Welcome to Villa Shambhala – my French home.

I hope you have a really happy and memorable stay here.

Villa Shambhala is a great place to do very little but it’s also the perfect base from which to explore the vast wine region, as we are within an hour of Saint-Emilion, , Graves, -Léognan and Sauternes and 50 to 75 minutes from the famous appellations of Margaux, Saint-Julien, and Saint-Estephe.

The charming town of Saint-Emilion is 25km away and the superbly restored city of Bordeaux just 70km. Both are Unesco World Heritage sites. The long sandy beaches of the Atlantic coast around and Cap Ferret are a 2- hour drive and well worth a trip in fine weather. Heading inland, there are lovely bastide towns and pretty villages set in peaceful countryside near the and Garonne rivers.

For eating out, there is a wide choice of excellent restaurants, whether you prefer something locally, or one of the many venues in Bordeaux or Saint- Emilion.

Please make yourselves at home and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. Could you please leave Villa Shambhala neat and tidy as you have found it for the next guests, and can you please strip the beds before leaving and leave all the laundry ready for collection at 10.00 a.m. Saturday morning. Eric or myself will come and see you before you leave.

I have prepared an inventory of the contents and I would be grateful of your honesty of any breakages.

There are a collection of wonderful books and tourist guides on the shelves. Please return the books where you find them so they are there for the next guest.

This is a non-smoking house and I would be grateful if you respected my wishes.

Do not hesitate to contact me for any further information.

Have a great time!

Lots of Love,

KIT BENTLEY

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INSTRUCTIONS ON GETTING TO SHAMBHALA

Address 1 Rue de la Rivière Prats 24230 Saint-Seurin-de-Prats

From Bordeaux Airport

The sat nav reference is as follows: Lat 44 49 35 N Long 0 3 47 E

• Use Google Map. • Enter Bordeaux Airport to Route de Prats, 24230 Saint-Seurin-de-Prats,

1. From Bordeaux follow the signs to St Emiiion and Castillon la Bataille. 2. Then follow the road towards Ste Foy Le Grande. 3. After Montcaret turn right to St Seurin de Prats. 4. You arrive in St Seurin, Church on the left. 5. Turn right towards Pessac. 6. Just before a Bar/Restaurant called L’ardoise, turn right to Prats. 1. You will pass a beautiful classical Chateau on your right and the river will be on your left. 7. Villa Shambhala is situated on Rue De La Riviere, which is the second turning on the right after the Chateau. 8. The house is situated on the right hand side with off street parking for 2 cars.

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From Bergerac Airport

Address 1 Rue de la Rivière Prats 24230 Saint-Seurin-de-Prats

• Use Google Map. • Enter Aéroport Bergerac Dordogne Périgord to Route de Prats, 24230 Saint-Seurin-de-Prats, France.

1. From Bergerac airport take the road to Bordeaux /Libourne. 2. Go towards Ste Foy La Grande following the sign to Bordeaux. 3. When you arrive at the roundabout in at Les Reaux go straight on towards Montcaret. 4. After Montcaret turn left to St Seurin de Prats. 5. You arrive in St Seurin, Church on the left. 6. Turn right towards Pessac. 7. Just before a Bar/Restaurant called L’ardoise, turn right to Prats. 1. You will pass a beautiful classical Chateau on your right and the river will be on your left. 8. Villa Shambhala is situated on Rue De La Riviere, which is the second turning on the right after the Chateau. 9. The house is situated on the right hand side with off street parking for 2 cars.

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Emergency Contact Numbers

Fire 18 Police 17 Ambulance 15

DOCTOR Lair Aymeric –GP 3 Allée de la République, 33890 Gensac, France +33 5 57 47 43 87

Hospital Center Sainte Foy La Grande 1 Avenue Charrier, 33220 Sainte-Foy-la-Grande, France +33 5 57 41 96 96

Robert Boulin Hospital ER 112 Rue de la Marne 33500 Libourne +33 5 57 55 34 34

Hospital Center De Libourne 112 Rue de la Marne 33500 Libourne +33 5 57 55 34 34

DENTIST Beatrice Metton-Juzeau 23 rue de Bergerac 24230 Lamothe Montravel 05 53 58 68 32

Kit Bentley UK 0044 1483 211913 0044 7780 467536

Kit Bentley France 06 21 44 73 94 05 53 23 46 95

Eric Bourse 06 84 13 87 92

British Consulate Bordeaux 05 57 22 21 10

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VILLA SHAMBHALA A-Z OF HOUSE KEEPING

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AIRPORTS SHAMBHALA is accessible from both Bordeaux and Bergerac Airport.

