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Self-catering French holiday Gites, holiday accommodation and holiday homes in the Dordogne in FranceThe Dordogne, the most popular destination in France for holidays, more French Gites, holiday homes and holiday accommodation than any of department in France. Come and discover why the Dordogne is the most popular region in France, even with the French. The Dordogne is stunning. The Dordogne is breathtaking. The Dordogne is the most beautiful French department. Quaint little French owned Gites resting on the hillsides of the Dordogne Valley. Holiday homes dotted along the Dordogne and Dronne Rivers. Holiday accommodation of all descriptions nestling in the deep valleys and clinging to the sides of steep hill sides that make up the spectacular Dordogne. No wonder the Dordogne is the number on holiday destination for the French and so many lovers of France. If you are looking for holiday accommodation in France, the Dordogne is just five or six hours drive from the French ports of Cherbourg, Caen and Le Havre. Rent a pretty Gite or holiday home, laze by a pool under the French sunshine, imbibe the local wines and sample the local French gourmet cuisine. The Dordogne is, after all the cradle of French cuisine. Visit the thousand Chateaux and return to your holiday accommodation at the end of the day and enjoy a simple meal of French bread and the many regional French cheeses. What else could you want from a holiday in France?. The DordogneFrance covers 543,965 km² (210,026 miles²) and has 58,323,000 inhabitants as of 1st October 2004. Split into 22 regions and 102 departments, the department of the Dordogne is part of the Aquitaine region, is approximately the size of Wales and is department number 24. The Dordogne is located in the South West of France, The capital is Perigueux and Bergerac the second main town. The Dordogne has approximately 400,000 inhabitants which until recently was still in decline following the first world war when males moved to the cities to find work other than agriculture.Self-catering French holiday Gites, holiday accommodation and holiday homes in the Dordogne in France. Self-catering French holiday Gites, holiday accommodation and holiday homes in the Dordogne in FranceThe history of the DordogneThe department of the Dordogne is divided into the 4 Perigord areas, the origins of which go back to the 17th century that cut the department geographically into almost equal quarters.
In 507, during the reign of Clovis, a treaty was signed between Chief Walla of the Germanic Wisigoths, and the Roman emperor Honorius in which Chief Walla was given the region of Aquitaine. Thus the French lost their rights to the region. During medieval times the French and the English jointly occupied the region. During the many wars that took place, commonly known as the hundred years war, numerous chateaux (castles), bastides (fortified towns and villages) and citadelles (the first small cities) were constructed. The English were finally defeated by the French at the battle of Castillon. Since then, the English with a little help from the Dutch have been buying it back. Dordogne tourismThe Dordogne or Perigord is part of Aquitaine, a region with a deep rooted culture, traditions, long history, arts and crafts, gastronomic heritage and architecture on offer. Stunning scenery, few would argue that it is the most beautiful region of France. Magnificent sunsets and walks, horse-riding, cycling, canoeing, petanque (boules), tennis, wine tasting and gourmet capital. Swimming lakes and rivers are available throughout the department.Numerous museums can be found in Perigueux, Bergerac, Hautefort and Sarlat, offering an amazing insight into the history of the Dordogne. In fact an insight into the very beginnings of man himself and with over a thousand chateaux, abbeys and monuments you will need to return to the Dordogne again and again to really appreciate its true heritage. Self-catering French holiday Gites, holiday accommodation and holiday homes in the Dordogne in FranceGastronomyThe Perigord and Aquitaine have long been known as the "kingdom of the mouth" (royaume de geule).From the 15th century, les patés de Perigueux were already well known. Louis XV knighted Villereynier, the Perigourdian chef after he came into royal favour, subsequently becoming "Villereynier de La Gatine", patissier to the King. Even during the French revolution, the great masters, Lafon and Courtois continued to produce their partridge patés to supply both France and England. Back then, Perigourdian patés were made of partridges that had been fed on chicken and duck livers and chopped truffles. Do not visit the Dordogne without tasting the local foies gras best eaten with a glass of Monbazillac, salads or omelettes flavoured with the local truffles and my favourite, Cepes, the local mushroom. WineThe Dordogne around Bergerac produces Red, White and Rosé wines. In my opinion, the Rosé is one of the finest in France. Amongst the regions white wines is the Monbazillac, too sweet for my taste buds unless I am washing down the local foies gras. The two compliment each other perfectly. Golden, smooth and perfumed, this wine can also be served as an aperitif or with desserts. Monbazillac owes its particular bouquet to its' fermentation process which reduces the acidity of the grape. This procedure dates back to the Renaissance.Monbazillac acquires its flavour after 2 or 3 years and can be conserved for up to 30 years which is unusual for a white wine. The dry white wines of Bergerac, where a large part of its' stock is the Sauvignon grape and Montravel, are spirited and fruity wines which compliment fish and fruits de mer (Shell fish usualy brought in fresh from the Atlantic coast). The mellow, white Bergerac wines, Cotes de Bergerac, Cotes de Montravel, Rosette and Saussignac are good aperitif wines and can go well with white meat. The red wines of Bergerac and Cotes de Bergerac are fruity and full bodied and can be consumed as young wines whilst Pecharmant, an excellent red wine is heavy and full bodied and comes into its' own well aged. I do recommend you try a Buzet which is produced a little further south of the Bergerac region. So do come and visit the Dordogne and rent a gite or other form of self catering holiday accommodation. Self-catering French holiday Gites, holiday accommodation and holiday homes in the Dordogne in FranceRenting Gites in the Dordogne Gites to let near Sarlat in the Perigord Noir - Gite to let near Ste Foy-la-Grande in the Perigord Poupre - Holidays near Souillac in the Perigord Noir Rent direct from owners and save money. Gites to let near Terrasson in the East Dordogne - Gite to let near Thenon in the Perigord Noir - Holidays near Thiviers in the Perigord Vert - Historical towns in the Dordogne include: Bergerac - Brantome - Castillon - Domme - Hautefeort - Lascaux - Le Bugue - Montignac - Montpon - Mussidan - Nontron - Perigueux - Riberac - Sarlat - Ste Foy-la-Grande - Terrasson - Thenon - Thiviers Gites to rent in the Dordogne Gites to rent near Montignac in the Perigord Noir - Gite to rent near Montpon in Perigord Blanc - Holiday near Mussidan in the Perigord Noir Gites to rent near Nontron in the Perigord Vert - Gite to rent near Perigueux the Capital of the Dordogne - Holidays near Riberac in the Perigord Blanc Search for self-catering gite holidays in the Dordogne. Gites to rent near Bergerac in south-east Dordogne - Gite to rent near Brantome in north-west Dordogne - Holiday near Castillon in southwest Dordogne Gites to rent near Domme in south-east Dordogne - Gite to rent near Lascaux in the Perigord Noir - Holiday near Le Bugue in the Perigord Noir |
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