...and Beyond

Maoutens is perfectly situated to tour around the area of southwest France. Half an hour to the north takes you into the Dordogne, an hour's travel will bring you to the magnificent Atlantic coast, an hour and a half to the south lie the Pyrénées and we are two hours from the Spanish border to the southwest, and three hours from the Mediterranean coast to the southeast.

The Dordogne boasts many important sites of Neanderthal activity, mediaeval towns and amazing grottes, underground caverns with strange limestone formations. The Lascaux caves are a major historical site. Cruises, canoeing and kayaking are available on the rivers Dordogne and Vézère. Beynac is one of many towns situated spectacularly above the banks of the Dordogne river.

Watching the grape harvest arriving at a local cave while sampling the previous years' vintages was a memorable experience for me. S. Cowieson, Moray

To the west lies the Atlantic coast, mile after mile of beach with many small coastal towns, offering fresh seafood dishes. At the Bassin d'Arcachon, just south of Bordeaux, you can have a guided visit around the numerous oyster parks and the bird reserve at Teich allows the visitor to watch a huge variety of European migrants throughout the seasons.

A visit to the Pyrénées should include a detour to one of the beautiful Basque villages dotted about the lower mountains where the houses are resplendent in their red and white livery. October sees the Fête du Piment in one of these villages, Espelette, when all the buildings in the town are decorated with strings of red chillies drying in the sun.

Travelling to Spain will take you through the resorts of Biarritz and St Jean de Luz, where it is well worth a pause for a stroll along the seafront. The Spanish city of San Sebastien is just over two hours from Maoutens and makes for a very different day trip, lunching Spanish style and meandering through this beautiful city.

Should you prefer to journey to the Mediterranean coast a scheduled stop at Carcassonne, Europe's largest mediaeval fortress, is an absolute must! This beautiful walled city with the appeal of fairy-tale castle turrets, narrow winding streets, fantastic views and a fascinating variety of shops and restaurants within the fortifications also holds mediaeval tournaments throughout the summer season, guaranteed to delight visitors of all ages.

With all there is to see and do in Lot et Garonne and beyond, even the longest holiday seems all too short!