September may sound like a long way away but if your holiday in Bordeaux extends into September, and you are a lover of French wine, you may be interested in attending the Bounties of Bordeaux Wine Cruise 2011.

Being the largest producer of wine in France, Bordeaux is home to a multitude of wine festivals, tours and cruises. Although despite there being a large section of activities in Bordeaux influenced by wine, the Bounties of Bordeaux Wine Cruise is a one-of-a-kind tour.

Taking place on September 1 2011, guests of the cruise will be taken on a relaxing voyage on the Gironde Estuary, the Dordogne River and the River Garonne, taking in some of the most splendid scenery this particularly beautiful region of France has to offer on a comfortable and air-conditioned hotel barge.

Talking about the luxurious nature of the Wine Cruise, Jan Acorn, owner of Gateway Destinations, organisers of the Bounties of Bordeaux Wine Cruise said:

“With a 3-to-1 staff to guest ratio while cruising, guests will be pampered as they enjoy delicious regional cuisine prepared by our personal on-board chef. Servers are English-speaking and available to assist you throughout the day, but a self-serve wine and coffee bar is also available as an added convenience. The personal wine connoisseur will not only educate guests about the renowned Bordeaux wines, but will also lead an in-depth discovery of culture, history, gastronomy, and traditions of this rich region.”

Although wine is the main focus of this remarkable journey and guests will be introduced to some of the most sensational and delectable wines of the Bordeaux region by the Bounties of Bordeaux Wine Cruise’s personal wine connoisseur.

Your adventure on the Bounties Barge Cruise will not stop there, as this remarkable opportunity to witness the best countryside in the Dordogne includes a three night stay in a cosy, charming and rustic farmhouse hotel.

During the days not spent cruising down some of the most picturesque rivers in France, guests can spend their days exploring the truly tremendous and scenically diverse landscapes the Dordogne is blessed with.

Guests are also invited to spend a day truffle hunting whilst learning about the local delicacy.

Since they were discovered in the 1940s by a couple of schoolboys inquisitively scrambling around the Dordogne countryside, the Lascaux caves, near the village of Montignac, have been one of the Dordogne’s top tourist attractions, attracting almost 300,000 visitors each year.

The maze of caves contain some of the best-known Paleothlic cave paintings in the world, which are estimated to be more than 17,300 years old. So sacred are the caves of Lascaux that in 1971, they were added to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

But there has been concern and apprehension about the health of these ancient caves, which primarily consist of paintings of large animals, since patches of white mould and black fungus starting appearing on the walls in 2001.

Despite experts insisting that the fungus was no longer growing on Lascaux’s walls, last year the International Save Lascaux – which was established because of the fungal infection crisis – criticized the cave’s management for not reacting quickly enough and blaming the damage on an air conditioning system installed in 1998.

The public’s minds can now however be put at rest, as following a recent meeting of scientists in Paris, it has been confirmed that the caves are not in a state of decline. Speaking at a Press Conference, palaeonthropologist Yves Coppens said that the, “caves are alive and well” and that the “black spots are in decline”.

A visit to the magnificent French region of the Dordogne is not complete without a trip to the Lascaux caves. These almost cartoon like images mesmerise the imaginations of their visitors of the ancient narrative they illustrate.

These primeval depictions of civilization became the forerunners of the emblematic vision of contemporary art, literature and drama, producing insight and a vision into other possible worlds.

The Odyssee, Perigueux

This spacious and modern theatre is located right in the heart of the interesting and popular town in the north of the Dordogne. Hundreds of shows and performances are put on all year round which are open to the public during the evening and usually attract a younger audience during school hours. The Odyssee theatre has its own underground car park next door to cater for the influx of vehicles that arrive to the town when a show is on.

