The Area & Things To See

Gasquerie
The cottage, or gîte, is set in the grounds of a 13th century house in the tiny hamlet of Gasquerie in the commune of Puisseguin. The property is off the road, surrounded by fields and vineyards and as a result is beautifully peaceful and tranquil without being completely isolated. The area is famous for its excellent wines: St. Emilion, Pomerol, Sauternes, Medoc, Margaux, Pauillac, Monbazillac, Bergerac, and many more for you to discover. Visits to various local chateaux can be arranged on request, including one that produces organic wine.

There is an abundance of wildlife in the area including deer and wild boar in the woods. A public footpath at the end of the property's gardens provides a beautiful walk through woods, fields and vineyards to the local 14th century château at Monbadon.


St Pilippee cemetery
Windmills of Montagne

A ruin
Fishing at Castillon

The Dordogne Valley
The gîte is located only 5 miles from the Dordogne River. The majestic river runs for over 100 km in the Gironde and its banks are lined with remarkable heritage. There are excellent opportunities for fishing, boating, and swimming. There are also many good golf courses.

Libourne
15 miles away from the gîte, Libourne was founded in 1268 by Prince Edward, Duke of Aquitaine, and thrived on its port activity. Where the Isle River and the Dordogne meet, cargo from the open sea met with river trade, establishing a popular market town. The town still provides a regular market and has an active shopping core leading to its main square with the 15th century town hall.

     

Saint Emilion
Saint Emilion is only 10 miles away and provides many excellent restaurants, historic buildings, fascinating shops and, of course, the world-famous wines. Famous for its grands crus, the medieval city has many beautiful and historic buildings including the collegiate church, the cloister of the Cordeliers, the King's Tower and the monolithic church. In September, visit the town to see the parade of the Grand Jurade inaugurating new officials and announcing the wine harvest.

Castillon
The nearest town, just 5 miles away, provides all the usual amenities. Every Monday morning there is a large market providing excellent local produce. In July and August the now famous "Battle of Castillon" re-enactment takes place in the grounds of a local chateau and is a memorable spectacle. Not to be missed.

St Emilion street
A street in Saint Emilion

     
Architecture detail
Architecture of the area
Other Things to See
There are many other towns to visit nearby, including Ste. Foy la Grande, Bergerac and Bordeaux itself, as well as the many fascinating bastide towns in the area with their beautiful architecture. There are a number of lakes with beaches, antique shops galore, golf, canoeing and fishing on the Dordogne, and of course, the Atlantic coast and Arcachon basin are only one and a half hours away.

For further information about tourism in the area, visit the links page.