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Travel Information

11km from Chateau la Gauterie, Aubeterre-sur- Dronne is listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France.

Posed on a steep hill above the Dronne river, Aubeterre is idyllic. The town is home to an incredible underground church, hewn from local white stone. The big attraction however is the church of Saint0Jea, an extensive monolithic church dating back in part to the 5th century and an important stop on the pilgrimage route to Compostella in the middle ages.

At the top of the village is the castle, built in the 12th Century, what remains now is the 16th Century castellum which was converted into a private home (sad no tours to be had!).

Head to the 'lower town' and in the Place Ludovic Trarieux and the streets around the square you will find shops, cafes & restaurants. The perfect place to pause for lunch or a coffee

11km from Chateau La Gauterie, Riberac is a lovely market down in the northern part of the Dordogne.

Start your visit in the Place National at the centre of town, key attractions to walk to from here are the Office de Tourism (an impressive building dating back to 1845), nearby also the Palais de Justise, the town hall and the mairie (housed in a beautiful 19th Century chateau, surrounded by a park).

Cross the little Riberaguet stream to the theatre, housed in an ancient church built before the revolution.

Back into town, turn east to find the Eglise Notre Dame la Paix, a fairly new church built in the 1930's, build in the Romano byzantine style reminicent of the nearby cathedral of Perigueux. Further along you will reach the older church, the 12th century Collegiale Notre-Dame.

Riberac is best on a Friday, market day for reputedly the largest market in Perigord and the most visited attraction in town.

40km east of Chateau La Gauterie, the key attraction to Brantome is its 8th century Abbey. Originally founded by Charlemagne who allegedly donated the relics of Saint Sicarius, one of the children massacred by Herod.

The original abbey was destroyed by Vikings, then rebuilt in the 10th, 12th & 15th century's before being radically restored in the 1850's by architect Paul Abadie, a student of Viollet-le-Duc. One of the oldest parts remaining is the bell tower which officially dates back to the 11th century and may be even older, making it one of the oldest in France.

Behind the abbey at the foot of the cliff are the monolithic dwellings used by the original months. In here, you will find the cave with the remarkable sculpture of 'The Last Judgement'.

Walking around the rest of the small village you can see various examples of medieval and renaissance architecture. Near the abbey, just in front of the the Renaissance Pavilion you will find the 'Grand Jardin' also known as the 'Monks Garden'.

The town has a great selection of restaurants, including the Michelin starred Moulin de l'Abbaye.

Village market day is Friday

74km from Chateau la Gauterie (on the way from Bordaux airport however), St Emilion is a world heritage site.

A charming medieval village, located just to the east of Bordeaux town. Known for its world famous wineries, fine wine, beautiful architecture and historic monuments.

The regions wine fame was thanks to the hard promotion of the Jurade, a wine brotherhood created in 1199 by John, King of England. Delegating his economic, political and legal powers to the noblemen of the region and the village to let them rule, the authority of the Jurade was only contested in 1789 during the French Revolution. In 1948 a couple of wine markers resurrected the brotherhood and now lead promotion of Saint Emilion wine around the world; organising the annual Spring Feast and the 'Ban des Vendanges'

93km from Chateau la Gauterie, it is directly north of Bordeaux.

Blaye is best known for its Citadel and for the regions red wine. The town may be small, but it has a long history of military and strategic significance. According to legend, Blaye is the final resting place of the Count Roland of Blaye, nephew of Charlemagne and hero of Le Chanson de Rolans.

The Citadel is a military complex designed by Vauban, a famous military engineer between 1685-1689. Built with the goal of protecting Blaye, together with the Fort Pate and the Fort Medoc on the Western side of the Gironde estuary, it was able to control the flow of river traffic. Added to the UNESCO World Heritage sites in 2008 its free to enter the Citadel and explore the village streets and ramparts.

In addition to the Citadel, are the ruins of Chateau des Rudel, a 12th century medieval castle, brought down in the Wars of Religion By Calvinists.

For market days, head to Blaye on a Wednesday or a Saturday

60km south of Chateau la Gauterie, the town of Bergerac sits along the banks of the river Dordogne. Nestled within an area known as Perigord Pourpre, a land or lush vineyards, also famous for its rolling hills and field of sunflowers.

Medieval Bergerac sits in the heart of the region. A gourmet paradise, perfect for history buffs and wine lowers.

One of the biggest draws is 'old town', a medieval district with cobbled paving and pretty half-timbered houses. Place Pelissiere is the areas go-to square for lunch, with a selection of outdoor cafes. In old town you will also find the Saint Jacques Church and one of the two Cyrano de Bergerax statues in the town.

Host to two medieval castles; once a military stronghold, Chateau de Lanquais is also known as the 'unfinished Lourve of Perigord' with its construction being spread over several centuries. Within it's fortified walls, period furniture and architecture recreate everyday life from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance, making for a fascinating visit. Alternatively, the Château de Monbazillac is a rather more commercial experience with its renowned winery and rolling vineyards, plus contemporary art exhibitions.

Visit the Maison de Vins de Bergerac in the heart of the old town. It is a beautiful old cloister dating back to the 12th century. If you are a wine enthusiast there is an exhibition showing the history of Bergerac wines and its 13 appellations.

During the summer there are occasional concerts which take place in the cloister. It is a lovely setting for them and worth going if you get the chance. In December there is usually a small but good quality Christmas Market here with products from local artisans, very useful if you are doing some Christmas shopping.

The National Tobacco Museum is based here in Bergerac, and is quite interesting. (Tobacco is still an important crop in the region, that you will probably see growing in the fields.)

Bergerac market day Saturday at the higher end of town.