10-minute drive

Weds: closed (Summer hours)
Mon – Sun: 12:00 – 14:00 & 19:00 – 21:30

Tues – Weds: closed (winter hours)
Mon – Sun: 12:00 – 14:00 & 19:00 – 21:30

A popular family-run restaurant serving traditional French bistro food and fabulous salads all accompanied by tasty regional wines – try one of their cocktails while you’re deciding what to eat. Indoors is cosy with a lovely old fireplace and you can lounge outdoors on a shaded terrace for long summer lunches and suppers.

4-minute drive

Mon – Sun: open
Weds, Sun: closed PM

A no-frills family restaurant with a set menu – all home cooked and very good value, or inventive tapas, freshly made from seasonal ingredients so you can pick and choose. Enjoy a glass of wine on their lovely terrace overlooking manicured parkland – serene on a sunny summer evening.

A short walk

Take the footpath which passes just behind the chateau and leads you through vineyards and small forests to St Martin de Gurson. Here you can buy freshly-baked breads and croissants for breakfast and stop for a coffee. You’ll find maps of all the local trails.

2-minute drive or 10-minute cycle

Overlooked by the ruined Château de Gurson, the beautiful Lac de Gurson has a fine beach and swimming area with lifeguards. In summer, there is paddle boarding and kayaking. A café serves ice cream, fast food and cold drinks. The path looping around the lake makes a lovely run or walk from the castle.

Keen cyclists can join this long-distance route just outside the chateau. It’s between 300 and 400 km in total but don’t panic – you can do it in various stages. Rent bikes locally and have them delivered then set off to follow the tracks of Lawrence of Arabia – himself following an ancient trail made by Richard the Lionheart. You can download a map of all the routes.

30-minute drive

A remarkable medieval town built around pilgrimage and wine. Visit this wonderful church to learn more about the history of the eponymous hermit saint and marvel at the Chapel of the Trinity with its beautiful medieval paintings. Explore the catacombs and take a tour of the underground church – an awesome structure. You need to book tickets ahead for a timed tour from the tourist office.

16-minute drive

Montcaret is a small traditional village but the ruins of the Roman Villa here are listed as a National Monument in France. The villa floors have been extensively excavated to show a large number of beautiful original mosaics which will fascinate those interested in Roman history. You can also visit the church of Saint-Pierre-és-Liens, built by Benedictine monks in the 11th-century using stone that came from the collapsed Roman villa.

30-minute drive

Issac is a small village with a charming centre and an impressive entrance through a stone gateway. Attached to the gateway is this striking round tower with spiral staircase, built in the 15th-centurIsaay. Explore the little 12th-century church of Saint Avit then wander down to the river to discover the Maison Chastenet – both are listed historic monuments.

17-minute drive

Sun: open from 07:30

A very well-established popular market with 120 traders lining the streets of the city centre. You can browse lots of food stalls selling butchery, rotisserie, fruits and vegetables, cheeses and fish but also clothes, shoes and crafts. It’s a good idea to get here early then, when you’re done, you can treat yourselves to a coffee or stay in the town for lunch.

30-minute drive

Sat: 08:00-13:00

While away some time at this traditional market and pick up plenty of treats. It’s such a big market it’s held in three different spots around the town, so follow the crowds to make sure you don’t miss any stalls. You’ll find all the usual suspects but also stalls specialising in fish and shellfish. From December to February you’ll also find stalls selling precious truffles.

4-minute drive

July – Aug: Fri evenings 

These exciting night markets are sometimes called Marché Nocturne or Marché Gourmand. Fun to buy food and wine from the colourful stalls then sit in the town square to eat and drink. There’s often music and entertainment – don’t forget to take your own picnic plates, knives and forks and wine glasses.

If you love wine then this spoiling day out is a huge treat. You get picked up and dropped off from wherever you’re staying, you’ll have a knowledgeable local host and be introduced to some signature wines rarely found at home. Spend time with the wine makers in the vines and the cellars, taste around 12-15 wines then enjoy a glorious picnic overlooking the vines. Little extras like bottled water, sun-screen and soft blankets for chilly days are a thoughtful touch.

45-minute drive

Those who prefer their wines to be organic will want to visit this gorgeous vineyard, to taste and to buy. Their organic conversion started in 2009 and they’ve been fully certified since 2012. It’s been family owned for five generations and is one of the flagship wineries of Bergerac, producing red, white and rosé wines.

30-minute drive

This is a small vineyard which has been producing classic St Emilion wine since 1867. It’s been owned and run by Michele and Guy Richard since 2001 and they transitioned to organic wine production in 2017. Labelled as Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classé it comes at a price but you cannot come to this area without experiencing it. They offer tours, tastings and courses.

1 hour-drive or 40-minutes by train from Montpon-Menestrol

This fascinating museum was created in 1791, has been beautifully renovated and was reopened in 2019. Find really engaging wall-to-wall displays of carefully-preserved specimens from all over the world. Their aim is to explore ‘our relationship with nature from the very beginning of human history.’ Very young children will adore the ‘Early Years Museum’ specially designed for children under six.

25-minute drive

What could be nicer on a hot summer day than floating along the picturesque, meandering Dordogne then flopping into the water when you get too puffed out. This local company offers canoe or paddle board hire, drive you up stream with all the gear and you come back at your own pace, enjoying the wildlife and the countryside, stopping for a picnic when you choose – there’s no real time limit. Choose either 8km or 15km.

30-minute drive

The charming medieval streets, beautiful châteaux (most of which you can visit by appointment) and UNESCO vineyard – one of the best in the world – make for a wonderful day exploring. Hire canoes here and hit the water, looking out for egrets, black kites and falcons. A wonderful way to spend a day.

40-minute drive

Tues – Sat: 09:30 – 13:00 & 14:00 – 18:00

Steep yourselves in a bit of culture on a rare rainy day. This 200-year old museum’s mission is to conserve. promote and share its heritage with as many people as possible. You’ll discover a permanent exhibition of works from European schools from the 14th to the 20th century alongside some exciting temporary exhibitions in the Carmel Chapel. Treat yourselves to lunch afterwards at Le Bistrot Maritime which overlooks the water.

20-minute drive

Take a guided tour of this magnificent 19th-century chateau with its impressive tower. The building was inspired by Viollet-Le-Duc and is a mix of neo-Gothic and neo-Renaissance styles. The castle still belongs to the Mähler-Besse family and they will show you around by appointment, then give you a wine tasting. Worth booking the tower tour too – this was the hang-out of famous philosopher and writer Michel de Montaigne, one of the most significant philosophers of the French Renaissance.

1 hour 9-minute drive

According to legend, the church of Saint Pierre de Brantôme was founded in 769 by Charlemagne himself and was listed as a historic monument in 1840. The building is of Romanesque architecture, but the vaulted ceiling of the church was rebuilt in the 15th century in the Gothic style. There are caves to visit, one with a magnificent fountain and the largest has two monumental bas-reliefs, known as the grotto of the Last Judgment.

1 hour 40-minute drive

Who doesn’t love being by the sea? Most families will be happy to pack up the car and head to some spectacular beaches for surfing on the wild Atlantic coastline. Start the day by climbing the Dune de Pila, Europe’s highest dune, spend the afternoon playing on the kilometres of golden sands in Biscarrosse or Archachon, then finish the day with seafood at the characterful oyster shacks in stylish Cap Ferret.