APPLIANCES All the instruction manuals are available in the file for reference.

ARRIVAL TIME Arrival time is from 4pm.

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BABY SITTING There are a few local girls that can babysit. Please speak to Kit directly.

BANK There is a Credit Agricole in Gensac with a cash machine and one in Lamothe.

BARBEQUE There is a BBQ in the Salle d’ete. Please clean after use. There are cleaning products and brushes in the plastic container stored underneath it.

BOOKS AND BROCHURES There is a wide selection of guidebooks for your use. Please return them to the shelves in good order for the next guest.

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CLEANING A mid –week clean is available on request, payment should be made directly to the cleaner. (12 euro per hour)

CAR RENTALS All the well-known car rental companies are based at Bordeaux and Bergerac Airport and also at the train station in Libourne.

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DEPARTURE TIME Please vacate Shambhala by 10am on the morning of your departure so that the villa can be prepared in time for the arrival of the next guests.

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DVD There is a selection of DVD’s for you to use by the TV.

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ELECTRICAL CURRENT The voltage is 220/240 volts – French plug adaptor needed

EMERGENCY BOX Occasionally a storm can cause a power cut. In this event there is an emergency box on the buffet in the dining room. It contains candles, matches and a torch.

ENERGY SAVING Make sure all electrical goods and lights are switched off when you leave the villa and before going to bed. Make sure that the electric lights or the outdoor heaters in the Salle d’ete are not turned on by accident and always switched off after use when the villa is unoccupied and at night-time.

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FIRST AID There is a first aid kit in the bathroom upstairs in the top drawer.

FIRE SAFETY There are two smoke alarms situated in the kitchen and in the lobby between the downstairs bedroom and the kitchen.

FANS There are fans available for use in each of the four bedrooms. Please do not use these with the windows open and ensure they are switched off when you leave the villa during the day and night.

FOUNTAIN When it gets very hot the main fountain in the garden needs topping up with water every day. There is a hosepipe in the garden so that it is easy to do. The water evaporates very quickly during the heat of the summer.

FUSEBOX The fuse box is located above the fridge in the kitchen.

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GAS Both the hob and the BBQ work by gas. There is a spare red cylinder in the Salle d’ete. Should you run out they are available from the garage at the supermarket in near Sainte Foy La Grande.

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GUEST BOOK Please write your comments in the guest book or you can send a review direct to Oliver’s Travels.

GARDEN Gardeners will maintain garden and riverbank either on Monday or Thursday morning around 10am for approx. 4 hours. Apologies for any noise caused but the grounds need to be maintained.

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HOUSE RULES Villa Shambhala is a non-smoking property.

Please be mindful of the noise level so as not to upset the neighbours. Please be aware that this is a small hamlet. Do not play loud music in the garden and turn off any music after 11pm.

HEALTH FOOD SHOP Bio Essential at Porte Sainte- Foy La Grande

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INTERNET The WIFI code is the live box in the sitting room. REas CCHh gN5K SodK nX

IRONING There is an iron and ironing board in the cupboard in the lobby between the lobby and the kitchen.

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KEYS The Villa will be open and either Eric or Kit will be there to welcome you and to give you the keys. However if due to unforeseen circumstances no one is at Villa Shambhala to greet you on arrival, the villa will be open and the keys will be on the dining table.

On departure can you please leave the keys on the dining room table.

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LIGHTS Please ensure all lights are switched off before leaving to prevent mosquitos and to save energy. Please do not leave fans on in the bedrooms when you are out and please do not use the fans when the windows are open.

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MUSIC Please keep the music low outside so as to be considerate to the neighbours. Switch off at 11pm.

MARKETS See the A-Z Activities section.