To find out more about forthcoming shows in the Odyssee visit the official website: www.odyssee-perigueux.fr

Centre Culturel, Bergerac

Experiencing some of the finest wine the Dordogne has to offer is not the only reason to visit the riverside market town of Bergerac. The Centre Culturel in Bergerac puts on a host of quality cultural performances to cater for diverge artistic tastes all year round, making it one of the Dordogne’s most theatrically creative cities. On 15 January 2011, the Centre Culturel will show the celebrated Les Choeurs de France. To buy tickets for this show and others visit: http://www.contactmusic.com/ticket/les-choeurs-de-france-257460

Reservoir, Perigueux

Also in Perigueux, the Reservoir puts on many interesting art exhibitions and music concerts all year round. The Reservoir boasts an impressive musical and artistic calendar and for those visiting Perigueux with a yearning for a touch of French music and culture, a trip to the Reservoir is imperative.

Find out more about the Reservoir’s concerts visit: http://annuaire-musique.narayana.fr/cafes,concerts/24,dordogne/reservoir-y668.html

Cinema La Fabrique and Theatre de la Poivriere in Saint-Astier

Just outside of Perigueux lies the small town of Saint-Astier, which, for its modest size, is geared up to bring a touch of theatrical genius to this part of the Dordogne, with two charming theatres, La Fabrique and La Poivriere. Both venues offer an array of artistic, musical and cinematic performances every month of the year.

Visit www.lafabrique.info for information about the Cinema La Fabrique’s schedule.

For further information about La Poivriere’s timetable visit: http://www.perigueux-city.com/theatre-de-la-poivriere-a-saint-astier.html

Being named after the great river Dordogne that runs through it, the particularly beautiful Dordogne is home to some of the most remarkable rivers in France and consequently proves to be a fisherman’s paradise.

The Verzere is a 211 kilometre-long tributary of the great River Dordogne which flows through a pictorial landscape of abundant woodlands, meadows and hillsides. Fishing for trout is popular on the Verzere, although a degree of patience is required as its bed of peat and granite produces more ‘nervous’ fish than fat ones.

Fishing in the River Dordogne is a real treat for fishermen

The mighty River Dordogne is home to grayling, pike, salmon, sea trout, shad and zander, although fishing for salmon and sea trout is prohibited on this river. From the towns of Argentat to Beaulieu the river is at its cleanest and is where you can fish for grayling. The Dordogne is a fast flowing river, although the hydroelectric barrage at Lalinde slows the river down, making it a good spot for wading.

Compared to the River Dordogne, the River Sorgue is a much slower flowing river due to a considerable number of weirs located along the river. Because of this, fishing conditions are more similar to those of a lake than a river, which appeals to the more amateur of fisherman.

It is important to note that a fishing permit, or ‘carte blanche’, is required to fish on any river in the Dordogne unless you book through a privately owned fishing holiday whereby licenses are usually included.

For more information on fishing in the Dordogne and France visit www.go-to-france.co.uk.

Looking for luxury accomodation in The Dordogne?

So, if you appreciate medieval architecture, culture and art then you really can’t go far wrong. Here are our top four things to see and do in the Dordogne:

Font de Gaume

Font de Gaume is a cave in southwestern France near Les Eyzies, where you’ll discover some very impressive cave drawings that date back over 25,000 years. This cave was inhabited around 25,000BC for a few thousand years and wasn’t actually discovered until the nineteenth century.

The paintings that you’ll see date back to around 17000 BC, the most famous being a frieze of five bison, which was discovered accidentally in 1966 while scientists were cleaning the cave.

Font de Gaume Entrance

Gardens of Marqueyssac

Open all year round, The gardens of Marqueyssac are listed as a National Historical Monument and offer more than 6 kilometers of shaded pathes, edged with 150 000 hand-pruned boxwoods aged over hundred years. The park is an absolute must for gardeners looking for inspiration.

It has been designed in such a way that you get the most incredible views over the entire Dordogne Valley with its chalky cliffs. There are three circuits that lead to the Belvedere, a fabulous balcony that is 192 meters high and 130 meters above the river, which offers the finest view in the Dordoign (we think).

