The area

If you love beautiful scenery along with great activities, especially in a place with an intricate history involving prehistoric settlers, the Hundred Years War, Richard the Lionheart and the Knights Templar then this holiday home is for you!

Location of the house

Castelnaud-la-Chapelle (or simply Castelnaud) is situated in the Dordogne valley, in the region known as the Périgord Noir (part of Aquitaine), south-west France. It is an area that is incredibly beautiful – with its gentle, meandering rivers, lush greenery and golden stone – and is also steeped in a fascinating history that stretches back to prehistoric times.

Regional specialities include ducks and geese such as confits de canard and foie gras; truffles, wine and walnuts (used to make all kinds of delights: ‘nothing is lost of the walnut except for the sound of its shell being cracked’).

The house – La Crouzette – is located on the side of the hill of Castelnaud with the petite village within walking distance below, offering amenities such as a bakery/patisserie, butcher, general store/newsagent, post office/cash machine, café bar and riverside restaurant as well as access to the river where you can picnic, swim or hire canoes. A 2-minute walk up to the top of the hill takes you to the castle entrance, a few snack bars, an ice cream hut and offers you the chance to look out across the Dordogne valley.

Close by there are hot air balloon rides, a supermarket and other shops, golf courses, a trout farm (great for the bbq), pottery shop and the clifftop hanging gardens of Marqueyssac, wine tasting, bicycle hire, various walking and jogging routes and of course grand landscapes and architecture.

Maps

View in Google Maps or download our kmz file for Google’s free Google Earth program.

Sightseeing and surrounding areas

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The Château de Castelnaud – one of the five castles of the vallée des cinq châteaux – dates back to at least the 13th century. It boasts a long and chequered history, from the early Cathars, the Hundred Years War (when the castle changed hands between French and English forces), through a more stable period of prosperity, to later become abandoned, until its renaissance in the 1960s. Today the picturesquely restored château houses a much-visited museum of medieval warfare, featuring reconstructions of siege engines, mangonneaux and trebuchets. The castle is listed as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture. View website.

Sarlat is a beautifully preserved 14th century medieval town and has a cathedral, many restaurants, cafés, designer clothes shops and furniture shops. Markets are on Wednesdays and Saturdays where you will find great food (including fresh meat, vegetables, cheeses, foie gras, confit de canard), fine wines and luxury soaps amongst many other things. It is around 15 minutes drive away. A very popular place to visit regularly. If you wish to eat out in Sarlat without driving, taxis can be booked from Castelnaud.

Beynac castle was built in the 12th century and is perched on top of a limestone cliff, dominating the town and the north bank of the Dordogne river. At the time of the Hundred Years War, the fortress at Beynac was in French hands. The Dordogne river was the border between France and England. Not far away, on the opposite bank of the river, the Château de Castelnaud was held by the English. The castle is one of the best preserved and most well known in the region and starred in the 2000 film Chocolat – only a few minutes away by car.

The gardens of Marqueyssac, listed as a National Historical Monument, offer more than 6km of shaded paths, edged with 150,000 hand-pruned boxwoods aged over hundred years.
The house and park are situated on a spur and overlooks the entire Dordogne Valley with its chalky cliffs. It reveals the most spectacular panoramic view possible of the region and is only a couple of minutes drive away (or even a walk away if you really want to be healthy!).
Every Thursday evening at dusk, in the high season, two thousand candles will be placed throughout the gardens and hundreds of tiny tea-lights will outline the cliff walk and falls highlighting the beauty of the cliff and its vegetation. View website.

Domme, situated high above the river with outstanding views of the Dordogne, is a marvellous example of a walled bastide town and has retained much of its ancient ramparts, including three ancient gates. The best preserved of these is the Porte des Tours, flanked by two guard towers. These towers were converted into prisons in 1307 when the Knights Templar were arrested by the king, and it is still possible to see the engraved crucifixes they carved whilst they were imprisoned. Underneath the market square there is a cave with more than 400m of stalactite-filled galleries and a glass lift that takes you back up to the surface.

La Roque Gageac, a Plus Beaux Village de France has a most dramatic setting, situated right beside the river, with many of its houses built directly into the face of the huge cliff that overhangs the village. Above this there are steep steps to incredible troglodyte caves with great views as well as a small botanical garden. If you want to take a trip on a gabarre (a type of boat) on the Dordogne, then this is the place to start from. However we suggest you pre-book in the summer as it can get busy.

