Bastide Towns
Monpazier is one of the best‑preserved bastide towns in all of southwest France and in walking distance from us. It sits among a dense cluster of other medieval “new towns” founded in the 13th–14th centuries. Several of these lie within easy driving distance and offer classic arcaded squares, grid‑plan streets, and beautiful honey‑stone architecture.
Other Bastide Towns Nearby:
Beaumont‑du‑Périgord: classic bastide with a large central square, cafés, and viewpoints.
Villeréal: one of the most beautiful medieval bastides in south-western France, perfectly preserved, lively and full of charm.
Castillonnès: attractive bastide with a quieter, more local feel.
Molières: known as the smallest bastide in Périgord.
Domme: dramatically perched above the Dordogne Valley and famous for its views and fortified gates.
Eymet: a lively bastide in the “Périgord Pourpre,” popular with visitors and expats.
Lalinde: a riverside bastide on the Dordogne, with a long main street and historic quays.
Markets
The Bastide region of southwest France is famous for its lively open‑air markets — especially in towns like Villeréal, Monpazier, and Issigeac. These markets are among the best in Nouvelle‑Aquitaine, known for local produce, gourmet food, crafts, and summer night markets.
Monpazier: every Thursday morning
Villeréal: every Saturday morning
Issigeac: every Sunday morning
Beaumont‑du‑Périgord: every Tuesday (small) and Saturday (larger)
Hiking
South Dordogne and the northern Lot‑et‑Garonne form one of France’s richest walking belts, a landscape of rolling limestone plateaus, chestnut woods, medieval bastides, quiet lakes, and panoramic ridgelines. The region is exceptionally well‑served by marked circuits, GR routes (Grand Randonnée), and local loops maintained by the départemental tourism boards. If you enjoy walking that blends scenery, heritage, and rural calm, our area is a goldmine.
Wine regions
Just around the corner, at walking distance, lies Domaine de la Tuque. It is a highly rated organic winery and scenic estate located near Biron, in the heart of the Périgord bastide country. It’s one of the top wine‑tasting stops near Monpazier with beautiful views over the countryside. And it is only 4 km by foot.
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Bergerac
The Bergerac wine region is one of southwest France’s most diverse and historic vineyard areas, producing 13 AOC (Appellation d`Origine Contrôlée) wines across 12,000 hectares around the town of Bergerac. It sits just 45 minutes away from us and shares many grape varieties, with an artisanal, small‑estate character.
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Monbazillac
The Monbazillac wine region is one of southwest France’s most famous sweet‑wine areas, centered around the village of Monbazillac just south of Bergerac and a 40 minutes drive from us. It’s known for botrytized (noble‑rot) wines similar to Sauternes but often at far better value.
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Cahors
Cahors is the historic French homeland of Malbec (locally called Côt), producing deeply colored, tannic red wines that must contain at least 70% Malbec. The appellation covers roughly 4,200 hectares and is prized for age‑worthy “black wines” from limestone and alluvial soils. It is a bit further from us (roughly a little over 1 hour´s drive) but definately worth your while.
Canoeing
We are located exactly between the Dordogne and the Lot, so there are more than enough opportunities for canoeing.
Canoeing on the Dordogne is one of the absolute highlights of southwest France — calm water, dramatic cliffs, medieval villages, and castles rising right above the river. It’s perfect whether you want a gentle half‑day float or a full‑day adventure.
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Canoeing on the Lot River is a completely different experience from the Dordogne — quieter, more intimate, and framed by dramatic limestone cliffs, medieval villages, and vineyards. It’s one of the most underrated paddling destinations in southwest France.
Small Towns
Beynac-et-Cazenac
​It is one of the most spectacular medieval villages in the Dordogne, perched high above the river with a fortress that once rivaled the great powers of the Middle Ages. It’s only about 45 minutes from us, making it an easy and unforgettable day trip. ​
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La Roque-Gageac
Just around the corner from Beynac is La Roque‑Gageac. It is one of the most beautiful and dramatic villages in the Dordogne, built between a sheer limestone cliff and the Dordogne River. It’s officially classified among "Les Plus Beaux Villages de France" and is one of the most visited sites in the Périgord Noir
Towns:
Bergerac
Bergerac is a picturesque town on the Dordogne River, known for its medieval old town, famous vineyards, and its association with Cyrano de Bergerac. It’s one of the cultural and gastronomic hubs of the Périgord Pourpre region, offering wine estates, river cruises, museums, and beautifully preserved streets.
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Perigeux
Périgueux is the administrative capital of the Dordogne and one of the most beautiful historic towns in Nouvelle‑Aquitaine, known for its Roman ruins, medieval streets, and the striking Saint‑Front Cathedral. It’s also a major center of Périgord gastronomy, with markets, festivals, and cultural events throughout the year.
Sarlat-la-Caneda
Sarlat‑la‑Canéda is one of the best‑preserved medieval towns in France, famous for its golden‑stone architecture, lively markets, and rich Périgord Noir gastronomy. It’s a major cultural and tourist hub in the Dordogne, known for its Renaissance mansions, narrow cobbled streets, and vibrant food scene.
Rocamadour
​Rocamadour is one of those places that feels almost unreal when you first see it. The entire village clings to the side of a limestone cliff, stacked vertically like a stone staircase rising above a deep canyon. It’s dramatic, spiritual, and a little mysterious — which is exactly why it has been a major pilgrimage site for nearly a thousand years.
It’s only about an hour and a half from us, and if you want to see something truly special, it’s definitely worth the trip.​​​
Lascaux
Lascaux is a Paleolithic painted cave, discovered in 1940 near Montignac in the Dordogne. It contains some of the finest prehistoric art in the world, dating back roughly 21,000 years.
The original cave is closed to protect the paintings, but the reconstructions are so precise that archaeologists use them for research.It’s about a two‑hour drive from us, but it’s absolutely worth considering.
​Gouffre de Padirac
​The Gouffre de Padirac is one of France’s most spectacular natural wonders — a massive open chasm leading to an underground river you explore by boat. It’s located in the Lot, about 1h50 from us, and is considered France’s most important underground heritage site.​​​
Golf
Several well‑rated golf courses sit within easy reach from us, ranging from relaxed 9‑hole layouts to full 18‑hole championship-style courses. The closest options include Lolivarie Golf Club and Golf de la Forge, both under 20 minutes’ drive, with additional high‑quality courses like Golf du Château Les Merles and Golf de la Marterie slightly farther out