MOSQUITOS It is recommended keeping the doors and shutters closed during the day. Never leave the doors and windows open with the lights on as this attracts the mossies! You can buy anti mosquito plug-ins at the super market.

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NEWSPAPERS There are a small selection of newspapers available in the tabac at Pessac and a larger variety in the tabac in Sainte Foy la Grande.

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PARKING There is space for 2/3cars in the parking bay.

PETS Please keep the pets in the downstairs rokms only and do not allow them on the sofa and chairs. Please do not allow your pet on the beds. An extra cost of 75 euros will be charged weekly to cover the additional cost of cleaning. In the heat please wash down your dog before entering the house if it has been cooling off in the river. Towel dry before letting it back in the house.

PHARMACY There is a pharmacy in Gensac on the roundabout and one just before the roundabout at Les Reaux.

PARASOL Please put down the parasols when not in use as the wind can become very strong and break them.

There are candles, matches and torches in the left hand drawer of the dresser in the sitting room.

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REVIEWS Please write your comments in the guest book or you can send a review direct to Oliver’s Travels.

RUBBISH/RECYCLING Glass and glass bottles please put in the green box situated in the drive near the bins.

Please take the boxes of empty bottles to the glass recycling centre at the mairie in St Seurin de Prats. It is situated just after the mairie in St Seurin de Prats on the right hand side of the road before you get to the junction where the church is. There are 2 large recycling bins there. Plastic and Paper should be put into the yellow bin also situated in the drive

The kitchen bin is located at the bottom left side of the fridge. There is 1 bin for plastic and paper and the other for general waste.

RIVERFRONT AND RIVERGARDEN Please be extra careful on the riverbank and do not allow children to play there. The river can be VERY dangerous. The owner of Shambhala accepts no responsibility for accidents that might occur.

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SECURITY Please lock all the doors and the main entrance gate when leaving the property. Lock the main gate at night and keep it closed during the day. The owner of Shambhala accepts no responsibility for accidents, loses or damage that might occur. There is a safe situated in the cupboard on the landing for personal items.

SUN TERRACE There are 4 sun loungers on the roof terrace. Please be careful on using the steps, there are handrails to guide you safely.

SHUTTERS Keep them closed during the day to keep the house cool. Close and lock the shutters during a storm. The wind can become extremely strong up the river very quickly

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SALLE D’ETE This is the outdoor living area equipped with sofas, dining table and chairs and fridge freezer. It tends to be the coolest place during the hot summer months. Be careful not to switch on the heaters by accident.

SUPERMARKETS The 2 Leclerc supermarkets in Pineuilh and Castillon are the nearest. There is a small Spar in Gensac. If you are prepared to travel further there is a Grand Frais in Bergerac that has quite exotic things! There is also a small supermarket (Carrefour) on the roundabout on the way to Velines.

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TELEVISION Satellite TV is available in the sitting room. Instructions are on the TV table. Please do not allow children to play around with controls. The TV is programmed for the UK channels

TAXIS There are taxi companies in Gensac and Velines. Numbers in the Shambhala manual.

TRAINS The nearest station is Velines. Timetable available at the station or on the Internet.

TELEPHONES Mobile reception is much better on the riverside.

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VET Dr Castanet 63 Avenue de Bordeaux Porte Ste Foy 05 53 74 24 18

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WATER STOP COCK This is situated in the gravel garden outside of the kitchen door. There is a wooden square plank with a pot on it. In case of an emergency turn it off.

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A-Z GUIDE OF ACTIVITES

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Art There is a collection of original Works of Art on the walls by well-known French Artist Eric Bourse. All works of art are for sale. Private tuition with the artist is also available when he is in the area. Art Courses also available. Please look at my website for further information on www.liveinart.co.uk or email me on [email protected] Antiques and brocantes

Brocantes are very popular in the area.

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Bicycle Bicycles can be hired; they will be delivered and collected from the property. • www.themountainbikehirecompany.co.uk • www.ouibike.net/en/location-velo/gironde/sainte-foy-la-grande/

Bowling The nearest Bowling Alley is in Bergerac.

