What To Do near Lortal holiday house in the Dordogne
Thousands of years of history. From prehistoric caves to ancient castles, from mediaeval towns to ancient monasteries, from Julius Caesar to the hundred years war: this area makes no effort to hide its past. Sarlat, Rocamadour and Domme are entire mediaeval towns, of extreme beauty and of great religious relevance, and offering unique visitor experiences.The castle of Beynac is both a famed beauty spot and an impressive monument to past conflict. Bergerac is a city where ancient traditions and modern facilities go hand in hand. At Castelnaud-la-Chapelle, you can visit an ancient castle Chateau des Milades that was also home to the famous entertainer and icon Josephine Baker, and where a spectacular display of hawking and falconry is on offer. And caves in the Dordogne area are too numerous to mention here: why not spent an hour or so on the internet discovering them!
The finest wines, the finest food. There are parts of France where the culinary reputation is exaggerated, as are the prices. Not here. Just look around any of the numerous local markets and admire the vegetables, the fruit, the meats and poultry, the wallnuts, the truffles, the pate’s and the many local specialities -and then be pleasantly surprised by the prices. The Perigord cuisine is subtle and fragrant, and many of the local dishes can be sampled at one of the thousands of affordable restaurants in the area. Just stay away from the most touristy streets, and we can guarantee you good food at friendly rates. Duck-lovers are particularly well catered for with huge ranges of pate’s, cassoulet’s, magrets and confits. And as for the cheeses: eat your heart out, Normandy! To wash it all down, there are hundreds of vineyards offering free wine-tasting and rare finds, and those around Monbazillac are particularly popular among connaisseurs who love the very best in dessert wines but do not enjoy paying the prices asked in Sauternes…and if you should prefer to spend a lazy holiday, just check out the supermarket in Siorac. You will not go far wrong…
The outdoor experience. There are hundreds of miles of signposted walks in the Perigord and Dordogne regions, and many bicycle rental facilities concentrated around the river routes. Canoeing on the Dordogne is a must, if the water level is anything above minimum, and the many companies providing canoes are happy to pick up your vessel at the end of your travels- downstream! Horse riding in the countryside is also an option, as is a round of golf at de la Forge, at Lolivarie (a mere ten minute drive away in Siorac) or at Domaine de Rochebois (20 minutes away at Vitrac). Don’t be put off by the fact that some of these courses are only nine holes: they are challenging enough for all but the most accomplished players. There is trout fishing in the local rivers, there are riverside beaches for bathing and play, there are safe adventure and water parks for the young, there is even hot air ballooning for the adventurous. And perhaps best of all: just driving around, prepared for some surprises!