THE AREA
A short drive away is the Country Club, Manior de Longeveau, with a 9 hole golf course where you are welcome to play (daily green fees are payble at the bar). Tennis is also available out of season.
At Aubeterre, one of the prettiest villages in France (10 minutes) there is canoeing on the River Dronne. The village has a number of restaurants (7) and every Sunday a very small market in the square.
The village of Montmoreau is 5 minutes away, where you can find all the services that you need, a modern supermarket (Champion), a Boulangerie, Maison de Presse, Bank, Petrol and even a take away Pizza!
A little further afield are the towns of Riberac (20 minutes), the largest market town in the Dordogne, Chalais (10 minutes) with an Intermarche and other shops. Angouleme the capital of the Charente is 30 minutes to the north and has a TGV link to Paris and Lille (about 2 hours 30 minutes). The city has many shops and an old quarter full of restaurants. On the out skirts of the city are the larger stores including an enormous hypermarket.
There are plenty of local restaurants to choose from in the area, and they cater for most tastes. We are lucky enough to have 3 of the finest restaurants in the area within a short drive. The restaurant at the Chateau which dominates the little town of Chalais has now become very popular and offers excellent value. The Hotel de France in Riberac is full of character and is good value and in Aubeterre the Hostillerie du Perigord serves local produce of the highest standard.
The choice is wide - from traditional French restaurants with long tables and a set menu, to Pizzas and Crepes - and plenty of places offering childrens menus.
If you stay for 2 weeks and eat out everynight - you still would not have visited them all!