Knight Frank Property For Sale in Dordogne
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Area Guides :
Bordeaux | Provence | Gascony |Cote d'Azur | Quercy
The area extends from the Perigord Pourpre (named after the red grapes of its vineyards) in the south and west, to the Perigord Noir in the South East with its wooded hills. In the north is the gently rolling countryside of the Perigord Vert, whilst in the centre the limestone plateau of Perigord Blanc bisects the region from east to west.
The River Dordogne, from which the area takes its name, has an with its enviable reputation as the cleanest in Europe, runs from the Massif Central and has its mouth in Bordeaux to the west.
The countryside is green and varied – vineyards, crops of maize and sunflowers, woods, streams and rivers all contribute to year round colour and interest, making up a rich patchwork of natural beauty.
Temperatures typically range from the mid-20’s to mid 30’s in summer, although snow can settles for a few days each winter.
Open-air pools can generally be used from April to October, as spring and autumn are wonderful seasons in which to enjoy the great outdoors. Summers are hot and sunny (temperatures typically range from the mid-20’s to mid 30’s) and are best enjoyed from cafes and pools, while snow can settle for a few days each winter.
Reputed to be the area in which prehistoric man first settled in Europe, the area abounds with sites of major historical interest. The prehistoric Sites and decorated caves of the Vézère Valley are on the UNESCO World Heritage List, the best known being the cave paintings at Lascaux and Cap Blanc. The French National Museum of Prehistory is at Les Eysies.
Gascony is home to ‘Bastide’ towns dating back to the 13th century. These were built for economic and defensive purposes by feudal lords, and are characterized by cobbled streets, with stone and colombage houses set on streets laid out on a grid pattern, and with a large market square at the centre surrounded by stone-arched arcades. Weekly bustling local markets are still extremely popular to this day.
The region is rich in culture – testament to a colourful past and deep-rooted traditions.In Bergerac, there are museums about wine and tobacco – historically the two principle crops. Village Bournat, in Le Bugue, celebrates village life in the 19th Century, whilst next door the Aquarium houses the largest private collection of fish in Europe.
Whatever one’s passion, there is a festival to suit somewhere, sometime. Big favorites are wine, oysters, agriculture, art and music.
The Dordogne has many specialties – from foie gras, to its perfect accompaniment, Monbazillac wine, deemed by many to be sweeter and richer than Sauternes. It is also famed for its truffles, duck, walnuts and prunes.
Due to its history, natural wealth and topography, it is an ideal area for prestige properties in rural settings – chateaux, chatreuses and manoirs in wonderful estates abound – many dating back to the era of the crusades and Knights Templar. Mills, farmhouses, and townhouses set in medieval market towns are also plentiful and popular. Perigordine architecture is typified by solid mellow yellow stone walls capped with rust coloured steep roofs to the east, and to the west white limestone walls, with shallower canal tiled roofs. Mansard roofs are common in grander properties, and favourite features are Pigeonnier towers – used for keeping pigeons.
The region has been a long-standing favourite amongst retirees and has a healthy proportion of international residents. Of late there has been a marked upsurge in a younger generation moving to the area – wooed by the good communications links and excellent quality of life, particularly for children.
Bergerac Airport is extremely well-served from the UK – with regular flights to Gatwick, Stansted, Southampton, Exeter, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Edinburgh and Liverpool. Bordeaux, only an hour or so to the west, handles a number of additional flights. Moreover, smaller airports accommodating private planes are dotted throughout the area.
It is similarly well-served by roads – the regional capital Perigueux is 7hrs 45mins driving time from Calais and 6 hrs from St Malo, and is well served by Autoroutes A10 and A20 running north-south, and the new A89 Transeuropéenne running east-west between Bordeaux and the Alps.
Local trains are available, with Libourne being the nearest station for the TGV to Paris.
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