This house is also a home,
so all we really ask is that
it is treated with respect
and common sense.
Water is metered and expensive,
so care please in its usage.
No glass by swimming pool.
Please do not take the Ratin
furniture out side as rain
will damage it.
Extreme care with all aspects
of safety, especially : First
floor terrace and terrace
to rear of house. Please watch
children and do not lean on
balustrade. It is unsafe for
young children on the first
floor terrace. Please do not
allow them access.
Swimming Pool:
Safety again. It only takes
a child a minute to drown
!!!!!! Two life vests are
provided for the very young.
The pool is fitted with an
alarm but this must not be
considered. Surveillance at
all times. I can not stress
the safety aspect of the pool
with children enough . To
conserve the heat of the swimming
pool water, it is advisable
to put the cover on at night.
The automatic ( Robo) pool
cleaner swims around on its
own accord. I normally swim
with in on , however it can
be disconnected from the junction
of the wall and pipe.
Bicycles:
Three are provided for your
use. Please do not leave them
unattended when outside the
property.
Barbeques:
Several are provided for your
use. Please be careful with
fire.
Books: Enjoy
the books on the shelves..
Le petit fute is useful for
information and you will also
find some very good guide
books and maps and yellow
pages. Please however make
sure you do not take them
home with you.
SUPERMARKETS / food and wine:
They are numerous Hypermarkets
in the area. Remember to have
a euro coin for the trolley.
They generally do not provide
plastic carrier bags, so do
remember to take a carrier.
Several will be found in the
house.
The largest supermarket is
called E. Leclerc on the route
de Bordeaux ie past Mouleydier
until you get to the large
roundabout, turn left towards
signs to airport and Bordeaux.
Keep going straight and it
will be off a large roundabout.
15 minutes max from the house.
Another large supermarket
is just the other side of
LaLinde.
There is a small Epiciere
just outside the gate and
turn left for a 100 meters.
He is open from 6am till 11pm
except Thursdays. He is really
a specialist Bakery producing
Pain de Campagne made with
olive oil. Beware ,although
tasty ,it is extremely hard!
His Tart Tatan is superb and
for the brave why not try
one of his snail and cepe
pasties.
Cheese: the
indoor market in Old Bergerac
has a particularly good cheese
shop.
Wine: The
local wine area is Pecharmant.
Jolly good it is too. I find
it best to buy direct from
the Chateau. A good time can
be had sampling !
Pecharmant
can be bought at the farm
just behind the restaurant
of the local Chateau Les Merles.
Year 2000 especially good.
A visit to St-Emillion about
40 minutes drive is worth
the effort.
The local , world famous sweet
white wine is called Monbazillac.
Great after a meal! The chateau
is 12 minutes , by the airport.
A good place to buy wine is
at le Cave just turn left
outside the gate for half
a mile.
In old Bergerac there is “La
Maison des Vins “set
in an old monastry courtyard
“Cloitre des Recollets
“ where the process
of wine growing is explained
.
Markets:
The best place to buy fresh
and locally produced products
and crafts.
Lalinde :
Thursdays
Bergerac
: Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Issigeac :
** Sundays.
Restaurants
:
Perhaps one of the more enjoyable
aspects of a stay in France.
My recommendations are:
Chateau Les Merles
: Dutch owned and English
speaking. Just turn right
outside the gate and take
the next left. A few minutes
away.. My last guests reckoned
it was the best meal in their
life!
The courtyard at night is
lit with flaming torches and
you can just order drinks
here. The restaurant can offer
a Bistro menu in the Bar area
and in the main restaurant
it is possible to have an
8 course menu castronomic.
Each course is little more
than bite size and more of
an explosion of different
flavours. Great.
Le Vieux Logis :
at Tremlat 20 minutes away,
over the bridge at Lalinde.
This is special and expensive!
French TV will interview the
chef here regularly. It has
been reported in the English
press that if you only stay
one week in your life in France
, you have to stay here!
They also own the Bistro en
face, which is much cheaper
and more country cooking.
