The Region
We are in the north of the Dordogne department, in the Perigord Limousin Parc Naturel. The river just across the field from our house forms the border with the Charente, and the Haute Vienne is not far away. It is a hilly region of woodland and farmland, with many rivers, streams and small lakes. It is ideal for walking and cycling, with well marked footpaths around many villages and longer distance paths nearby, including one of the national Grand Randonnees, the GR4.
Lakes nearby at St Estephe and St Mathieu offer man made beaches for swimming, and boating and fishing are available.
There is a weekly market at nearby Piegut Pluviers, where you can sample and buy the traditional foods, wines and spirits of the region. Local producers sell home made products and from further afield there are excellent cheese and fishmongers' stalls.The aperitif, Pineau des Charentes is widely drunk in the region, as are walnut and chestnut liqueurs, apple juice and cider. There are duck dishes including confit, foie gras, rillettes and pate. Jambon cru and many varieties of sausages are also traditional, and there are some excellent cheeses, including hand-made goats cheese. Fruit and vegetables are available all year round, with beautiful displays of local melons, garlic, mushrooms etc when in season.
There is a local vineyard at St Sornin producing vin de pays, with wine tasting and wines for sale. The Bordeaux wine region with towns such as St Emilion can be visited in a day. Cognac is about an hours drive west, and the Atlantic coast can be reached in about 2 and half hours. The historic city of Brantome with its old abbey, winding streets, pretty rivers and canoeing is about an hour away and the chateaux of Puygulheim and Bourdeilles, the caves at Villars or the beautiful village of St Jean de Cole can easily be visited on the same day. About an hour in the opposite direction is the burned out wartime village of Oradour sur Glane with it's memorial centre, and a visit here can be combined with a trip to the modern art museum in the chateau at Rochechouart, the adventure Parc de Bellevue near Limoges, the city of Limoges or the porcelaine town of Aixe sur Vienne.
Local Heritage
The visitors centre and museum at the chateau at Varaignes, about 10km away, have half day and day long courses in various local traditions. Courses for 2005 are likely to include forges of the area (including visits), charcoal making, local mills (including visit to a working walnut oil mill), weaving, rope-making, medieval cookery, medicinal plants, the apple juice industry (visits to orchards). See links.
Various old mills and forges in the area are open to the public.
The knife factory at Nontron has a visitors centre where one can see the famous Nontron knives being made.