Canoeing on the Dordogne river is great fun for all the family. You can choose a course with a length that suits you. There is a base at the bottom of the hill from where you can either begin, or be driven further upstream. Typical canoeing trips last between 2-4 hours and so are great if you want to stop off for a picnic or a swim!

Milandes château was built in 1489 by François de Caumont, Lord of Castelnaud.
In 1938 Josephine Baker the Vaudeville star rented the château and then bought it in 1947.
Various birds of prey including buzzards, falcons and owls can be seen on display here.
Milandes is very close, only a few minutes drive away. View website.

Free wine tasting tour at the Distillerie La Salamandre in a delightful rural setting just a few kilometres from Sarlat. For an unusual gift, pick up an ‘Imprisoned Pear’ – they fasten a carafe to a budding branch so the pear grows inside, then fill it with Poire William.
View website or tel. 00 33 (0)5 53 59 10 00 to book.

Le Gouffre de Padirac is a natural, 75m chasm below which, at 103m underground, flows a river on which you can take an exciting boat journey. The visit lasts about 1½ hours with a total tour of 2000m. Remember to take warm clothing. Visit website.

Rocamadour, by the wonderful beauty of its situation, merits the attention of artists and excites the curiosity of archæologists, but its reputation is due especially to its celebrated sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Mary which for centuries has attracted pilgrims from every country, among them kings, bishops, and nobles. More information.

Bike hire, including mountain bikes, kids bikes and tandems, is easy from Multi Travel (Bike Bus). A helmet, water bottle, puncture repair kit, pump, bike lock, cycle computer, map case and way-marked maps are available. There is the option for delivery of the bikes to the house for free as the base is actually situated in Castelnaud. The base is open 9am – 7pm and prices are around €15/day adult and €10/day child (+ €5 for a full 24 hours hire). To make a reservation via email click here or phone 00 33 (0)6 08 94 42 01.

Hot air balloon flights take off not far from Castelnaud castle and can be booked online or by calling 00 33 (0)6 83 26 47 66. What better way to see that Dordogne and Perigord region than with a hot air balloon ride?

Indian Forest Perigord boasts several climbing adventure courses set amongst the tree tops for all the family (and in full safety). View website.

Paintballing is available from La Roque Gageac. Follow the signs from the village centre.

Weekly markets (mornings) – Mondays: Les Eyzies (Easter to 1 November); Tuesdays: Cénac, Le Bugue; Wednesdays: Cadouin, Sarlat; Thursdays: Meyrals (during holiday seaon), Domme; Fridays: Le Buisson (July, August), St Cybranet (7 July to 25 August); Saturdays: Sarlat (all day), Belvès; Sundays: St Cyprien, Marquay (2 July to 27 August).

Places to eat

Within walking distance

Le Tournepique is a tapas restaurant and bar situated on the riverside at the bottom of the Castelnaud hill, within walking distance of the house. The restaurant offers plenty of atmosphere together with a chance to try a combination of the French and Basque cultures. There are various combinations of tapas dishes on offer as well as individual choices.

A cafe bar/restaurant is also situated in the heart of Castelnaud village at the base of the hill.

Nearby (5 mins in car)

A local restaurant (name coming soon) is situated between Castelanud and Beynac offering great food from a menu with English translations throughout.

Hotel Bonnet delivers outstanding French cuisine from a riverside location in the heart of Beynac.

In Sarlat

Le Petit Manoir is a great restaurant located in Sarlat, ideal for both evening and midday meals. A small yet charming 15th Century building with private garden. Located at 3 Passage Payen, just off Rue de la Republique – or from the main square, with Shared Earth in front of you turn left down the side of the indoor market. To book phone 05 53 29 82 14.

Further recommendations coming soon.

Travelling

By air
Several budget airlines (Ryanair, Flybe, Easyjet and bmi baby) are now offering cheap flights to nearby airports such as Bergerac (72km, 1hr 15mins drive), Limoges (183km, 2hr 15mins), Bordeaux (207km, 2hr 30mins) and in 2008 Brive-Souillac Airport (52km, 1hr). These airports also offer on-site car hire.

By road
If you plan to travel by car (across land or from the UK via the Eurotunnel or ferry) the A20 is within easy access. Paris to Castelnaud is approximately 330 miles of which 300 is motorway.

View maps and plan routes in Google Maps or download our kmz file for Google’s free Google Earth.