The
Locale
Thedirac village, is about 5 minutes away by car or a 20 minute walk
along a very quiet country lane. The village is small but boasts the best
boulangerie in the area (It supplies fresh bread and croissants over an area
of about 300 sq. kilometres).There is also a modern tennis
court which can be booked through the local mayors office. There are also
many restaurants within a short drive from the property, including
the Auberge, situated 10 minutes drive away in the picturesque market town
of Catus. The well renowned restaurant - La Recreation is a short drive away in the lovely village of Les Arques
In Catus it is possible to do all your day to day shopping, wander
around the market square, visit the bank, pharmacy, supermarket, newsagent
and brocante shops. If you feel more active there is fishing and canoeing
on the lake where you will also find tennis courts, pedaloes and volleyball net plus a beach with a bar/restaurant.
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Catus Town Centre |
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Pont Valentre Bridge in Cahors
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Fifteen minutes
drive south of Catus, lies the capital of the Lot
Department - Cahors. This ancient and fortified town
boasts many attractions. It's most famous being the 700 year old
Pont Valentre which is the only bridge in the world
that has 3 fortified towers which lies on the Lot
River, which surrounds Cahors itself. In Cahors you
are able to eat in many fine outdoor restaurants
or casually sip a pastis whilst watching the world
go by. Amongst it's other attractions, Cahors features
a bustling market that is held twice weekly. If however,
you require a larger shop, all of the main supermarkets
can also be found here. |
Typical French avenue
in Cahors |
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A rooftop view of Cahors
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A restaurant in the centre of Cahors |
For those of you
who wish to explore a little further afield,
we're in the fortunate position of being
situated equidistant to both the Lot and
Dordogne Rivers, this enables you to visit some
of the most spectacular villages, towns, caves and
castles in the whole of France. Not to mention the
endless views of the unspoilt countryside that have
remained the same for centuries. |
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We have provided information folders for you to
peruse in your gite that will give you a flavour
of the locale.
In every town and several of the villages there are easily located and very helpful
Tourist Information Offices, these give advice on all local activities and events. |
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| Even though you may decide to relax
with a glass of local wine by the pool, play a game
in the grounds or purely laze the days away soaking
up the view, there are plenty of other activities
to occupy your time no matter the season: |
a view from our terrace |
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Walking - There
are numerous local walks in the region which take
you through some magnificent countryside and picturesque
villages. We have a known 17 village walk right on
our doorstep.
Cycling - Whether
you are a novice or a member of a cycling club there are numerous
routes available to you. We live in a particularly
hilly region so finding a challenging route
won't be a problem if you are more
experienced. We have been told by cycling
club members that it is an ideal area for pre-season
training.
Mountain
Biking - With the areas
numerous forests and woods, lots
of exciting and varied tracks can
be found. Bikes can be hired not too far away.
Canoeing
and Boat Trips - Both
are available to you on either the
Lot or Dordogne rivers which are
each only 20-30 minutes away. Canoeing
and Kayaking Clubs can be found
on both rivers.
Golf - If
you are as keen a golfer as I am,
you'll be pleased to know
there are both 9 and 18 hole courses
available to test your game (and
if you are ever stuck for a partner,
look no further!). Prices start
at approximately £20 per round.
Tennis - An
amazing number of villages, including Thedirac, and towns
have their own tennis courts which
can be booked at the local Mayor's
office or Town Hall.
Fishing - In
addition to being near to the Lot
and Dordogne rivers where fishing
is extremely popular, we are blessed
with a number of lakes, that are
very good, so we're told, for trout and other edible fish.
Horse Riding - There are several stables near to us providing different levels of trekking and days out.
Water Parks - There are two within an hour of La Merigue, Quercyland to the north and a smaller park in Cahors to the south.
Wine
Chateaux - The area
of Cahors is steeped in tradition
regarding it's wine. Famous
for it's red wine, Cahors
wine is exported all over
the world and as a result
has extended the area of it's
vineyards to encompass the
lower Lot valley. There are many
Chateaux and Caves (wine cellars)
for you to visit with lots of wine
to sample. |
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| You can also see pictures and information about
the surrounding
area. |
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