Castelnau-Montratier is only 7kms away and is a famous Bastide town in the Lot. It is a nice place to have lunch under the medieval open marketplace where the owners are friendly and the lunch menu of the day is simple but good. Castelnau-Montratier is a famous Bastide town where you will find a number of banks, a good pharmacy, friendly doctors, hairdressers, beautician and a small Spar supermarket. This would be your nearest and best for morning pastries, croissants and bread.

The area is also famous for its specialties such as Quercy Melon, truffles, fruit growing, Foie Gras, Duck Confit and of course the many vineyards including those of Cahors, one of the first areas in France to develop wine growing, some 2000 years ago.

Flaugnac just 12kms away is a small medieval village worth visiting for the magnificent views of the countryside it offers.

Montpezat de Quercy is a delightful little town with enough history attached to satisfy even the most curious. It is located just 25kms away from the house and has been listed as a protected town, mainly thanks to its 14th-century church, which contains tapestries from the sixteenth century relating the life of Saint Martin.

Caussade (37 mins away) is a fairly large town for all needs. Caussade has been making hats since 1857, and has established itself as France’s leading hat-making centre. It is a lively town with a small but interesting historic centre. Market day is every Monday morning.

Cahors is a beautiful medieval town on the river, full of upmarket shops and a great market on Thursdays and Saturdays. There are also a number of good restaurants and cafes. This is about a 40 minute drive.

Cahors is the regional capital city and boasts all facilities, shops and some wonderful restaurants. Try the boat restaurant, Au Fil des Douceurs, moored on the banks of the Lot, or the Chateau de Mercues looming over the city or any of a dozen little places hidden in the winding medieval streets.

Heritage sites in Cahors include the House of Henri IV and the Maison du Roi. Full of tragedy, triumph and romance, you can climb the Tour St Jean – the tower of Cahors’ own Pope, John XXII – visit the lovely gothic cathedral and of course cross the magnificent Pont Valentré, a 14th century bridge but beware of the devil that still clings to its central tower!

Montcuq is also highly recommended. It is a beautiful drive there and the town offers great restaurants and cafes. The market on Sunday is packed so an early visit would be wise. It is a beautiful drive to get there. Try lunch at the Café de France, which is highly recommended.

Just 20 mins from the house, is the preserved medieval bastide village of Lauzerte with a wonderful central place, lined with cafes. It is classified as one of France’s Most Beautiful Villages, a distinction granted to only 155 villages in the country. It is described as “a nature stop for family excursions and weekends exploring the rich past and present of the South West.” If you fancy lunch there, try the Hotel du Quercy or the Auberge des Carmes.

Saint-Cirq-Lapopie is a stunning and ancient village, perched on the cliffs above the river Lot to the East of Cahors. The village was on the old French pilgrim route, and is an extremely popular tourist destination.

50kms from the house.

St Antonin Noble Val (49kms) is well worth a visit if only for the impressive scenery of the area, as it lies close to the beautiful Gorges de l’Aveyron and was historically a stopping point on the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. It has its origins in a Benedictine Monastery built in the 8th century. Some of the buildings date from the first half of the 12th century notably older than most ‘medieval villages’. Sebastian Faulks’ fans may recognise Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val from the film ‘Charlotte Gray’ released in 2001 and starring Cate Blanchet.

Cordes Sur Ciel is a large and amazingly well preserved bastide with dozens of narrow streets to explore. For the photographer there are photo opportunities at every turn of a corner as gothic archways frame beautiful timber framed buildings. If you love local art and craft shops then you will be totally spoilt in Cordes. There is just about every type of Potter, Artist or Glassmaker you could imagine.

Bruniquel (49km) is in a steep hilly location next to the Aveyron River in beautiful wooded countryside. You can enter Bruniquel through one of the medieval gateways in the defensive walls and explore by following the steep cobbled path past the old stone buildings in this picturesque fortified village. There is also a wooden house called the Maison Belaygue and you can also visit the Maison Payrol, a luxurious 15th century manor house just below the castle, to see what luxury living was like in Bruniquel 500 years ago. Be sure to see the two lead hearts on display both of which apparently contain real human hearts!

Moissac (30 km) has a beautiful church and an impressive monastery visited by pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostella. Next to the monastery is the Bistro de l’Abbaye on the Church Square where lunch outside is wonderful in the shade of the magnolia trees.

There is a hard tennis court at the Golf des Roucous that can be rented by the hour and tennis rackets to borrow at the house. Light lunches are available at the clubhouse. Visit Golf des Roucous for more information.

Domaine des Savarines: http://www.domainedessavarines.com/en (organic wine)

Chateau de Caix www.chateau-de-cayx.com (Cahors)

Chateau Pech de Jammes http://www.pechdejammes.fr/

Chateau de Haute Serre (which also has a restaurant) http://www.hauteserre.fr

There are several suggestions available in the House Book.

The largest local market is in Cahors, 30 minutes north, on Wednesdays and Saturdays.  However, there are other smaller markets in Castelnau-Montratier and Montcuq, 4kms and 10kms respectively. During the summer months there are many weekly Fete des Repas in the local villages where you can buy dinner from stalls run by local producers and then eat at long tables in the square, usually with live music and dancing.

Rocamadour is a wonderful day out. It is situated about an hour and half to the northeast, but it is well worth the drive. The first sight of this city, literally built out of a sheer rock is quite unforgettable.

Sarlat La Caneda has remained one of the towns most representative of 14th century France and is probably the Perigord Noir’s most famous and visited town The centre of the old town consists of impeccably restored stone buildings and is largely car-free. During the summer, the square is a venue for many outdoor events, fetes and markets where local produce is sold.

The property is close three exceptional rivers – the Lot and Célé (to the north) and Aveyron. These are recommended these for wild swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding and boating. Details of this are available in the housebook. The Canal Latéral à la Garonne (to the south) also offers wonderful opportunities for boating, cycling and walking. Particularly recommended is hiring canoes and kayaks at Bouzies on the Lot or at Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val on the Aveyron.

The area is fantastic for walkers with networks of long distance walking routes traversing the countryside linking to the pilgrim route to Santiago di Compostella in northern Spain.  The house is well stocked with walking maps and walking sticks.

For information on the UNESCO World Heritage site pilgrim route to Santiago di Compostela, passing close to La Poujal, see the UNESCO website. It’s fun to walk sections of this route, perhaps between Castelnau-Montratier and Montcuq, or further afield if you are more adventurous.

The Lot tourism website is a great resources for further information on the region http://www.tourisme-lot.com/en