Beautician The nearest one is in the supermarket Leclerc entrance in Castillon. There is an excellent spa in Château Vigier www.vigiers.com/spa-and-beauty-center-dordogne.html Beauty Full in Libourne -Carrefour, Avenue du Général de Gaulle, 33500 Libourne, France +33 5 57 25 82 11

Beach Lacanou is the nearest beach on the Atlantic Coast approximately a 1.5hr drive.

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Chateaux visits (wine chateaux) Most of the great chateaux are open during the season. You can ask us to organise the visit or find all the informations at the tourism office in Saint- Emilion.

Canoe Kayaks and canoes are available for rent at the Kayak centre on the quai side in Pessac over the bridge. www.france-voyage.com

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Church A Roman Catholic Church is in the centre of Sainte-Foy-la-Grand. Service is at 11am. Local churches rotate on a weekly basis. Check on the internet or the church notice board. The nearest church is in St Seurin de Prats.

Caves Lascaux is famous for its Palaeolithic cave paintings, found in a complex of caves in the Dordogne region of southwestern France, because of their exceptional quality, size, sophistication and antiquity. Estimated to be up to 20,000 years old, the paintings consist primarily of large animals once native to the region. Lascaux is located in the Vézère Valley (Montignac) where many other decorated caves have been found since the beginning of the 20th century. Tickets must be booked in advance online. www.lascaux-dordogne.com/en/lascaux-cave

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DORDOGNE area information.

Ancient History: Dordogne is possibly most famous for its caves and cave paintings. Human remains were found at Les Eyzies some time around 1837 that triggered the fist major excavations in Périgord. Evidence of Neanderthal man and Cro-Magnon man was unearthed in the caves near the river Vézère. These were amongst the most important finds in archaeological history to help us understand the complete picture of prehistoric civilization.

Tourism Today: Today the Dordogne still benefits from its ancient history – the caves and their paintings (and the other visitor attractions created because of them) are the main draw to the region for visitors along with the breathtaking scenery, the wonderful meandering river valleys, wooded hills, ancient villages and traditional market towns. Here you can enjoy whatever type of holiday you like, from exploring the caves to canoeing down the river, walking in the woods to sipping a kir in a local café, or from swimming in the refreshing waters of a lake to soaking up the sun from your balcony or terrace. If it gets too hot outside, the cool and fascinating caves will help you chill out.

Places to Visit: There are over 1,000 chateaux and castles in the Dordogne, including the incredible Château de Beynac, Castelneau, Jumilhac, and the enchanting Losse Château and Gardens. There are also many other gardens open to the public. The Leisure Park “le Village du Bournat” is a great place for all the family as it takes you back in time 100 years. For history lovers there are plenty of museums and for the outdoor lovers you will discover more than enough activities to satisfy even the most adventurous of people. Jardin de Sardy, 24230, Velines 05 53 27 51 45

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Location: South West France – The five departments of Aquitaine are: Dordogne (24), (Bordeaux) (33), Lot et Garonne (47), Landes (40) and Pyrénées Atlantiques (64) make up this Atlantic region of France.

Geography: Bordeaux is the region’s capital city. It is situated in the Gironde on the bank of the River Garonne. Gironde and the Dordogne form the two northern regions, side by side, with Landes and Lot et Garonne side by side beneath them and finally the Pyrénées Atlantiques dividing France from Spain on the Atlantic coast.

Food and Drink: Wine, wine and more wine. Bordeaux probably being one of the most famous wine regions in the world and produces some of the highest quality and long-lasting wines. There are also other wine areas in this region including Bergerac, Buzet, Duras and Monbazillac as well as the Madrian wines in the south. Armagnac brandy is produced around Condom and Eauze. Goose and duck are important ingredients in this region’s cuisine, with every part of the bird being used. You will find excellent Pyrénéean goat’s cheeses, mushrooms of all kinds including truffles, and of course seafood particularly from the coastal regions.

Dinner We can organise a typical French dinner (or lunch) at Shambhala. We propose a set menus and fine wines. Do not hesitate to contact us for any further information.

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Fishing A fishing licence is required. It can be bought online. www.cartedepeche.fr/

Fireworks Fireworks are not allowed.

