Dordogne
Why We Live in the Dordogne
The Dordogne encapsulates all that we love about France: Serenity, rolling hills, fragrant meadows, leafy country lanes, stone cottages with flower-filled gardens, clean rivers, pretty villages and farms and forests as far as the eye can see. So beautiful, friendly and comfortable that people come here to holiday and often choose to stay. The Dordogne allows you to relax and unwind with activities to suit every lifestyle. And, you must admit the French language is beautiful to listen to and to speak!
Food and Wine
This is a region rich in gastronomic tradition. Foie gras, walnut oil and Perigord truffles, a delicacy known as black diamonds and considered to be the best that money can buy, are found here. There are wild mushrooms including the fleshy cepes and chanterelles which are simply delicious. The Bordeaux wines need no introduction. What could be a more enjoyable way to stock your cellar than combining châteaux tours and wine tasting during your stay?
Wine Tasting
Wherever you go. The world-famous Bordeaux vintages but also the Bergerac wines. Though not very well known outside of France they are very good indeed. Some are deep, robust reds as well as surprisingly good whites and rosés, which when chilled are especially good on a hot summer day. 
For dessert wines visit the gorgeous Monbazillac vineyards, if only for their beautiful Chateau itself. There is a good selection of restaurants, from casual to elegant, specializing in regional cuisine.
Marché
French marchés are an absolute must! The marchés are all-seasonal, colorfully and beautifully displayed with a wide variety of fruits & vegetables most of which are organically grown. You will find local producers of chevre cheese plus other cheese vendors, pate de fois gras, river harvested trout, free-range chicken, rabbit, lamb, etc. At most of the marchés there are delicious, succulent roti poulet (spit roasted chicken), perfect for a summer evening’s dinner with fresh lettuce and local walnut oil, fresh chevre cheese, saucissons and good local wine, bien sur!
Local Fêtes
In the Dordogne there is a long-standing wonderful tradition that local villages have annual, summer Fêtes (fairs). Going to the local Fêtes adds a lot of color to your vacation. Brocantes (antique fairs) start off the Fêtes first thing in the morning. They are very colorful, interesting and you can usually pick up some original, classic French items at very good bargains. Lots to eat and drink with local delicacies – escargot (snails), mechoui (spit roasted lamb – delicious) and of course pate de foie gras (we all know what that is!). 
And the village celebrations end with a fireworks display.
Tennis, Golf & Biking
A number of lovely, good courses so it’s worth bringing your clubs. Three beautiful 18-hole courses in Perigueux, Cognac, Angoulême and one 9-hole course at Longeveau in nearby Pillac. Mountain bike tracks (V.T.T) are well sign posted and wonderfully varied. For the enthusiast or recreational cyclist there is a lot to offer.
Churches & Châteaux
The Dordogne is sometimes referred to as the “Land of Chateaux”, with over 1200 fully restored Chateaux and Churches. Many are open to the public and each has its own special je ne sais quoi. Some have the most beautiful interiors, others gorgeous gardens, magically candle-lit at night and others are architectural feats. The Churches, mostly Romanesque in style, are quite stunning and offer concerts all summer long.
History & Attractions
Some of the Local Sites are:
Les Eyzies – 2hrs
The internationally renowned pre-historic caves are a must see; among them, Lascaux II, La Grotte Font de Gamme, with astonishing 20,000 years old wall paintings. And the most amazing beautiful caves of Stalactites & Stalagmites.
St. Emillion – 1hr
A charming Medieval village with gorgeous views of the beautiful, world-famous St. Emillion vineyards.
Bordeaux – 1¼ hrs
The 3rd largest city in France and after 10 years of extensive renovation, it is now considered to be one of France’s most stunning cities.
Wine tasting and luxurious accommodations at all the well-known Chateaux in the Bordeaux area: Lafite Rothschild, Lynch Bages, Margaux, St. Estephe, Medoc, Pauillac, just to name a few. There is even a very luxurious health spa, “Caudalie” at Chateau Lafite Rothschild. In Bordeaux you will never want for restaurants, great shopping, museums, theatres and one of France’s most highly- regarded hospital complexes.
Aubeterre – 30 min
Visit the 1,000-year-old Monolithic Church, the charming tree-shaded town square with the most delicious Creperie in the area, “Sel et Sucre”. In the valley below there is the Dronne River with its lovely beach, picnic areas and kayak rentals.
Brantome – 45 min
One of the most picturesque, most photographed towns in France. It is often called “The Venice of France”. Lots of restaurants, shops, walking and even canoeing are available. The famous Relais de Chateau, “Moulin de L’Abbaye”, is worth a gastronomic lunch or dinner on the terrace.
Other Activities:
Tour the Dordogne’s celebrated Chateaux with their exquisite gardens, explore antique shops, hot air balloon trips, tennis, golf, canoeing, horseback riding and more. If you fancy horseracing, spend a delightful day at Pompadour watching steeplechase races, in the shadow of the Chateau of Madame de Pompadour, mistress of Louis XV. There are also racetracks in Cognac & Bordeaux.
Local Villages
Verteillac is the nearest village to La Brandette 7 km (5 miles). It has an English speaking doctor, pharmacy, church, cafés, restaurants, butcher, boulangerie (bakery), presse (newsstand), Post Office, horseback riding, tennis, bike rentals, new sports complex. The lst Sunday of each month there is a very colorful brocante (antique faire) in the town square. And don’t miss the legendary Merlaud, our famous general store where you can buy anything your heart desires from vegetables to washing machines, to televisions, garden tractors and everything in between. We all LOVE Merlaud!
Riberac, capital of the Perigord Vert, is a 10 km drive. Famous for the Friday morning marché (open-air market) which is a MUST !! About 200 local farmers & vendors arrive with their most beautiful – delicious produce, fruits, vegetables, of which many are organic, fresh-made chevre cheeses, pate de foie gras, fresh fish from the Atlantic Ocean, oysters in season, meat, duck, flowers, also fabrics, pottery, products from India, even Vietnamese egg rolls, etc. etc. You name it they have it! It is the friendliest marché where all the vendors are helpful and joyful!! Our weekly visit to the marché never ends without a rendez-vous at Café des Colonnes where all the ex-pats gather for our café au laits, croissants and conversation. Riberac has a Cinema with the latest films, including English language films in VO (version originale). It is a little jewel of a Cinema just like a private screening room. In Riberac you will also find physicians, pharmacies, Library, shops, banks, restaurants, boucherie. Lakanal Pain is the BEST boulangerie with the BEST croissants & pain for miles around. There is a large, staffed Tourist Office and there is the most enormous supermarket, E. Leclerc, where you can get whatever you need. There is even a Psychiatrist! Other activities include: canoe rentals, bike rentals, Cultural Center, etc. In Riberac there are several traditional cafes as well as a Thai restaurant.
Perigueux, a 45 min. drive to this beautiful, historic city with cobble-stoned streets in the Medieval old town center, great shopping, lots of restaurants, major hospital, brand-new Movie Plex with the latest movies and they even show HD Live from the Metropolitan Opera and the Bolshoi. Marché on Thursday & Saturday mornings plus a wonderful 18-hole golf course. You will find the Michelin One Star restaurant, L’Essentiel, certainly worth a visit for a leisurely lunch or haute cuisine dinner. Perigueux is also very proud of their Musee Vesunna, built over an actual Roman Villa, which was discovered while excavating several years ago.Plenty of maps and pamphlets available right on the property at La Brandette.