Charming Stone Built Property with Private Terrace in Villefranche-du-Perigord, Dordogne Reviews

A family of four, we spent two relaxing August weeks in the pretty and quiet ‘bastide’ village of Villefranche-du-Perigord located in the south-eastern corner of the Dordogne. Our holiday accommodation was le Coustalou, a cosy, traditional cottage with a small terrace at the back which overlooks the rolling wooded countryside. How lovely to hear the birds singing in the morning!The cottage has a homely feel and is very comfortable. We spent most evenings eating and playing cards outside on the terrace. The facilities worked well and there always seemed to be plenty of hot water for showering. The owners were very helpful in providing information and guidance about the area, and all the arrangements worked like clockwork.The village centre is a gentle stroll, barely five minutes away. There are two boulangeries, so no problem with fresh bread in the mornings! Two small convenience stores provide the essentials and more. Apart from the tourist office, there is also an ice cream parlour/café along the main street. The local people are friendly and we felt very welcome. One of the most charming local customs is the outdoor, communal dinner on Thursday evenings under the covered market in the village centre. A number of vendors have stalls with freshly prepared hot food and local dishes, and having made your choice, there are long tables where everyone sits to eat their food. There is the buzz of activity and conversation above the sounds and smells of cooking ‘al fresco’. A really good atmosphere!The proprietor of the nearby camp site offers access to the lovely outdoor swimming pool for the price of buying drinks on each visit and we enjoyed simple, but tasty fare, at the camp site cafe, especially welcome after a late arrival on our first day. We also enjoyed meals at two local restaurants - La Petite Auberge, on a hill up a quiet country lane, and le Café du Commerce in the market square.We had some great days out in the Dordogne and the Lot-et-Garonne départements including visits to Cahors, Villeneuve-sur-Lot, the spectacular cliff setting of Rocamadour, the cliff-top gardens of Marqueyssac, canoeing on the Dordogne, the château at Biron and the wonderfully preserved medieval town of Sarlat.This was a memorable family holiday and a taste of the real France – thank you!

Tom Armstrong