Charente and Dordogne
Discussion
Sketching out this summer's road trip.
Missed out on these two French regions 'till now and we're after food, scenery, medieval villages and history and places to stay in rural locations. South or east of Martell looks a good area to to base in the Dordogne - any suggestions for similar in the Charente?
Cheers Chaps.
Missed out on these two French regions 'till now and we're after food, scenery, medieval villages and history and places to stay in rural locations. South or east of Martell looks a good area to to base in the Dordogne - any suggestions for similar in the Charente?
Cheers Chaps.
As a regular visitor to the Dordogne, I can certainly give advice on that region. We tend to base ourselves around Sarlat-le-Caneda which is in the heart of the “golden triangle” - basically a bunch of chateaux in Castelnaud, Beynac & Montfort overlooking the Dordogne river. Absolutely stunning countryside with plenty of medieval towns to visit including Sarlat, Domme, Monpazier among many many others.
Also worth a trip is Chateau des Milandes which was the former home of singer, dancer & actress Josephine Baker. The grounds are stunning.
We’ve stayed in Montfort a few times which is approx 6km from Sarlat - it is idyllic with a great restaurant Angalus as well as a bar/restaurant nearby.
Local fayre is predominantly duck based but nothing wrong with that although there are decent places serving great pizza if you tire of duck.
We’re actually back in the Dordogne late June/mid July but staying a little bit further out in Les Eyzies which has links to prehistoric man. Again we’re staying in an Airbnb with lots of outside space.
With the exception of one stay, we’ve always had superb weather with temperatures sometimesreaching as high as low 40’s but more generally in the low to mid 30’s - ideal for a 2 seater sports car!
We’ve heard a bit about Charente but have no experience of it but it looks similar to the Dordogne, perhaps not as busy (having said that late June/mid July is not that busy in the Dordogne compared to school holiday time)
Also worth a trip is Chateau des Milandes which was the former home of singer, dancer & actress Josephine Baker. The grounds are stunning.
We’ve stayed in Montfort a few times which is approx 6km from Sarlat - it is idyllic with a great restaurant Angalus as well as a bar/restaurant nearby.
Local fayre is predominantly duck based but nothing wrong with that although there are decent places serving great pizza if you tire of duck.
We’re actually back in the Dordogne late June/mid July but staying a little bit further out in Les Eyzies which has links to prehistoric man. Again we’re staying in an Airbnb with lots of outside space.
With the exception of one stay, we’ve always had superb weather with temperatures sometimesreaching as high as low 40’s but more generally in the low to mid 30’s - ideal for a 2 seater sports car!
We’ve heard a bit about Charente but have no experience of it but it looks similar to the Dordogne, perhaps not as busy (having said that late June/mid July is not that busy in the Dordogne compared to school holiday time)
Last Summer was a long,hot one and they are becoming more frequent. The French typically holiday 15 July to the first Saturday/Sunday after the 15th August but they are very fickle and will not book anything if the weather looks dodgy.
The very touristy areas are rammed in Dordogne in high season to the point of being overcrowded.Pick your dining times wisely.
The very touristy areas are rammed in Dordogne in high season to the point of being overcrowded.Pick your dining times wisely.
I used to live 5 mins from sarlat . The town is beautiful and well worth a day of your time , Saturday market is when they close the Main Street for the stalls , touristy but a sight to see , Wednesday is food market and a bit more local .
Any of the previous mentioned places , domme , les eizies , castlenuad, all probably spelt wrong before nickfrog corrects me , I’ve been to the pub with the dogs , otherwise known as taking them for a walk !
If you do end up in sarlat “ la tourney “ restaurant is the better choice , it’s open all year round , unlike most ! It’s just a short step off the Main Street opposite a souvenir shop , ask to sit upstairs on the terrace if poss .
Any of the previous mentioned places , domme , les eizies , castlenuad, all probably spelt wrong before nickfrog corrects me , I’ve been to the pub with the dogs , otherwise known as taking them for a walk !
If you do end up in sarlat “ la tourney “ restaurant is the better choice , it’s open all year round , unlike most ! It’s just a short step off the Main Street opposite a souvenir shop , ask to sit upstairs on the terrace if poss .
We had friends in Charente, used to visit 3-4 times a year.
There's the obvious Cognac tours, but if there the public gardens are beautiful also.
Angouleme is full of history, the museum is interesting. Saints has a huge amphitheater you can just walk around for free.
Talmont-sur-Gironde is just a beautiful village, with the church well worth a vist, especially with it's links to Edward the first.
Rochefort-Martrou has a transporter bridge if that's your thing.
Ile d'Oleron is beautiful, plenty of good fish restaurants and of course Oysters
Some useful reading
https://www.france-voyage.com/travel-guide/charent...
There's the obvious Cognac tours, but if there the public gardens are beautiful also.
