Picnics in the Dordogne

The regret with which too many tourists leave this wonderful and diverse part of La Belle France, is that they had not planned on enough time in the region. Not only are there a myriad of sites to visit -- each in its own right a must-see --, castles to admire, restaurants to enjoy, bastides to wander around in, caves to explore, there is the best cycling to be had (according to recent seasoned cyclists from Canada and visitors to Chateau Lalinde: "streets (forgive the pun) ahead of anything that the overcrowded Tuscany has to offer!"), the best hiking and trailing to be done, golfing, canoeing, hot air ballooning........ the list goes on, but then there are also those hidden little treasures -- the ones one rarely plan for, but which, if you are lucky, just happens...........

Yes! One of the great joys for me of living in such a beautiful countryside as this, are the picnics! Any day, any time, any occasion is a good one on which to have a picnic -- there are so many little spots and perfect little places to throw down the blanket, open the champagne, unpack the basket and enjoy communing with nature.
And when better than on a late autumn day? Who better with than a couple of good friends from Nantes? And where better than at the foot of the imposing Beynac castle with the majestic Dordogne River flowing past below and a range of forests and other chateaux to admire?


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Celtic Festival in Rennes, Brittany

Last night the annual Celtic Festival took place in Rennes, France, where the ancient and traditional sounds and colours of the Celts filled the night sky, as it did in the beginning of time.

More than 400 musicians and dancers from Britain, Scotland, Ireland and even from l'Acadie -- the ancient 'province of France in North America/Canada (New-Scotland, New-Brunswick and the Island of Prince Edward)-- and of course, France, congregated in the capitol town of Brittany for an unsurpassed spectacle of light and sound.

All the great names of Celtic music were there --- Alan Stivell on the Celtic harp, guitarist and greatest Breton cornemuse player, Dan Ar Braz, as well as the talented pianist Didier Squiban, to name but a few. British Airways even sponsored a pipe band from Scotland and the famous mariner group of Bagad de Lann-Bihoué also graced the planks. And no Celtic evening would be complete without the Irish river dance dancers, the bagadoù dancers from Auray, Locoal-Mendon, Pontivy, Lorient, Saint-Navaire, Pont l’Abbé, and Saint Evarzec.
Even the biggest sceptic would have to agree that Celtic music is as alive and as well as it ever was and enjoyed all over the world!


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Chateau Lalinde : The perfect venue for your event

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Canadians build a new resort in the Dordogne

St. Emilion

If you've always dreamed of owning a traditional property in rural France, but don't want to be isolated or get involved in renovation work, a new development in the Bordeaux region may be just the ticket.

According to an article by Laura Latham in The Independent two days ago, you will now be able to invest in some stylish mock architecture in France. Close to the beautiful St Emilion, there is a pocket of rural charm -- a ruined 19thC manor house with its outbuilding, surrounded by farm land and vineyards, called the Domaine Haut-Gardegan. This will form the backdrop to a new village, which, though being built from scratch, is designed to look as though it has always been there.

As well as a mix of flats and detached houses, the 12-acre estate will have cobbled streets, a village square with restaurant and bar, and shops run by independent local retailers. And the old stable block is being regenerated into a market place where you will be able to buy fresh produce, just as you would in any farmers' market.

Will it be a Disney-esque attempt to capture the magic of Bordeaux?, asks Ms Latham. Well, it makes a refreshing change from the faceless new-builds in more developed locations – but it may come as little surprise that there is transatlantic involvement: the Canadian developer bought the site after the original owner failed in his attempt to turn it into a golf course, and though there will still be an 18-hole course, designed by the champion Tom Lehman, the main focus of the project is the village.
"It will be built in the traditional mellow stone of the area, and according to strict planning laws. The original manor house at the centre of the development dates back to 1890, but burnt down in the 1950s and is now a shell. Nevertheless, the company decided to keep it as a focal point, and the structure help to preserve a sense of the history and character of the original estate. " The chateau will have some renovation, but it will be left as a ruin. Along with the open market and exhibition space, it will be the soul of the site".

Not everything at Haut-Gardegan is as you would find in your average village, though. In addition to the golf course (which will be open to the public) there will be a spa, swimming pools, acres of formal gardens, a conference centre and a cookery school, all aimed at drawing visitors throughout the year. The company hopes to attract a top chef for the school, where residents and visitors can do classes.

Property is priced from £205,000, which gives you a 42sq m, one-bedroom apartment with terrace and views over the countryside or golf course. At the upper end, a 98sq m three-bedroom penthouse apartment, with Jacuzzi on the terrace, starting at about €300,000, and when the villas are released, they'll be more expensive still. So, it's not cheap, but the proximity of sought-after St Emilion raises prices. Plus, residents will have access to on-site facilities, including concierge services.

You may find that you're there more than you think – part of the beauty of owning in this area is that you can hop over with ease. It'sa 90-minute flight from the UK to Bordeaux; three hours from Paris via TGV."




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Chateau Lalinde : The perfect venue for your event

Relocation Orientation in France