For families or groups –
Unspoiled nature

Location

Riberac (population 4,500) is a small unspoilt town in the Perigord which is synonymous with wine, foie gras and truffles. It is surrounded by woodland, gentle hills and farmland, the landscape dotted with ancient villages and lovely churches. The area is small scale, very rural and there is no traffic to speak of. The stars at night never cease to amaze. The River Dronne flows through the town and there are fountains in the main square. There is a wide variety of shops ranging from a tantalisingly comprehensive haberdasher to a hunting/shooting/fishing paradise for any hunter-gatherer you have with you.

Riberac played a prominent part in the French Revolution in this part of France and the house is named after an erstwhile mayor who once lived there. You can see the socket for his flagpole above the front door if you look out of the landing window!

Travel

The nearest airports are Bergerac serviced by Ryanair and Flybe (1 hour) and Bordeaux by Easyjet (90 minutes).
The nearest Eurostar station is Angouleme via Paris or Lille (1hour).
Car hire is easily available from all three.

Activities

Riberac is famous for its extensive Friday market and there is a farmers market on Tuesdays. In October walnuts are for sale and in winter months and there are special markets for the sale of foie gras and truffles.

On the sporting front, in Riberac itself you can book tennis courts by the hour or by the week and there are bicycles for hire. There is also canoeing and riding. There are several 9 hole golf courses within 20 minutes and 18 holes at Perigueux. In the unlikely event that you tire of the private pool, Riberac has a large open air one complete with diving boards and a special area for children. There is also the riverside ‘beach’ at the beautiful village of Aubeterre.

For the culturally inclined there is a little cinema and in summer, a short walk from the house, wonderful concerts in the deconsecrated 12th century Romanesque church, Collegiale-Notre-Dame de Riberac. In July Riberac hosts a 4-day pop concert of more than local repute and throughout the summer there are festivals, antique markets and food fairs (some with major firework displays) all around the region.

If you want to venture further afield, Perigueux the principal town in the area is 50 minutes away and Brantome, the Venice of The Perigord, equi-distant, and both worth a visit for their history and ancient buildings. If pre-history is your passion the ancient cave paintings and carvings at Les- Eyzies-de-Tayac are not much further on. Lascaux itself, the most famous of them all, is only 2 hours away and easy on French roads.

The whole area is famed for food and drink and tastings and tours abound.

Eating and Drinking

There are five restaurants within walking distance and others in Verteillac, Bertric Buree, Lusignac and the middle of nowhere just ten minutes away by car.

Cooking is rustic... French…., international…, fish……Chinese……Thai…….you can take your choice.

The wine of the area needs no introduction. Bordeaux, Graves, Sauternes, Medoc and many more.

Pineau de Charentes a fortified white wine is the local aperitif of choice – also delicious over melon!

1 Place Jules Brunet
24600 RIBERAC
France

Email: lawsonobr@aol.com