The setting of Le Vieux Moulin is just idyllic – it’s on an island in the Couze valley encircled by two rivers, accessed via a little bridge and surrounded by forests and countryside. Yet it is only a 5-minute drive to the nearest village, a charming place where you will find a lovely bistro by the ruins of a beautiful abbey, where summer concerts are sometimes held.
The bastide town of Beaumont-du-Périgord (5km) is also a short drive with restaurants, pretty shops and galleries. In the summer there is a wonderfully atmospheric night market on a Monday evening where you can sit on long-wooden tables, choose your food from one of the street-market traders and buy local wine to enjoy, there is even some dancing too. The most energetic of guests can stroll across the countryside to reach Beaumont-du-Périgord in around 35 minutes - it is a beautiful walk.
The Dordogne region offers endless activities for all ages from golf within half an hour to horse-riding, hiking and cycling across the magnificent countryside. Some of France’s most wonderful food markets are held across surrounding villages and towns where you can pick up amazing fresh produce such as local cheeses, breads, cakes, foie gras, canard as well as fruit and vegetables and there is also some superb wine-tasting across the region.
You are just a 20-minute drive to the glorious Dordogne river in Le Buisson-de-Cadouin where you can hire canoes, enjoy leisurely picnics or follow the river and explore some of the idyllic riverside villages such as Limeuil (20km), where the Vézère river meets the Dordogne and Trémolat (22km) with its Michelin starred restaurant. Further east are some of the Dordogne’s most famous attractions such as Beynac-et-Cazenac (40km) with its famous chateau, La Roque-Gageac (45km) and beautiful Domme (48km), officially one of France’s most beautiful villages.
Another one of France’s Plus Beaux Villages, Monpazier, is only 16km away, a bastide town dating back to the 13th Century and thought to be one of France’s most beautifully preserved villages. Issigeac (20km) is also worthy of a visit, especially on a Sunday morning when the bustling market takes place.
Not forgetting Bergerac (32km) with its medieval architecture, narrow streets of boutiques and great restaurants as well as the unmissable Maisons des Vins and the famous town of Sarlat-la-Canéda (50km) with its maze of medieval lanes, lovely squares and amazing restaurants specialising in cuisine of the Perigord.
The Region
Experience the magnificence of the Dordogne River whilst staying close to Bergerac, a historic town with a fine reputation for its wine, gastronomy, history and art. What’s more, Bergerac is easily accessible with its own international airport and it is just over an hour from Bordeaux with TGV connections to Paris.
In the Périgord Pourpre and wonderfully located for reaching the Lot-et-Garonne and Gironde regions of south-western France, Bergerac is classified as a city of art and history. A stroll around Bergerac’s old town will be high on your itinerary – explore medieval cobbled lanes as you admire half-timbered houses, pretty squares as well as inviting shops and restaurants as you follow the fictional footsteps of Cyrano de Bergerac. On a Wednesday and Saturday morning, don’t miss the delightful market near the handsome Notre-Dame de Bergerac.
Sail along the Dordogne from Bergerac on board a traditional gabarre vessel or take a walk by the river’s edge before finding an idyllic spot for a picnic. Cycling enthusiasts will adore the voie verte from the Canal de Lalinde towards Mouleydier, Creysse and Bergerac, partly following the banks of the river. There are of course ample opportunities for canoeing along the Dordogne or hiking through the Périgord Pourpre’s forests, orchards and vineyards - the region’s natural beauty will captivate you with its mild climate and idyllic riverside scenery.
Wine lovers should visit the Château de Monbazillac, just south of Bergerac, or spend time sampling other wine appellations at vineyards and wine châteaux near the likes of Montravel, Pineuilh and Saussignac. Back to the charming town centre, taste a range of excellent wine at Bergerac’s Maison des Vins by the old harbour.
Beyond Bergerac, there are so many pretty places to discover. To the south-east is picture-perfect Issigeac and the bastide town of Beaumont-du-Périgord, both hosting enchanting weekly markets. Market lovers will also adore Sainte-Foy-la-Grande by the banks of the Dordogne, home to one of the Gironde’s most beautiful markets on a Saturday morning.