Angouleme is full of history, the museum is interesting. Saints has a huge amphitheater you can just walk around for free.
Talmont-sur-Gironde is just a beautiful village, with the church well worth a vist, especially with it's links to Edward the first.
Rochefort-Martrou has a transporter bridge if that's your thing.
Ile d'Oleron is beautiful, plenty of good fish restaurants and of course Oysters
Some useful reading
https://www.france-voyage.com/travel-guide/charent...
Just to whet your appetite OP, the view from Domme across to La Roque Gageac, the whole place is pretty spectacular to be honest.
Renting a a kayak and going downstream for a few miles is a great way to spend some time.
Watch out for the biker gangs though
Renting a a kayak and going downstream for a few miles is a great way to spend some time.
Watch out for the biker gangs though
Edited by Cousin Dupree on Tuesday 24th January 09:08
Can't comment on the Charente region....
But as above, Sarlat is lovely - places like Bergerac are a good spot to stay.
A tiny bit further south (50 mins) is Monpazier, one of my favourite little bastide towns.
As always with France, there's always somewhere amazing - just a little further away!
But as above, Sarlat is lovely - places like Bergerac are a good spot to stay.
A tiny bit further south (50 mins) is Monpazier, one of my favourite little bastide towns.
As always with France, there's always somewhere amazing - just a little further away!
Jaguar steve said:
airbnb ing from Calais over to the Vendee region then swinging inland and down to the Dordogne seems the plan and that's all good stuff.
Cheers Chaps
Keep coming down before you go inland!Cheers Chaps
https://pnr.parc-marais-poitevin.fr/ This is well worth a visit and you could then take in the delights of La Rochelle etc.
Drop down then into Cognac and take in a tour as suggested by Byker.
Wonderfull Anguoleme takes you onwards to the Dordogne gateway.
Not all of the Charente is flat lands. Above Anguoleme and east is the Charente Limousane region and the beautiful Vienne Valley.
You may find a few PHers lazing around the riverside bars up that way!
Patrick Magooagain said:
Keep coming down before you go inland!
https://pnr.parc-marais-poitevin.fr/ This is well worth a visit and you could then take in the delights of La Rochelle etc.
Drop down then into Cognac and take in a tour as suggested by Byker.
Wonderfull Anguoleme takes you onwards to the Dordogne gateway.
Not all of the Charente is flat lands. Above Anguoleme and east is the Charente Limousane region and the beautiful Vienne Valley.
You may find a few PHers lazing around the riverside bars up that way!
Always plan a route to take in as much of the national parks on a French road trip as we can but not yet been to that one.https://pnr.parc-marais-poitevin.fr/ This is well worth a visit and you could then take in the delights of La Rochelle etc.
Drop down then into Cognac and take in a tour as suggested by Byker.
Wonderfull Anguoleme takes you onwards to the Dordogne gateway.
Not all of the Charente is flat lands. Above Anguoleme and east is the Charente Limousane region and the beautiful Vienne Valley.
You may find a few PHers lazing around the riverside bars up that way!
Ta muchly.
tfest in Summer for traffic.Really nice places for rent from a fellow PHer in southern Dordogne, we enjoyed staying there: https://www.holidayrentalsdordogne.com/accommodati...
We have stayed here a couple of times, highly recommended. Fairly rural but lots to do within driving distance.
https://www.lesbouchonsdordogne.co.uk/
https://www.lesbouchonsdordogne.co.uk/
Cousin Dupree said:
Just to whet your appetite OP, the view from Domme across to La Roque Gageac, the whole place is pretty spectacular to be honest.
Renting a a kayak and going downstream for a few miles is a great way to spend some time.
Watch out for the biker gangs though
I recognise that view - we have a photo framed and hanging in our second bedroom. Definitely recommend the kayak - we did Montignac to Saint Leon sur Vezere. Also worth doing is the boat trip from La Rocque d’Gageac or Beynac - gives great views of the Dordogne river and it’s stunning chateaux.Renting a a kayak and going downstream for a few miles is a great way to spend some time.
Watch out for the biker gangs though
Edited by Cousin Dupree on Tuesday 24th January 09:08
Cousin Dupree said:
Just to whet your appetite OP, the view from Domme across to La Roque Gageac, the whole place is pretty spectacular to be honest.
Renting a a kayak and going downstream for a few miles is a great way to spend some time.
Watch out for the biker gangs though
I recognise that view - we have a photo framed and hanging in our second bedroom. Definitely recommend the kayak - we did Montignac to Saint Leon sur Vezere. Also worth doing is the boat trip from La Rocque d’Gageac or Beynac - gives great views of the Dordogne river and it’s stunning chateaux.Renting a a kayak and going downstream for a few miles is a great way to spend some time.
Watch out for the biker gangs though
Edited by Cousin Dupree on Tuesday 24th January 09:08
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