Le Tour des vents
: This is the place for a
hot Sunday lunch time sitting
outside in the shade overlooking
the plain of Bergerac. Situated
near Monbazillac 20 minutes
away.. Book at 12 but do not
expect to eat till 1.
One of my best meals ever.
Choose a hot sunny day and
sit outside!
Issigeac
: A perfect Sunday. Visit
the old town of Issigeac (
cross the bridge in Mouleydier
) and keep going. Go early
on Sunday and catch the famous
market here. You will hear
lots of English in the town!
After the market go to a local restaurant for a quality meal at
a reasonable price. Inside
or out.
Hotel Perigord
: In Lalinde. Excellent value
quality food.
L’Oasis
: On the left as you go into
Lalinde. Un assuming cheap
and excellent value . Four
course lunch with wine 10
euros.
Bar Rotunde
: Mouleydier: Josette and
Andre( Known for his Beer)
will serve you typically:
4 Beers followed by a large
terrine of soup, bowl of salad
with a walnut oil dressing,
steak, chopped shallots and
chips with French beans and
finally help your self to
the cheese board . swallowed
down with a carafe of wine
all for 35 euros the two of
you.. Good value n’est
pas.
Note: Mouleydier was burnt
to the ground by the Nazis
at the end of WW2 in reprisal
for attacks by the Resistance.
Le Petite Loup
: In Lalinde ... My favourite
watering hole. Better known
as Brunos. Cob webs on the
ceiling and good music. Known
to stay open until 4 in the
morning. Food tasty if you
like it with cigarette smoke.
Full of character!!!! 2 euros
a beer. 12 euros le menu.
Mauzac :
other side of Lalinde. Nice
Bar and restaurant by the
river port run by Sylvie.
Bergerac
: Too many good restaurants
to mention. See my pin board
for Cards.
Places to visit
:
This is Bastide Country. Full
of fortified towns and Castles
from the 100 years war. The
locals say the English lost
the war but now are buying
it back.!
Well. There is just so much.
See the basket with all the
pamphlets. Castles, prehistoric
sites and caves, châteaux.
Nearby you have Chateau de
Lanquais, just on the other
side of the river. Stop off
at the Auberge des Marronniers
for a drink on their lovely
terrace.
I would suggest that you follow
the road Eastwards along the
Dordogne river. A trip could
include Limueil, Beynac, La
Rogue Gageac ( take a boat
trip here), and finally Sarlat
and Domme ( of which Henry
Miller wrote “ just
to glimpse the black, mysterious
river at Domme from the beautiful
bluff….is something
to be grateful for all one’s
life”..
Sarlat is well worth a day
alone .It has the highest
concentration of medi-evil,
Renaissance and 17th century
facades of any town in France.
St-Cirg-Lapopie is one of
Frances prettiest villages,
perched high above the lot.
You have to see Beaumont,and
Monpazier.
Les Jardins de Marqueyssac
lit with candles every Thursday
evening is worth visiting.
Further a field you have Rocamadour,
breath taking.
Most famous X111 century castle
is at Beynac, but be prepared
for a steep climb.
I would also visit Chateau
de Milandes, the home of Josephine
Baker. Nearby is the Castelnaud,
the museum of arms of the
Middle Ages.
Lets not forget old Bergerac
itself on your doorstep.
Sport :
Golf : nine
holes at Chateau les Merles.
Tennis :
before the church as you turn
left out of the gates.
Misc : Horse
riding and canoes , fishing
( opposite house). Water park
and Bowling on the road to
Bordeau, just past L.Leclerc.
Walk : Walk
or cycle along the river either
direction to the front of
the house. My favourite is
to take the bikes and go along
the canal path , past the
garden centre to the next
little village ( St Capraise
) , passing under the road
and buying bread.
The walk to-wards Mouleydier
, passes the little port of
Tuilieres and is tree lined
offering shade most of the
way.
Night Clubs
: Disco and more at Le Windsor.
On way to Bordeaux pass E.
Leclercr
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