Self Catering French Accommodation in the Perigord Vert at “La Dependance”

Located in the beautiful Périgord Vert region of the Dordogne in south western France, La Dépendance offers the perfect opportunity to enjoy the real France in this charming, self-catering French Cottage.

The hamlet of La Lande

Located in the pretty hamlet of La Lande, La Dépendance is a spacious and comfortable three bedroom home with two large living rooms, two bathrooms and a sunny roof top terrace with panoramic views.

The leafy hamlet of La Lande sits on a sunny hillside overlooking the Lizonne River Valley. The special appeal of this open rolling countryside is further enhanced by the beauty and tranquillity of its villages as they cluster around ancient, Romanesque churches, little changed since the Middle Ages.

Named by 19th century writer Jules Verne for its verdant woodlands and sylvan streams, the Périgord Vert is still considered by many to be the prettiest of the four regions of the Dordogne.

In this unspoilt region of France, locals happily share with you their enjoyment of good food and bonhomie in the village restaurants, at their annual fetes and festivals, and in the weekly village markets.

Within a 6km radius of La Lande there are a dozen or more village restaurants offering excellent and reasonably priced midday menus of four to five courses, featuring fresh local produce and local specialities. In rural France two to three hours is still commonly taken over lunch.

The regional Périgordin cuisine enjoys an international reputation. It is a cuisine of peasant origin elevated to the table of kings; known for its rich blending of game and woodland fare, its truffles and foie gras. In the local towns there are some world class restaurants. Famous wine regions, the Médoc and St Emilion, lie within easy reach.

The vineyards of the Bergerac region of the Dordogne also produce good and well-priced wines, while neighbouring Charente is home to fine Cognac and a sherry style Pineau.

There is also a full calendar of Cultural Events, Fetes and Festivals.

Following on a long tradition, festivals of music and literature are staged throughout the summer in historic venues, such as at Ribérac’s 12th century Collègiale Notre Dame. The famous troubadour Arnaut Daniel, born in 1150 to noble family of Ribérac, was acclaimed by such luminaries as Petrarch and Dante (Divine Comedy) for the sophistication of his Occitan lyric poetry. Even St Francis of Assis in his youth was a fan .

Be a part of the local scene at the village fetes with their commune dinner dances and fireworks. Listen to popular music in the bars and village squares. Floral festivals abound. The floral boat pageant on the river Dronne at Epeluche and the springtime flower festival at St Jean de Côle draw big crowds.

Of particular note is the Félibrée, a celebration of ancient Occitan culture which is held in a different town each year; ladies in traditional lace head-dress and hurdy-gurdies playing. In September, Angoulême is host to a hugely popular international vintage car race which takes place around its ancient ramparts.

This region of great natural beauty also has an abundance of art, architecture and history. From prehistoric cave art to Celtic strongholds and Roman ruins; from Feudal fortresses, Romanesque churches and medieval abbeys, to the great Châteaux of the Renaissance. The Dordogne is home to over 1000 châteaux with some of the oldest and finest found in the Périgord Vert.

Follow the byways of poets, writers and philosophers, feel the heartbeat of ancient Périgord. In the noble courts of the troubadour, discover the origins of chivalry and courtly love espoused in song and verse in a Golden Age that flourished here in the 12th century, to leave a lasting impression on the poetic traditions of Western Europe.

Charlemagne passed this way in the 8th century founding abbeys; the names of Richard the Lionheart and the Black Prince frequent the pages of history. Local lords flocked to the crusades for redemption and glory, while the One Hundred Years War and the Wars of Religion shaped both the local character and the future of France. Local resistance fighters were particularly active here during the Second World War.

The rivers of the Dordogne offer a great variety of scenery as well as endless opportunity for recreation. The Dronne has lovely river beaches for bathing, leafy glades for picnics, and a number of staging points for kayaking and canoeing.

Other recreational pursuits include nearby golf and tennis, and water sports at the Lake Jemaye water park. There is horse riding available within 15 minutes and there are a great many walking trails. Bicycles are available for hire nearby. Cycling is a popular local past time as well as holiday pursuit.

The special quality of light found here in the Périgord Vert suffuses this wide open landscape with a broad palette of ever changing colours, engaging the artistic talents of local and visitor alike.

La Dépendance offers quality accommodation in a convenient location from which to explore this wonderful part of France, while experiencing first hand the traditional lifestyle of this unspoilt region of the Dordogne.

Comments from some of our guests:

“Just a short thank you once again for making your house available. We had a great time, met interesting people and enjoyed every minute there! I hope to do the same next year.”

SB, New Zealand.

“Just a note to tell you how much we enjoyed our stay at La Dépendance La Lande. The appointment is just great and the location wonderful, so peaceful and beautiful and in such an interesting area.”

J&R, NSW

“Bonjour. La Dépendance is lovely – I don’t think you have forgotten anything for the comfort of your guests. We have visited quite a few attractions around here, eaten lots and enjoyed le vin. We had plenty of chances to try out our very basic French, especially at the markets.”

D&F, Victoria

“Many thanks for your slice of heaven. It is much more than we expected! We are very comfortable and are enjoying the food & wine too much.”

F&J, NSW

OMG!  This is just amazing, thank you for your welcoming touches very much appreciated.  So sorry but we are moving in permanently…I never want to leave!

S&M, Victoria

 

What is in a Name:

For eight hundred years the present day Department of the Dordogne was known as the County of Périgord, a feudal society ruled over by four senior baronies, subject to the French crown.

Feudal law came to an end with the French Revolution in 1789, after which the County of Périgord was renamed the Departement of the Dordogne and four administrative regions put in place of the four baronies.

The name Périgord takes its origins from the four Celtic tribes, the petrocorii, who settled the region in the 6th century BC.  That geo-political division has remained to this day.

The four colours that are used to code the Périgord are largely a 20th century invention to benefit tourism; taking their lead from the 19th century ‘tourist’ Jules Verne and his naming of the Périgord Vert.

The people of the Dordogne continue to call themselves Périgordin and to refer to their region as the Périgord, as this better  reflects their cultural heritage.