THINGS TO DO IN THE AREA

Below is a small sampling of interesting things to do in the area. We’ve also included some pictures from our visits!

Libourne

A taste of medieval France 20mins from the venue. Quaint bastide town at the doorstep of the St Emilion wine region alongside the Dordogne River. Beautiful public square, cobblestone streets, town tours, boutiques, cafes/restaurants, river strolls. Can be an easy morning or afternoon activity.

St. Emillion

Picturesque UNESCO-listed medieval village surrounded by world renowned wineries in stunning settings. Meander the streets, sit down for a glass of wine or a coffee, tour the Monolithic Church and King’s Tower, and enjoy the view of the rolling hillsides. Stop by the tourism office and join a walking tour in English. Can be an easy morning or afternoon activity. If you’d like to go wine tasting, there are a number of wineries close by that you can stop at and visit/taste. There are also many ½ day or full-day tours, including bike tours.

Bordeaux City Center

Stroll through this charming historic city. Take a historic city walking tour or meander through the neighborhoods. Check out the reflecting pools (Miroir d’Eau) – especially if you have small kids. Visit a museum, go shopping on Rue Sainte-Catherine, sit at a terrasse and enjoy a meal and try a canelé.

Bordeaux Wine Museum - La Cité du Vin

A modern museum & wine culture center, dedicated to wine as a universal cultural heritage. Inside, there is an immersive, interactive experience that explores the history of wine, vineyards around the world, winemaking traditions, and the role of wine in different civilizations. There is a Belvedere on the top floor, where you can enjoy a glass of wine (or a non-alcoholic option) with panoramic views over Bordeaux.

Les Sources de Caudalie

This is the birthplace of the Caudalie skin-care brand (which Aurelie loves) that leverages grape antioxidants in its line. On site is a lovely vineyard and a hotel, spa and restaurant. You can spend a couple hours here getting a massage and having a delicious lunch at the outdoor terrasse (there are a couple restaurants including a 2-star Michelin restaurant).

Arcachon

Where Bordeaux summers. In under 1h from Bordeaux, take the train (or drive) to this chic coastal town right on the bay. Lay on the beach or take a dip (calm bay waters), order a seafood platter, stroll the boardwalk, hit the cute shops and enjoy the local Belle Époque architecture. You can do a day trip to the beach without a car – everything is walkable.

Dune du Pilat

The largest sand dune in Europe and directly south of Arcachon on the bay. Nestled in a beautiful pine forest. Climb up to the dune and admire the view or surf the sand dunes. We drove but there are a number of bike outfitters here if you want to bike around.

Cap Ferret

Wild beaches, pine tree forests, big Atlantic waves and a private residential feel. This is the “Cape Cod meets Hamptons” of France. You can take a ferry (one from Arcachon but there are others) or drive. The Atlantic side’s big waves make it a popular spot for surfing and kite surfing. The bayside is home to the “oyster villages” where you can find bayside huts to sample the fresh-caught oysters with a glass of white wine.

Lacanau – Plage & Lac

West coast surfer vibes, very bike accessible and lots of fusion restaurants. The “Plage” or beach part of the town is right on the Atlantic and draws a large surfer crowd. The beaches are huge, windy with big waves - nice for a walk but not ideal for a swim. The downtown has a number of cute restaurants and beach shops.

The “Lac” part of the town (about 15 mins drive away) is on the largest freshwater lake in France. Moutchic town is the closest. The lake is huge and very shallow and still and there is a big sandy beach. It’s pretty ideal for little ones who want to play in the water and those wanting to take a boat, kayak or windsurfer out. Fantastic area for cycling, with dedicated paths everywhere, fairly flat, and reasonably priced rentals if you want to stay after.

Dordogne Valley

Jon and I have spent much time in the Dordogne and adjacent Lot Valley where Aurelie’s parents live. This summary is from ChatGPT and pretty on the nose: The Dordogne Valley is one of France’s most picturesque regions, known for its rolling green countryside, dramatic river cliffs, and storybook villages. Winding along the Dordogne River, the area is dotted with medieval towns, golden-stone castles perched on hilltops, and prehistoric sites—including some of Europe’s most important cave art.

For visitors, it’s a place to slow down and savor traditional French life: canoeing on the river, wandering weekly markets, exploring château-filled valleys, and enjoying hearty regional cuisine like duck confit, walnuts, truffles, and local wines.

Here is a list of some places to visit that we’ve been to and enjoyed. Some of these could be done during a day-trip from the venue.

-Sarlat-la-Canéda medieval town & weekly market

-Rocamadour perched village

-Foret des Singes next to Rocamadour (animal sanctuary where the monkeys roam freely)

-Cahors city (beautiful roman style city with cool fortified bridge and market day on Wed am)

-Grottes des Peche Merle (smaller with original cave paintings) and Lascaux IV (new amazing museum and reproduction cave paintings). There are a couple others to visit too.

-Gouffre de Padirac (underwater river cave with boat ride)

-Medieval “fortified” Bastide towns (there are several including Montpazier)

-St Cirq Lapopie (beautiful storybook village)

-Château des Milandes (Josephine Baker's house - very cool visit with fun period decor)

-There are all kinds of outdoors activities - hikes, kayaking, high ropes courses etc.

-River Sports - kayaking, rafting, canoeing and boating on the Dordogne and Lot rivers

-Swimming lakes with beaches and inflatable water toys in Montcuq and Catus