Paris
The bakery exterior
A bakery in Paris
The bakery exterior
Bordeaux station interior image
Bordeaux station interior image
Bordeaux station interior image

We stayed in a beautiful gîte, which we discovered through Sawdays. Its relaxed accommodation and extensive outside space, fruit trees and salt water pool were just what we needed. The house was the former home of French Huguenot potter, Bernard Palissy.

We stayed in a beautiful gîte, which we discovered through Sawdays. Its relaxed accommodation and extensive outside space, fruit trees and salt water pool were just what we needed. The house was the former home of French Huguenot potter, Bernard Palissy.

We stayed in a beautiful gîte, which we discovered through Sawdays. Its relaxed accommodation and extensive outside space, fruit trees and salt water pool were just what we needed. The house was the former home of French Huguenot potter, Bernard Palissy.

The view of the house
Fruit trees in the garden
The view of the house
Fruit trees in the garden
The view of the house
Fruit trees in the garden
The view of the garden
The view of the garden
The view of the garden

Château de Biron sits at the heart of the village. Built in stages over hundreds of years, the reddy hues of its stonework give it a warmth and glow. Once inside, visitors are free to explore the castle and enjoy the Dordogne landscape from various viewpoints. Alongside the château, Biron has a well-stocked local store and a restaurant.

Biron is nestled between three of France’s most beautiful villages – Monpazier, Monflanquin and Villeréal. Each has a market day worth visiting (our favourite was in Monpazier on a Thursday morning).

Château de Biron sits at the heart of the village. Built in stages over hundreds of years, the reddy hues of its stonework give it a warmth and glow. Once inside, visitors are free to explore the castle and enjoy the Dordogne landscape from various viewpoints. Alongside the château, Biron has a well-stocked local store and a restaurant.

Biron is nestled between three of France’s most beautiful villages – Monpazier, Monflanquin and Villeréal. Each has a market day worth visiting (our favourite was in Monpazier on a Thursday morning).

Château de Biron sits at the heart of the village. Built in stages over hundreds of years, the reddy hues of its stonework give it a warmth and glow. Once inside, visitors are free to explore the castle and enjoy the Dordogne landscape from various viewpoints. Alongside the château, Biron has a well-stocked local store and a restaurant.

Biron is nestled between three of France’s most beautiful villages – Monpazier, Monflanquin and Villeréal. Each has a market day worth visiting (our favourite was in Monpazier on a Thursday morning).

The chateaux in Biron
Sheep on a hillside
The chateaux in Biron
Sheep on a hillside
The chateaux in Biron
Sheep on a hillside
Pottery inside the chateax
The chateaux in Biron
Pottery inside the chateax
The chateaux in Biron
Pottery inside the chateax
The chateaux in Biron

Another highlight was dinner for two at O’Plaisir de Sens in La Roque-Gageac. We savoured white asparagus for starters, plates of pigeon and lamb shoulder for our mains, and desserts of rice milk ice cream and a praline & chocolate pudding. Our outdoor table enabled us to enjoy the ambience and atmosphere of the courtyard. All in all, the food and impeccable service made for a very enjoyable evening.

Another highlight was dinner for two at O’Plaisir de Sens in La Roque-Gageac. We savoured white asparagus for starters, plates of pigeon and lamb shoulder for our mains, and desserts of rice milk ice cream and a praline & chocolate pudding. Our outdoor table enabled us to enjoy the ambience and atmosphere of the courtyard. All in all, the food and impeccable service made for a very enjoyable evening.

Another highlight was dinner for two at O’Plaisir de Sens in La Roque-Gageac. We savoured white asparagus for starters, plates of pigeon and lamb shoulder for our mains, and desserts of rice milk ice cream and a praline & chocolate pudding. Our outdoor table enabled us to enjoy the ambience and atmosphere of the courtyard. All in all, the food and impeccable service made for a very enjoyable evening.

The exterior of the restaurant
The restaurant at dusk
The exterior of the restaurant
The restaurant at dusk
The exterior of the restaurant
The restaurant at dusk
The starter of white asparagus
Pudding
The starter of white asparagus
Pudding
The starter of white asparagus
Pudding

Well rested, we headed out to canoe along the Dordogne – a 16km route that gently winds its way through the landscape from Vitrac to Beynac. There are plenty of spots to stop along the route for a pause and a picnic.

Well rested, we headed out to canoe along the Dordogne – a 16km route that gently winds its way through the landscape from Vitrac to Beynac. There are plenty of spots to stop along the route for a pause and a picnic.

Well rested, we headed out to canoe along the Dordogne – a 16km route that gently winds its way through the landscape from Vitrac to Beynac. There are plenty of spots to stop along the route for a pause and a picnic.

The view along the Dordogne river
The view along the Dordogne river
The view along the Dordogne river
A view from the river bank
Oars lent by the cabin
A view from the river bank
Oars lent by the cabin
A view from the river bank
Oars lent by the cabin

The area is home to two gardens – they’re a short distance apart but with very contrasting terrain. Marqueyssac gardens is positioned 200m above the river Dordogne and provides far-reaching views. In the next village, and at the foot of the valley, is a dense forest of bamboo to explore.

The area is home to two gardens – they’re a short distance apart but with very contrasting terrain. Marqueyssac gardens is positioned 200m above the river Dordogne and provides far-reaching views. In the next village, and at the foot of the valley, is a dense forest of bamboo to explore.

The area is home to two gardens – they’re a short distance apart but with very contrasting terrain. Marqueyssac gardens is positioned 200m above the river Dordogne and provides far-reaching views. In the next village, and at the foot of the valley, is a dense forest of bamboo to explore.

The gardens
The gardens
The gardens
People exploring the gardens
A person holding a map
People exploring the gardens
A person holding a map
People exploring the gardens
A person holding a map
A place within the gardens
A place within the gardens
A place within the gardens
Bamboo gardens in the Dordogne
Bamboo gardens in the Dordogne
Bamboo gardens in the Dordogne

Starting out from Villeréal, we hired e-bikes and covered a 60km route over three hours one afternoon. Many of the roads and tracks were car-free and wound their way through fields and forest. There’s even the Domain de a Tuque vineyard en route for a wine tasting.

Starting out from Villeréal, we hired e-bikes and covered a 60km route over three hours one afternoon. Many of the roads and tracks were car-free and wound their way through fields and forest. There’s even the Domain de a Tuque vineyard en route for a wine tasting.

Starting out from Villeréal, we hired e-bikes and covered a 60km route over three hours one afternoon. Many of the roads and tracks were car-free and wound their way through fields and forest. There’s even the Domain de a Tuque vineyard en route for a wine tasting.

A vineyard
Chateaux de Biron
A vineyard
Chateaux de Biron
A vineyard
Chateaux de Biron

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Our monthly newsletter is full of ideas, insights, project updates and the places we’ve discovered. Delivered on the 3rd of each month.