La Grange @ Le Chatelard guidebook
Sightseeing
Brantome is just a 30 minute drive, beautiful medieval town built around a river, canal and old abbey. Highly recommend the boat trip on the river, great for an afternoon out or to visit for lunch and a walk. You can also do canoe trips from here. They also do water jousting on the river on Friday evenings.
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Brantôme
Brantome is just a 30 minute drive, beautiful medieval town built around a river, canal and old abbey. Highly recommend the boat trip on the river, great for an afternoon out or to visit for lunch and a walk. You can also do canoe trips from here. They also do water jousting on the river on Friday evenings.
Gorgeous town, approximately 25 minute drive, with a chateau, several great restaurants and a huge Le Clerc supermarket. Gorgeous artisan chocolate maker in a mill at the base of the chateau and a McDonalds restaurant close to the Le Clerc supermarket (if your kids, like mine, can't do without) . Chateau La Rochefoucauld overlooks the town, you can walk around the grounds free of charge and for a small fee you can visit the chateau itself, and dress up in historical costumes, which the kids love! There are a few shops and restaurants in the town, speciality of the area is Limousin beef and a few of the restaurants offer this. Lovely new place, Au Moulin du Chateau, has recently opened close to the chateau, overlooking the river.
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La Rochefoucauld
Gorgeous town, approximately 25 minute drive, with a chateau, several great restaurants and a huge Le Clerc supermarket. Gorgeous artisan chocolate maker in a mill at the base of the chateau and a McDonalds restaurant close to the Le Clerc supermarket (if your kids, like mine, can't do without) . Chateau La Rochefoucauld overlooks the town, you can walk around the grounds free of charge and for a small fee you can visit the chateau itself, and dress up in historical costumes, which the kids love! There are a few shops and restaurants in the town, speciality of the area is Limousin beef and a few of the restaurants offer this. Lovely new place, Au Moulin du Chateau, has recently opened close to the chateau, overlooking the river.
Château de Bourdeilles, just a couple of miles outside Brantome so makes sense to combine a visit with a trip to Brantome, lovely location, definitely worth paying to visit the interior of the Chateau, there are a couple of nice cafes and restaurants just below the chateau, ideal for lunch or an evening meal in magical surroundings.
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Bourdeilles
Château de Bourdeilles, just a couple of miles outside Brantome so makes sense to combine a visit with a trip to Brantome, lovely location, definitely worth paying to visit the interior of the Chateau, there are a couple of nice cafes and restaurants just below the chateau, ideal for lunch or an evening meal in magical surroundings.
Piegut-Pluviers is definately worth a visit on market day, which is held every Wednesday. Its approx 15 minutes drive, huge market, mainly selling local food produce, artisan sausages and pate, fantastic fruit and veg, handmade goods and clothing. Starts at 9am till lunchtime – get there early have a stroll and sit at one of the cafes with a coffee and just watch the world go by.
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Piégut-Pluviers
Piegut-Pluviers is definately worth a visit on market day, which is held every Wednesday. Its approx 15 minutes drive, huge market, mainly selling local food produce, artisan sausages and pate, fantastic fruit and veg, handmade goods and clothing. Starts at 9am till lunchtime – get there early have a stroll and sit at one of the cafes with a coffee and just watch the world go by.
Beautiful leisure lake with ample free parking approx 15 minute drive. The lake has a beach with lifeguards, free kayak and paddleboard hire, a childrens playground, picnic areas, volleyball area and cafe. It's a lovely day out and many families take a picnic and spend the day at the lake. You can walk around the lake, fish (licence is available on site), swim, sunbathe and the small cafe provides great snacks at a reasonable cost. If you fancy a more upmarket eating experience then Le Moulin du Grand Etang is in a beautiful spot overlooking the lake. Another restaurant, The Crazy Frog, is also near the lake at St Estephe, it’s much more casual, burgers, steak, fries etc. Attracts a mixed crowd of locals and ex pats, nice garden and the English lady who runs it is lovely. They offer good value lunch and also have occasional bands there.
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Étang de Saint-Estèphe
Beautiful leisure lake with ample free parking approx 15 minute drive. The lake has a beach with lifeguards, free kayak and paddleboard hire, a childrens playground, picnic areas, volleyball area and cafe. It's a lovely day out and many families take a picnic and spend the day at the lake. You can walk around the lake, fish (licence is available on site), swim, sunbathe and the small cafe provides great snacks at a reasonable cost. If you fancy a more upmarket eating experience then Le Moulin du Grand Etang is in a beautiful spot overlooking the lake. Another restaurant, The Crazy Frog, is also near the lake at St Estephe, it’s much more casual, burgers, steak, fries etc. Attracts a mixed crowd of locals and ex pats, nice garden and the English lady who runs it is lovely. They offer good value lunch and also have occasional bands there.
