Bonnes Routes Gîte

31/08/2025

The madness that is Périgueux Vintage Days.

24/08/2025

It’s always a Practical Classics day in France. 🇫🇷🚘

19/08/2025

#5 in our top places to visit is our regional capital, Perigueux. The end of August is a good time to visit with three days of car-related fun as part of Périgueux Vintage Days. But there’s lots on offer all year round : the Roman quarter with the Jardin des Arènes (Roman amphitheatre), Tour de Vessuna and Gallo-Roman museum; the medieval historic centre with half-timber houses and charming squares; Cathédrale Saint-Front (the inspiration for the Sacré-Coeur in Paris); and plenty of shopping opportunities too!

18/08/2025

#4 on our list of local places not to be missed is "le Centre de la mémoire d’Oradour", and the ruins of "le village martyr", a haunting memorial to the massacre of 643 men, women and children by the Waffen SS on June 10 1944. The ruins were preserved and declared a historical monument in 1946.

In the middle of September the centre is undergoing a major renovation so the excellent museum telling the story of the village will unfortunately not be accessible (reopens summer 2027). But you can still visit the village, the cemetery and memorial. It's somewhere you will never forget ... nor should forget.

www.oradour.org

15/08/2025

On a scorching day, #3 in our local sites to visit is Brantôme, the "Venice of the Périgord." Get out of the sun and onto the water with a relaxing boat ride under the canvas shade of the Les Croisières de Brantôme or hire a kayak at Brantome Canoë. The troglodyte caves behind the Abbaye de Brantôme offer a cool place to take a break from the heat. La Guinguette then provides a perfect, sheltered spot for lunch or dinner on its riverside terrace. And don’t forgot to try one of the amazing flavours of ice-cream from the local glaciers. 😋🍨😎

Découvrez Brantôme et ses environs depuis la rivière Dronne : croisières touristiques, détente et découverte au cœur du Périgord. Réservez en ligne maintenant.

13/08/2025

#2 on our list of local hotspots to visit is the beautiful Chateau de Hautefort. Set high on a rocky spur, this stunning chateau is a must-see, with its rich history and formal garden. It’s a great spot to escape the heat in the peaceful 30-hectare "parc à l'anglais," where you can relax in the cool shade of some amazing cedars and other ancient trees along many of the walking trails.

Visitez le château de Hautefort, le Versailles du Périgord, et plongez dans l'histoire à travers ses jardins et intérieurs somptueux.

12/08/2025

Kicking off our Top 5 Local Places to Visit, this week’s #1 pick is the perfect escape from the heat! Even when it’s a sizzling 38° outside, you’ll find cool, fresh air below ground at the spectacular natural wonder that is Grotte de Villars. A must-see for every visitor.

https://grotte-villars.com

11/08/2025

Many thanks to Danny for the lovely article about our gîte in the September issue of Practical Classics. As a faithful PC subscriber for too many years to mention we were really pleased to get such a ringing endorsement. So if you have a practical classic and fancy driving it on our lovely roads check us out!

09/08/2025

Beautiful Jersey tiger moth and dozens of meadow brown butterflies enjoying the mint - they clearly don’t mind 33° heat!

03/07/2025

Thanks Practical Classics for giving new life to our garden ornament. 🆘

25/06/2025

Look what came to see us today! It sounded as good as it looks!

14/12/2024

Joyeux Noël à tous.

Spectacle de son et lumière, "Secrets d'une nuit d'hiver", sur la basilique Saint-Michel-des-Lions à Limoges.