French lessons French lessons are available at Aquitaine Langues Bergerac. Albert Croce 05 53 74 17 85

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Golf The nearest Golf course is at Château Vigiers 18 holes. Château des Vigiers, 24240 Monestier 05 53 61 50 33 vigiers.com/chateau-des-vigiers-france.html

Games There are selections of board games in the house

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HAIRDRESSER There is a salon at Le clerc in Castillon. Tel: 05 57 40 00 18

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Lake Lac de Gurson, Ville franche-de-Lonchat Lac de la Cadie – Mouliets et Cillemarton

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Markets For brocantes, antique fairs, festivals etc, take a look at the Angloinfo Aquitaine website. They usually have a list of what’s on regularly. If you are like me, you could go to a market every day and enjoy it, here are some good local ones:

Monday Castillion la Bataille, this is a smaller local market, but we like it. The Voyageur Hotel is on the edge of the market and serves good rustic fare if you want to rub shoulders with the locals. See if you can park down by the river. In the big stone wine warehouse there is a British – but seemingly good wine merchant - Laithwaites. It is an amazing building, the huge oak wine casks need to be seen - it’s well worth a visit. Tuesday Libourne Wednesday Bergerac - There is a fine restaurant behind Bergerac on the hill called “La tour des Vents, Moulin de Malfourat, 24240 Montbazillac I think, again booking needed. www.tourdesvents.com Thursday Eymet – a lovely bastide town like Issigeac. Try lunch afterwards at Pizza Restaurant Italien des Arcades, on the square, Tel : 05 53 23 90 05 Night Market in the summer months on a Tuesday. Branne mornings only – a very local market Friday Libourne, Riberac Saturday Sainte Foy la Grande – this is the big local market. Sunday Issigeac and Libourne.

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There are good local goat cheese stalls, but beware the Pyrenees cheese sellers who charge a fortune to tourists. Our most discerning French pals say the cheese counter at the Sainte Foy Leclerc supermarket has the best cheese in the area. They have a selection of French wines too. There is also a cheese factory in Montcaret minutes from Shambhala) Fromagerie Van der Horst Tel : 05 53 58 62 38 You should take at least a day to visit Bordeaux. You can drive all the way in, but the new trams are fantastic, there is a park and ride station on the way in and you can hop on and off as you like. Restaurants we like are “La Tapina” and on the other side of the stone bridge, “Le Port” I think – great views of the city, especially in the evening. There are many other good restaurants, so you may want to explore the web and see what you can find. A visit to the tourist board is a must.

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Nature Please respect the wildlife. • Wild places and wild species have the right to existence and respect, along with humans. • We are part of the web of life: our future depends on keeping this complex structure intact. • Respect for the wild shows we respect ourselves and our place in the world. • We love beautiful things and wild nature is a source of much beauty in the world. • Wild places, plants and animals have valuable cultural, historical and ancestral values, which are part of our heritage and provide benefits for current and future generations. • The natural world provides the raw materials for our development food, water, seeds, tools, medicines etc. • In the wild we may feel a sense of awe, inspiration and oneness with nature some call it spiritual.

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Opera Grand Theatre Bordeaux. Look on line for the program. www.opera-bordeaux.com

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Picnic There is a picnic set and cool box available.

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Pilates Kate Sanders 0033 6 08 06 80 01 - 0033 5 53 88 15 45 www.katesandersfitness.com Faugerat Fabienne Frederiqye in Libourne. 19 Rue Paul Bert, 33500, Libourne 0033 6 84 00 42 68

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Restaurants

Local restaurants L’Ardoise 3 Route du Perigord Prats +33 5 53 58 80 16

La Palma Nova Les Quais 33890 Pessac-sur-Dordogne France +33 6 22 17 61 54

Taverne Belvedere 1 Cote de la Tourbelle 33890 Juillac France +33 5 24 24 75 92

Chateau La Dominique 33330 Saint Emilion France +33 5 57 51 31 36 chateau-ladominique.com

Au Four de la Rive 66 Bis avenue de la Dordogne 333350 Mouilets et Villemartin France +33 7 80 31 66 33 https://www.aufourdelarive.fr