Our nearest town approx. 15 minute drive. There is a largish supermarket which stocks everything you could need, as well as several decent restaurants including Moulin De La Tardoire a Michelin star restaurant, it’s absolutely beautiful, you can make reservations on-line. Also in Montbron is Maison Canoe, a company which arranges canoe trips on the river Tardoire, trip vary from a few hours to a full day and are great fun as well as a brilliant way to see the local countryside.
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Montbron
Our nearest town approx. 15 minute drive. There is a largish supermarket which stocks everything you could need, as well as several decent restaurants including Moulin De La Tardoire a Michelin star restaurant, it’s absolutely beautiful, you can make reservations on-line. Also in Montbron is Maison Canoe, a company which arranges canoe trips on the river Tardoire, trip vary from a few hours to a full day and are great fun as well as a brilliant way to see the local countryside.
A 40 minute drive will take you to one of the most beautiful villages in France, an offical catorgorisation, and if you visit you will completely understand why. Set on the banks of a river the village is set out around a beautiful privately owned chateau and historic church. There are several lovely restaurants and cafes within the village, which holds an annual flower show on the nearest weekend to the 8th May each year.
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Saint-Jean-de-Côle
A 40 minute drive will take you to one of the most beautiful villages in France, an offical catorgorisation, and if you visit you will completely understand why. Set on the banks of a river the village is set out around a beautiful privately owned chateau and historic church. There are several lovely restaurants and cafes within the village, which holds an annual flower show on the nearest weekend to the 8th May each year.
Food scene/restaurants
Set in the heart of the Perigord-Limousin National Park the small village of Varaignes with it's excellent Boulangerie and village shop is our closest village. In the summer the village hosts a weekly Tuesday night market, which attracts visitors from the local area and beyond. From 6.30pm you can browse the stalls, select your meal and sit at the vast communal tables to enjoy fantastic local produce. Take a bottle of wine, or buy some there, and soak up the atmosphere.
Varaignes
Set in the heart of the Perigord-Limousin National Park the small village of Varaignes with it's excellent Boulangerie and village shop is our closest village. In the summer the village hosts a weekly Tuesday night market, which attracts visitors from the local area and beyond. From 6.30pm you can browse the stalls, select your meal and sit at the vast communal tables to enjoy fantastic local produce. Take a bottle of wine, or buy some there, and soak up the atmosphere.
Moulin De La Tardoire is an outstanding Michelin star restaurant, it’s absolutely beautiful, you can make reservations on-line for lunch or dinner. There are several fixed price options. It’s in Montbron, about 6 miles from La Grange
Moulin de la Tardoire, restaurant gastronomique à Montbron, Charente (16)
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Montbron
Moulin De La Tardoire is an outstanding Michelin star restaurant, it’s absolutely beautiful, you can make reservations on-line for lunch or dinner. There are several fixed price options. It’s in Montbron, about 6 miles from La Grange
Moulin de la Tardoire, restaurant gastronomique à Montbron, Charente (16)
Activites
Located approx 3 miles from La Grange this has to be one of the best go-karting facilities available. With a small circuit for children and a championship standard circuit for older children and young adults it's a great high adrenalin activity. There is a small cafe, which overlooks the track, for refreshments and loads of free parking. Check their website for opening times as these can vary.
Karting Circuit Perigord
Chemin de Chez MégeLocated approx 3 miles from La Grange this has to be one of the best go-karting facilities available. With a small circuit for children and a championship standard circuit for older children and young adults it's a great high adrenalin activity. There is a small cafe, which overlooks the track, for refreshments and loads of free parking. Check their website for opening times as these can vary.
City/town information
Angoulême, which is approx. 45 minutes drive away, is the capital of the Charente region of France. Known throughout the world as the International Comic Strip Capital Angouleme has been exhibiting art on its walls since 1982, a map, available from the Tourist Information Centre highlights the locations of the artworks so you can follow the trail. The covered food market is worth a visit and the ancient centre of the city is a labyrinth of cobbled streets with many small bars and restaurants. On the third weekend of September the city hosts the famous classic car race, Circuit des Remparts. Weekend-long events see classic cars hurtling around the ancient, twisting roads of pretty hill-top Angoulême. The Circuit des Remparts is a highlight in any historic racing enthusiast’s diary!
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Angoulême
Angoulême, which is approx. 45 minutes drive away, is the capital of the Charente region of France. Known throughout the world as the International Comic Strip Capital Angouleme has been exhibiting art on its walls since 1982, a map, available from the Tourist Information Centre highlights the locations of the artworks so you can follow the trail. The covered food market is worth a visit and the ancient centre of the city is a labyrinth of cobbled streets with many small bars and restaurants. On the third weekend of September the city hosts the famous classic car race, Circuit des Remparts. Weekend-long events see classic cars hurtling around the ancient, twisting roads of pretty hill-top Angoulême. The Circuit des Remparts is a highlight in any historic racing enthusiast’s diary!