Manoir Pomme Des Pins

Manoir Pomme Des Pins is set down a long driveway, away from busy roads and just on the border of the Lot-et-Garonne and Dordogne departments in southwestern France.

Despite being away from the crowds, the closest village is less than a 5-minute drive away and has a restaurant and other useful amenities, while more restaurants can be found in the surrounding villages, all within a 15-minute drive of the house. To stock up your wine fridge and make hearty dishes back at the manoir, you can drive for 10 minutes to the closest supermarket or wait to visit one of the nearby towns and its bustling markets.

In less than one hour by car, you reach Villeneuve-sur-Lot, a bastide town that's centre is situated between two old gateways, now classified as historic monuments. This is an ideal place to simply get lost, walk along the river bank and enjoy a slow pace of life, with restaurants, cafes and a couple of notable landmarks immersing you in the local culture.

Eymet, an attractive town, with a thriving central market square located on the banks of the Dropt River, is less than 10 minutes by car. Walk along the medieval streets lined with 13th to 15th-century houses, or look out over an attractive stone mill from the pathway running along the river. In addition, there’s a lively Thursday morning market offering a sense of the local traditions, with farmers selling everything from cheeses to lavender soaps. In addition, in the nearby vineyards and hills, there are many chateaux offering wine tastings too.

A bit further away, Agen can be comfortably explored in a day and offers a plethora of fun activities ranging from museums and landmarks to leafy parks and ambient streets lined with restaurants. In the city’s patisseries, boulangeries and market stalls, you can try the local delicacy – a sweet dessert or pastry stuffed with prune purée which is fantastic with a cup of coffee or tea.  On a sunny day, walk to the Pont-Canal d'Agen bridge and soak up the romantic atmosphere as you watch boats drive past or visit Musée des Beaux-Arts d'Agen – a 19th-century fine arts museum with European paintings and archaeological artefacts.

Offering excellent galleries, a thriving dining scene and great shopping, Bordeaux is an absorbing place where you’ll be able to spend an entire day exploring its welcoming squares and historic landmarks – so you’re lucky it’s just over one hour by car away. Visit the Grand Théâtre and the nearby Place des Quinconces for a dose of 18th-century grandeur, or head to one of the intimate bars and museums dedicated to wine, such as the hard-to-find Musée des Chartron occupying the architecturally splendid home of a former wine merchant built in 1720.

Read more about Dordogne

The pace of life in the Dordogne is languid, laid back and positively infectious. Relax in bucolic beauty as you drift along the Dordogne River, or wander among the forests and hillside of the Périgord Natural Park.

The foodie scene too, is a relaxed affair. Take your time over your lazy lunches of local duck, black truffles and goats cheese. If you’re feeling energetic, you can even hunt for them yourself. The wine here is second to none, with infamous grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chenin Blanc all having a huge presence here.

The Dordogne is also brimming with history. Castles and chateaux are scattered throughout the region, among the enchanting medieval villages. History of an altogether more ancient sort can also be explored in the incredible prehistoric cave drawings of Lascaux and Grotte de Rouffignac.

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