Cadouin

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Restaurant de l”abate Place De l”abbaye 24480 Cadouin France +33 5 53 63 40 93

Gensac (5 min from Shambhala) Café de la Paix Cheap and cheerful Perfect for first night ! 3 rue des Allées Tel : 05 57 47 46 49 (15/25 € /head)

Le Gensake 7 Avenue de la République 05 57 47 41 04 (18/30 €/ head)

Pujols Chez Sylvie (Lunch Only) Cheap and cheerful 12 Place du General De Gaulle Tel ; 05 57 40 50 10 (15/20 € /head)

Bergerac Villa Laetitia 21 rue de l’ancien pont (In the old town) Bergerac Tel : 05 53 61 00 12 (25/35 €/head) www.villa-laetitia.fr

L’imparfait 8 rue des Fontainiers (in the old town) Bergerac Tel : 05 53 57 4792 (30/40 €/head) A lot of cheap restaurant are in the old town http://www.imparfait.com

Saint Emilion Château de Candale Atelier de Candale

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Saint Laurent des Combes (In the middle of the wineyard) Tel : 05 57 24 15 45 (20/25 €/ head) La Terasse Rouge Château la Dominique Saint Emilion (View to Cheval Blanc and Petrus) (28/25 € /head) www.laterrasserouge.com L’Envers du décor 11 Rue du Clocher (In the village, near the tourism office) 20/40 €/ head

Hotel Plaisance 5 star www.hotel-plaisance.com La Cadene www.logisdelacadene.fr/en

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Wine Tasting We can organise a wine tasting sampling the local wines of Bergerac, Saint Emilion, Médoc, Graves and Sauterne according to your choice. Do not hesitate to contact us for any further information. Laithwaites www.laithwaites.co.uk

WATER PARKS https://www.aqualand.fr

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Zoo There is a Zoo in Pessac – Bordeaux.

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10 REASONS TO VISIT DORDOGNE IN FRANCE

This beautiful fairy tale region in the south west of France is famous for its castles, Chateaux and other monuments, reminiscing an ancient era. Visitors are sure to be captivated by its quaint villages, scenery and architecture as well. Here are some reasons why you should visit Dordogne.

1. Sitting amidst the ruins of a 12th Century Castle, the Commarque Castle gives visitors the opportunity to walk through ancient woods and see a real castle from the inside. The walk can be tiring although there is a large shaded area, along with a drinking spring and space for children to play. 2. The Chateau de Beynac is one of the most significant landmarks of Dordogne. Here, visitors can get an insight into the history of the war and marvel at this resilient architectural masterpiece. 3. Le Village du Bournat is a charming open-air museum with an array of replicated buildings to recreate popular community edifices. Here, you can watch potters and weavers at their crafts, and have family portraits taken while wearing costumes depicting ancient times. 4. Gouffre du Proumeyssac or the Crystal Cathedral Cave is a well-known tourist hotspot in the region. This is an experience that is definitely not for the faint hearted as it involves venturing into the cave in a basket from the ceiling. 5. Canoeing on the Dordogne is a popular tourist activity and there are several companies offering good deals on the canoeing between River Dordogne and the River Vezere. Here, you can experience the serenity of the pristine waters and view the many attractions nestled on its banks. 6. Chateau de Jumilhac is a castle circumscribed by a picturesque landscape and is a delight to see. It has one of the most interesting roofs in the country. 7. Sarlat is a romantic town and is a shopper’s paradise. Famous for its Saturday market, visitors can expect fabulous bargains on souvenirs and other art paraphernalia. You can also have a portrait drawn from one of the skilful caricature artists in the market. 8. Chateau du Marqueyssac has expansive gardens encircling its cliff top and offers a superb view from different vantage points. Horse drawn Barouches and musical performances will only add to the magic of your visit here. 9. La Roque St-Christophe is a troglodyte structure climbing up the Vezere valley. Discover ancient ruins along this half-mile stretch of land. 10. The Corn Maze is a colossal maze on a maize field. Try to track your way through the Corn Maze with a route map and have a picnic in the surrounding area. Make sure to take lots of water with you, as it can be very hot here on a summer day.

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