La Chapelle is situated in the heart the sleepy little village Loubes Bernac. Just 25 minutes from Bergerac (airport) and just over an hour from Bordeaux (aiport), the village is set on top of a small hill at the highest point in the Lot-et-Garonne and is surrounded by vineyards, sunflower, hay and maize fields. It has a restaurant/bar & delicatessan (En Toute Simplicite, above), a post office, a hairdresser and a shop that stocks all the essentials you will need, including daily fresh bread and pastries.
| Duras (13km/8 miles) |
Head south-west out of Loubes Bernac and drive for 10 minutes and you will come across the beautiful town of Duras which boasts its own chateau. It's an historical town that has renovated its chateau to the highest standards over the years and is an excellent place to visit for a day out. It has a lovely square surrounded by shops, cafes and bars and is an ideal place to relax in the sun while enjoying a drink. Market day is Monday, when the town centre is closed off and handed over to a variety of market traders for the day. In July and August, the town holds an evening market on a Thursday, with plenty of side attractions.
Eymet (14km/9 miles)
| Approximately 15 minutes south-east of Loubes Bernac bastide town of Eymet which sits on the River Dropt and was founded in 1270.
For more information on What's On in and around Eymet, please go to www.eymet.co.
St Emillion (50km/30 miles)
| St Emilion - the sort of place you immediately fall in love with and I guarantee your affair will last for years. This town is famous as one of the most beautiful in France and is situated about 45 minutes north west of Loubes Bernac near the town of Libourne (another gem set on the banks of the Dordogne). Famed for its wine, St Emillion is a must. The village derives its name from the hermit "Emilion" who used to live in the caves here in the 8th century. The remarkable church was hollowed out from the rockover the following three centuries and is well worth a tour. The area is now more famous for its wines, with the town playing host to numerous wine shops and caves. If you have time, take a day out wine tasting in the town. |
Bergerac (28km/18 miles)
| Bergerac, which sits on the Dordogne River, is an historical town that has been renovated to the highest standards over the years and is an excellent place to visit for a day out. It's ideal for shopping with its stylish shopping area and has many half timber houses in narrow streets and squares in the old town, the perfect place to stop for a drink and a bite to eat. To cool off, you could take a traditional flat boat trip along the Dordogne or visit the cool cellars at La Maison des Vins. |
| Issigeac (34km/42 mins) | Issigeac, Although a 34km drive east, the medeival bastide town of Issigeac is one of the prettiest in the area and has a Sunday morning market that is well worth a visit. The narrow streets are lined with ancient houses of stone and timber construction that ouze character and charm, circling the church and Bishop's Palace. The dessert wine producing village of Monbazillac is nearby, with its famous chateau which is open to the public and where you can sample the famous wines. |
| Arcachon and the Coast (175km/115 miles) | Although a two hour drive west from Loubes Bernac, Arcachon and its neighbouring areas provide some of the finest sandy beaches in France which are ideal for sunbathing and surfing. If you fancy a day by the sea, the area around the Bassin d'Arcachon is ideal, with fine, sandy beaches right in front of the town. If you're looking for something a little more private, just head south a little towards the Dune d'Pyla, the largest sand dune in Europe, where there are plenty of endless beaches. The region is famous for the oysters produced in the basin area and there are oyster shacks scattered along the shoreline which make great locations for sampling the local fayre with a glass of chilled white wine.
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| Bordeaux (85km/55 miles) | Bordeaux is a port city situated about an hour's drive west of Loubes Bernac on the Gironde River. It is France's sixth largest city and is famous for being the world's wine capital. Indeed, the city is surrounded by wine producing areas and it is home to the world's main wine fair, Vinexpo, while the wine economy in the metro area takes in €14.5 billion each year. Bordeaux wine has been produced in the region since the 8th century. The historic part of the city is on the UNESCO World Heritage List as "an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble" of the 18th century. Well worth a visit if you have a spare day. |
| Sarlat (100km/60 miles) | Sarlat, or Sarlat-La-Caneda to give it it's full name, is situated a 1 hour drive east of Loubes Bernac and is well worth a visit. It features teh highest concentration of medieval, Renaissance and 17th century buildings of any town in France and has a charm and character that you will find hard to match. The town is littered with narrow streets and archways that are overlooked by orche-coloured stone town houses in ornamental detail, Such is the beauty and importance of the town's architecture, in 1962 the town was protected by law and now forms an open-air museum. Market day is Wednesday. |
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