Manoir du Jasmin is set in the southern Dordogne countryside with glorious views over rolling fields and vineyards.
Set just outside a small hamlet, it’s a short drive to the nearest village where you will find a boulangerie and small shop with essentials whilst the pretty bastide town of Eymet is also close by with its cafes, restaurants and supermarket. In a picturesque setting on the Dropt river, Eymet has some fine medieval architecture and a lovely weekly market on a Thursday morning. Look out for occasional night markets in July and August in the main square, an atmospheric place in the summer with its cafes and restaurants.
Food-lovers who are seeking some of the wonderful cuisine that the Dordogne is so well-known for have a great choice of excellent places to eat in the region. Bergerac, Monbazillac and Issigeac all have fine restaurants which are reasonably priced. The Michelin starred Le Vieux Logis in Trémolat is also a special place to visit, perhaps combined with a day out on the Dordogne river.
There are many excellent wineries to visit in the area, some only within a 15-minute drive or so. The Maison de Vins de Bergerac will also appeal to wine enthusiasts when visiting this remarkable historic wine-town so close to Manoir du Jasmin.
You’ll discover all sorts of regional delights at local farmer’s markets, some of the best being on a Sunday morning in Issigeac (also one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’) or a Saturday and Wednesday morning in Bergerac.
Other idyllic villages to visit include two more of France’s 'Plus Beaux Villages', Monflanquin and Monpazier, as well as bastide towns such as Beaumont-du-Périgord and Lalinde or delightful Limeuil on the Dordogne river. Take a boat trip on the Dordogne from Bergerac, hire canoes near Gardonne or head south to La Sauvetat-du-Dropt in the summer for kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddle-boarding and whitewater river trips on the Dropt river.
There is also a train service from Bergerac which takes you to the stunning market town of Sarlat-la-Canéda, taking one hour, or head west to the magnificent wine city of Bordeaux, around 75 minutes by train.
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.
