Castles in the air !!!

Castles in the air !!!

Did you know that there are thousands of Chateaux in the Dordogne – literally Castles in the Air!! For those who have never visited the Dordogne then read on and learn about this fantastic region which is visited by thousands every year and you can see why. This region is known as the Perigord and made up of 4 different Perigord covering the north, south, east and west and all offering history, gastronomic delights, chateaux, manoirs, caves and the fabulous Dordogne River. The first place I visited as Regional Manager of this area was Rocamadour, France’s second most visited tourist attraction after Le Mont St-Michel. This magical town with golden houses clinging to the side of a cliff over the Alzou canyon is reached by a lift which takes you to the top of the town. From there you pass shops and restaurants until you reach the little church at the top. Not far from Rocamadour is the Gouffres du Padirac which is the most famous caves whereby you travel through on a boat – great for adults but even better for children looking at the stalagmites and stalactites.
Most tourists visit Sarlat, the medieval town of the Dordogne with its famous Saturday market and a favourite of mine!! In the evening the town has a romantic feel about it with the portrait artists outside the Cathedral St Sacerodos and the numerous restaurants offering the regions famous cuisine – duck!! Without a doubt the Perigord are superb at their duck, from confit du canard to magret (duck breast) to smoked duck salad with local grown walnuts.
Visitors to this region should not think that the Dordogne is mainly for sightseeing and adults but a fab place for children and teenagers. Kayaking on the Dordogne River or cycling on one of the many routes that snake along the river, the list is endless.
I love this region as it is so diverse and whereas it’s busy in the summer months spring and autumn are delightful. When thinking of booking your French holiday villa then think of what the Dordogne and all it has to offer – you will not be disappointed!!
We have some fantastic properties, still with good availabilities for Dordogne villas so call us now to discuss your requirements.

Gill Woolsgrove
Regional Manager

France & Morocco

http://www.qualityvillas.com/

If you would like to speak to a specialist on a French villa holiday or where best to visit, do visit this site on line : http://www.qualityvillas.com/ and contact our office or email us.

As Regional Manager for Quality Villas covering five departments in total then travelling is second nature to me and after living here for 15 years then I feel that I know all of these areas pretty well.

For those who are not familiar with the South West of France and surrounding regions then get yourself a coffee or something stronger and dream of that holiday you have been promising yourself in this beautiful part of France.

When I first came to France it was the South West that caught my attention. Lush countryside, rolling hills, hot summers and a short winter – hooray!! It offered everything that I had hoped for and I still drive round after all these years in wonder at the beauty of this area. The South West is affordable to visit and rent quality rental accommodation. All towns have excellent markets that not only attracts scores of visitors but used the by locals and all offering excellent local produce, wine and regional offerings such as foie gras and duck.
For those who know the area well the history is quite something with many medieval fortified villages still in existence.

As I ventured further into this area I started to discover the two very distinct and totally different coastlines – that being the Mediterranean and Atlantic. The first I “discovered” was the Atlantic coastline with its rugged coastline, high waves (superb for surfing) and long sandy beaches. The fashionable seaside town of Biarritz beckons to those who like the finer things in life! Smart shops, chic street-side cafés, Casino and Belle Époque architecture would fit the bill yet its still a fab town for the young with Surfing, Kite-surfing, Delta-planing and windsurfing. For those golfing enthusiasts there are no less than 12 golf courses along this coastline. Close to the border of Spain is St Jean de Luz is a lovely seaside resort which has a distinctive Spanish & Moorish feel about the place and an atmosphere & ambience especially when the Jazz Fete is on in the streets in August!! We, at Quality Villas have an exciting selection of houses ranging from a full hotel style service in a former stately home; a fabulous apartment right on the beach to a stunning property with amazing views.

My second adventure was to the Mediterranean coastline and Languedoc region. Carcassonne and the medieval city with jousting and troubadours; the fabulous Corbiere Valley with endless vineyards; the Ariege with its breathtaking backdrop of the Pyrenees to pretty coastal towns of Port Vendres and Collieure famed for their fabulous seafood. For those wine buffs amongst us there are no less than 4 main domains in this area offering heady reds to sample and to buy!! Imagine yourself on a boat trip on the famous Canal du Midi having a picnic with local produce such as confit du canard, cheeses and the freshest salad ever tasted and reading Rick Steins “French Odyssey” !!
All along this region we have family villas to rent from a luxury villa in Sete which is known as the Venice of Languedoc to a luxury family villa near Carcassonne and situated in the middle of a local winery – perfect!!

Why not contact us now to discuss your dream holiday in South West France and its sister regions and stay in some of our luxury rental properties. I can highly recommend them as I chose them!!

Gill Woolsgrove
Regional Manager
France & Morocco

If you would like to speak to a specialist on a French villa holiday or where best to visit, do visit this site on line : http://www.qualityvillas.com/ and contact our office or email us – we are awaiting your call !!