in Aquitaine in the Lot et Garonne, between Duras and Marmande
There is lots to enjoy in the area whether you want to taste wine or foie gras (we are 15 /20 miles from St Emelion or Bergerac), listen to jazz or classical music, canoe, horse ride or dance, or visit a Bastide.
Many guest start off with a trip to the SYNDICAT D'INITIATIVE in either Duras or Marmande, and pick up information about what is going on in the towns and villages around.
These are just a few of our favourite activities.
To get a feel for the rhythm and ambiance of the area it’s well worth getting at least part of your provisions from the local markets.
If you’re feeling energetic it’s a good place to start a little day’s tour every day.
Be sure to get there before 12 PM. That’s when the markets finish and all but the biggest shops close until 2PM.
Very close to the house – a charming hill top bastide with a beautiful Chateau.
Also see: Miramont de Guyenne
Tuesday - Marmande
The opposite direction from Duras and the biggest local town. Marmande is actually quite bustling with some large supermarkets and chains on the outskirts, but the centre where the market is, is very attractive.
Wednesday – Tonneins
Top class restaurant here as well - Cote de Garonne
Thursday - Eymet (recommended).
On the route to Bergerac and definitely the prettiest of the local market towns with a lovely square and charming waterfront at the river.
Friday Monsegur (small but pleasant) and Buzet.
Buzet is definitely one of our recommended trips (see below) – whether you go on market day or not. And the local wine is well worth trying too.
There is also a Friday Night Farmers’ Market in Levignac, our local village, through July and August, from about 7 p.m. Lots of fun. Communal tables, tasty food and music (of a sort to dance to).
Look out for other night markets – Foire Nocturne’s - as well.
On the way to Eymet and about 20 minutes drive, this little town has a lovely picnic spot by an old mill and you can go canoeing.
Buzet:
We drive to Buzet along the canal (start out in the direction of the Bordeaux motorway road and take the turnoff a couple of miles past it) crossing 5 or six small bridges and through little towns (about 4 kilometres beyond Damazan) and end up at a restaurant called “les Vignerons” tel 0553 84 73 46
Armagnac:
This is a bit more of a drive but well worth it. La Bastide d’Armagnac takes about and hour and half to get to. It’s in the direction of les Landes – again start out towards Bordeaux motorway and then keep on going. The Bastide has a beautiful square and church with an amazing trompe-d’oeil altar, charming antique, shops, ice cream parlours and one of the oldest bars in France. You can get a map to sample the Armagnac at the “syndicat d’initiative”– there are some fascinating and maverick producers.
Antique shopping on the old Bordeaux Road.:
Heading out in the direction of La Reole from Marmande (opposite direction to the Bordeaux motorway) there are several roadside antique places and some intriguing towns. La Reole itself has a cute Art Deco cinema and a waterfront that wouldn’t be out of place in Marseille. If you keep on going you eventually come to St. Macaire which has extraordinary paintings in its church and a very entertaining Friday night torch-lit procession.
These are just some of our favourites but I really recommend a good explore of the area and just seeing what you turn up. Let us know any fascinating discoveries.
Duras has everything including a medium sized supermarket called “Shopi” on the St Foy Road.
Marmande is worth a visit it has most things that one might need including large supermarkets, diy stores, sporting good stores etc….