FOOD AND DRINK Famous for its
gastronomic delights, the Dordogne is rather carnivore-orientated and off ers a wealth of goose, duck, foie-gras and game. There are non-meat specialities such as truffl es, goat’s cheese, asparagus and wild mushrooms, but let’s
just say this might not be the easiest place to dine out if you’re a vegan. No such constraints on the drinks front, thankfully, as the land here is similar to that of Bordeaux, so Dordogne wines are rightly renowned. You’ll recognise Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc and the white varieties of Sauvignon and Chenin Blanc. There are 12,000 hectares of vineyards here, so you’ll never be short of aperitif options!
€129,000. Périgueux off ers more of a city feel with 29,000 residents, a greater proportion of young people and a higher population density of 2,979/ km2
(compared to 470/km2 in
Bergerac). In Périgueux, your €160,000 would buy a three- bedroom home with a garage, either in the centre or further out with more land. For a popular tourism
spot, beautiful Brantôme on the River Domme (2,500 residents) off ers lots of opportunities with a 50m2
homes with swimming pools. In Belvès (34km west of Sarlat) a budget of €317,000 will secure you a former watermill complete with pool and an incredible 20,000m2 of land. Alternatively, 15km east of Bergerac in Mouleydier you can buy an exceptional riverside retreat with private mooring for €350,000. For both rural expanses and
house here coming
in at under €75,000 and renovation projects costing from €38,000. Brantôme boasts a breathtaking abbey overlooking a weir, plenty of architectural heritage and charming stone houses from €129,000 or even detached villas that are move-in ready for less than €200,000. While the Dordogne has
no coast, there are plenty of riverside properties and
renovation projects, Périgord Vert to the north is your best bet, as the average cost per square metre is lower here than elsewhere in Dordogne. Right now, there’s a property available at under €90,000 with two detached cottages in need of some renovation, each with their own utilities and entrances, plus a separate stone barn. As for building, you’ll
fi nd plots of around 1,500m2 throughout the area starting at €20,000, but check that you’re looking at building land (terrain constructible) or, even
“The Dordogne has dramatic river gorges, valleys and lush greenery, but fans of the area are particularly drawn to its heritage”
Approaching sheltered La Roque-Gageac on the River Dordogne
WHY WE MOVED HERE
In 2016, Vanessa Howard and her partner William McDonald moved from
Suff olk to the Dordogne, where they now run holiday homes and a vintage fashion museum. “Like many people, we
reached a point where we craved a new challenge. We both loved antiques, I had a marketing background and William was skilled at carpentry and renovation so we decided to start a business in France as I could already speak the language. We went to a trade show in London, met a few contacts and within a matter of weeks were househunting in southwest France. “We visited more than 30
properties, everything from a château to absolute wrecks. This helped us put together a wishlist: a home bursting with French charm, a swimming pool and space for an enormous vintage clothing collection, plus William’s Tin-Tin and
They don’t come any more spectacular than the hilltop Château de Castelnaud 26 FRENCH PROPERTY NEWS: November/December 2023
Napoleonic memorabilia. We wanted a village bakery and rural walks, and given our plans to run a holiday business, it was important to be near transport links, restaurants and attractions. “Unbelievably, we found it all
in the gorgeous village of Mialet in a former coach house that ticked everything on our list. Our off er was accepted, we sold our home in Clare, and about six months later we had the keys to our new house. We now have a two-bedroom gîte, are planning to open another, and we used our vintage collection to create a unique on-site fashion museum. Life in the Dordogne off ers
a beautiful environment with fabulous weather and not a lot of traffi c, a relaxed lifestyle and amazing food – so many reasons to fall in love with the place!”
© SHUTTERSTOCK
© SHUTTERSTOCK
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