Gardens of Marqueyssac

Vezere Valley Caves

The Vézère is a 211 km long river adjoining the Dordogne River. Along its path are networks of 25 decorated caves that are well worth checking out and are in fact a World Heritage Site (since 1979). There are 147 prehistoric sites dating from the Paleolithic age. You’ll find impressive cave paintings and hominid remains here.

Within the network you’ll see a cave called Weavers Castle that was actually recently inhabited by a 89 year old woman only 8 years ago. She’s lived here for 55 years with her husband believe it or not without electricity, running water, windows or doors! More information here.

Vezere Valley Caves

Chateau des Milandes

The Château des Milandes is a small castle dating back to 1489 that is well worth a visit. You’ll discover some impressive gardens and at the heart, a gothic styled castle that you can look around. The property has an interesting past, being gutted by fire and then restored earlier by an wealthy industrial entrepreneur. Today it stands proudly and welcomes thousands of visitors through it’s impressive doors every year. More info here.

Chateau des Milandes

Looking to hire a luxury private villa with a pool in the Dordogne?

La Périgourdine

The villa dates back to the XVIII century and has been lovingly restored, with a focus on bringing back to life many of the property’s original features, both inside and outside.

La Périgourdine has many of its original features

La Périgourdine's kitchen

The kitchen is well equipped and opens up to the terrace where you’ll find the private pool, which is positioned about 20m from the villa. You’ve got ample grounds to explore and relax in with very little noise to disturb your ambiance.

La Périgourdine's pool

The bedrooms are incredibly spacious with generous sized bathroom downstairs and a good shower room upstairs.

If you’d like more information about the property or what to do in the area please contact us to discuss or view the listing on our main website.

The pool is beautiful, the house well equipped, the owners lovely (and generous) – expect a welcome pack including chocolate mousse – yum !

Le Rual - A tranquil villa in South West France

La Rual's impressive pool

Although quite tranquil in the summer, there are still many things happening around and places to visit for people of all ages – for example.

Lacapelle-Biron: 30mn away:

• The Parc’en Ciel to climb from tree to tree with a little crazy golf

Le Bugue 1 hour drive but plenty to do

• The beautiful Aquarium
• The reproduction of a 1900s village with an old fashionned merry-go-round, an old school, shops, works such as blacksmith, bakers, etc….
• Caves, a nice market on Tuesday, a pretty town and a nice area of the Dordogne: a nice day out

There are also golf courses in the area, a fishing farm, lovely walks to Montacbrier for the brave where you can find a little grocery, bread, market, and all the welcoming warmth of the locals and people on holiday.

There are quite a few evening markets in the local vacinity as well, amongst them, the only one I have ever been to in Loubéjac, close to Maison Fleurie: an evening to never forget!

Loubéjac - The jewel of South West France

This tiny village of Loubéjac is so so pretty. A little winding road, a narrow lane runs through the village with a small square completely shaded by trees on one side and 2 or 3 houses and a lovely little church on the other side with a little field next to it. It’s boarded by old stone walls on three sides, like a courtyard and that opens up on the rolling fields. In that little grassy yard, local producers set up open air kind of kitchens or barbecues and cook, in front of you lay their lovely fresh produces. The hardest decision is choosing what’s on the menu: an organic lamb kebab with homemade chips or a lentil salad with roast chicken, crisp jucy pork or duck saucissages, patatoes cooked with cepes, bacon, parsley and garlic, creamy or stinky cheeses as you prefer, local wine, local fruit juices, home make tarts and cakes and ice creams and anything or everything you want.

It all smells so nice. Take a tray, buy what you want and sit with the locals at one of the long, long tables with benches, enjoy your food, the music, talking with the totally relaxed locals, dance and laugh in this gentle, mild summer evening.

Written by Louisa, our very local French representative. Please call us for more information.

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