The Villereal area and close proximity to the property

Home::House::Cottage::Garden::Prices/Booking::Region (near)::Region (other)::Travel::Contact::Comments

Bergerac, Monpazier, Monflanquin...the countryside here in South-West France, around our cottage and farmhouse gites, is a land of sunflowers and medieval towns, of caves and rivers, of vineyards and plum orchards, of castles and quiet lost villages, of sunshine and tradition, and of miles of beautiful unspoilt scenery.

The Immediate Area :

The property is on a small hill 2 km from Villereal, surrounded by gardens and open countryside, in a beautiful and completely peaceful location. A variety of crops are grown in the surrounding fields, including sunflowers. There are also several plum orchards near the property, and woodlands and meadows. The countryside is dotted with a mix of old stone farmhouses and colombage cottages.

This video above shows Villereal quite well - even if you don't speak French you can admire the village!

The places on this page are all within about 10-15km of La Grange at Villereal. Many of our guests spend much of their holiday at Fonguilleres itself, enjoying the peace and quiet, reading a book, sampling local wine, swimming in the pool, wandering around the property and occasionally going into Villereal for a drink or a meal.

Villereal

Villereal, 2km from or gites Villereal is the bastide town near Fonguillères. It is an active, 'lived in' town, and has all facilities. It has a medieval centre with a rare medieval market hall, and the buzzing activity and cafes in the town square ensure that many of our visitors name Villereal as their favourite town in the area. In common with the other bastide towns in the area Villereal has many fascinating houses and streets dating from the middle ages. It is the perfect place to sit in a cafe in the town centre and watch the world go by. It is also ideally placed as a central 'hub' for reaching the many other towns of note in the area. Villereal has banks, supermarkets, several bakers, butchers, a lively Saturday market, a post office, two estate agents, several cafes and restaurants, a tourist office that can provide details of current events, walks and cycle rides etc and a bike hire shop - not bad for a town of 1500 residents.

Pigeonnier near Villereal Maison en empilage near Villereal Reputedly built during the hundred years war, maisons en empilage (literally 'piled up' since they are made of large wooden beams piled one on the other), there are several of these houses in the area. This one is a couple of hundred metres from Fonguilleres and has featured twice recently in magazines celebrating the patrimony of France. There are also many pigeonniers in the area, some remarkably elaborate. The common feature is the 'legs' that support the building, constructed in such a way that rats and vermin can not enter. This one is very close to Fonguilleres.

Chateau Biron

Chateau Biron, near Monpazier A lovely castle about 10 kilometres from Villereal, just south of Monpazier, on a hilltop with views across miles of countryside. Well worth a visit, followed perhaps by a drive down the Gavaudun Valley to see the castle at Gavaudun.

Biron

Biron village, near Monpazier The little village below Biron castle is very pretty, and there is a nice restaurant.

Gavaudun Castle / St Avit

Gavaudun castle, between Monflanquin and Monpazier St Avit in the Gavaudun Valley A remarkable keep or 'donjon' in the Gavaudun Valley, about 10 kilometres from Villereal. VERY old and forbidding, perhaps not for those with a fear of heights. The village and valley of Gavaudun are very pretty and there is a national pathway that passes along the valley. Nearby St Avit is a quaint, pedestrian only village, also in the Gavaudun Valley. One of the best things about the area is the myriad of small and picturesque villages to be discovered 'off the beaten track' and set in beautiful countryside.

Issigeac

Issigeac, between Bergerac and Villereal 13 kilometres from Villereal, Issigeac is an amazingly well preserved medieval town, with winding alleys and roads hemmed in by ancient houses. Issigeac has a very popular market on a Sunday morning, loved by everyone who stays in our gites.

Monpazier

Monpazier, between Villerel and Belves 14 kilometres from Villereal, Monpazier is another extraordinary town, with the central square still much as it was several hundred years ago. With Issigeac, a town we love to visit again and again. It is one of several towns nearby with the prestigious 'most beautiful villages in France' listing (see also further on - Monflanquin, Domme, Sarlat, Pujols). Each spring the Monpazier flower and plant market brings colour to the town.

Information on this page about Lot-et-Garonne is supplied by southofthedordogne.com