Brantome, France
Brantome Holiday Rental Cottages, Villas and Gites
Brantôme is an idyllic village in the Dordogne department of the Aquitaine region in south-western France. It is located to the north of Périgueux on the banks of the River Dronne, the river Côle forms part of the commune's north-eastern border. When you stay in a Brantome holiday rental gite you’ll notice it has retained its picturesque atmosphere and accordingly the town is known locally as the Venice of Périgord. A small weir and an unusual stone bridge add to Brantome’s beauty.
When you rent a holiday cottage in Brantome you’ll notice that parks and gardens surround much of the village. House in the village are in typical Périgueux style and market day is on Friday.
When you holiday in Brantome you won’t be short of things to do - a walk around the village offers up examples of Medieval and Renaissance architecture. Canoeing through Brantome is a popular way to view the village. Don’t miss the Grotte de Villars, one of the most impressive cave systems in the Périgord region - and the only to have both prehistoric paintings and rock formations.
When you rent self-catering holiday accommodation in Brantome, Aquitaine be sure to visit its most famous monument. The Abbey in Brantome has its origins in the 8th century. The bell tower which dates officially to the 11th century but may be even older is one of the oldest in France. Inside the abbey there is an elegant staircase and you can visit the monk’s dormitory with its roof in the shape of an upturned boat. There is also a permanent exhibition of ‘dessins mediumniques’ by Fernand Desmoulin. Behind the abbey at the foot of the cliff are the troglodyte dwellings used by the original monks and in here is the cave with the remarkable sculpture of ‘The Last Judgement’.
The Jardin botanique d'Alaije in Brantome is a botanical garden open weekdays and admission is free. The garden opened in 1998, and currently contains about 800 plant varieties with a focus on ancient and forgotten vegetables, but also including ornamental, aromatic, and medicinal plants.
Travelling to your holiday rental home in Brantome, France; Nearest airports are at Bergerac and Brive. Bergerac welcomes flights with Flybe, Ryanair and Jet 2. Brive currently welcomes flights with Cityjet. If you plan to drive from northern France’s ferry ports allow at least ten hours with breaks. The nearest train station for direct services to Paris is at Brive, a regional station with local services is also available from Périgueux.
Brantome enjoys a climate that is much like the majority of the south of France which is mild with short winters, longer summers and no real temperature extremes.