Discover Ribérac & the Surrounding Area

Things to do in Ribérac

All that Les Tulipiers has to offer is just a short walk away from the restaurants, cafés and shops of Ribérac. This delightful country town also has tennis courts, a cinema which often shows English-language films and a renowned Friday market, where you can buy antiques, soap, jewellery, delicious local produce, pottery, linen and vintage clothing, - you name it - it's there.

There is also a smaller farmers' market on Tuesday mornings. The town has medical and dental facilities, pharmacies, bakeries, banks, supermarkets and, if you are thinking of buying a house in the region, there are several estate agents.

Five minutes' drive takes you to Canoes Ribérac, where you can hire a kayak or canoe for the day or a few hours and explore the river Dronne.Take a picnic lunch and look out for wildlife such as kingfishers, dragonflies, deer, coypu and cranes.

Ribérac hosts many musical events during the summer, ranging from classical Baroque to blues, jazz, rock and folk.

There is good walking in and around Ribérac and for those who love old buildings, a superb circuit of Romanesque churches is on the doorstep.

Mushrooms of various types love it here and there are guided outings for those who wish to find and cook with them. The Dordogne has attracted countless artists, professional and less so and one could do no better for a subject than the very attractive view of Ribérac and its churches, from the house itself.

Farther Afield

Ribérac is well-placed for visits to Bourdeilles and Brantôme, the monolithic church of Aubeterre and the very pretty town of Verteillac - home of night markets, music and good eating places. Périgueux, the region's capital, is half an hour away by car and well worth a visit so that you can see its cathedral and wander through cobbled streets and squares that would grace any film set. It has a first-class Roman museum, a Wednesday and Saturday market and a museum of the Périgord region, housed in a magnificent building with parking nearby.

The magnificent city of Bordeaux and the unmissable town of St. Emilion are about an hour and a half away by car. We can suggest possible wine tours and tastings if you are interested in learning about or buying wine. Whilst on that theme, we are about an hour's drive from Cognac and Jarnac, where the scent of cognac is in the air.

If you like rummaging around for brocantes, you will find plenty of opportunities to do so, perhaps at one of the many vide greniers held throughout the summer in towns and villages nearby. They often include a fishing competition, moules frites and a firework finale. Nearby La Rochebeaucourt includes duck racing in its summer festival.

If you wish to view the area from the sky, there are very reasonably-priced flights in small aircraft from the flying club at Périgueux or you could even try hot-air ballooning.

There are 2 local golf courses 15 and 25 minutes from here.

There is an excellent lake with a man-made beach, two restaurants and pleasant woodland walks and bike trails, just 20 minutes away at La Jemaye.

Gardens - Near and far

Autumn in the Dordogne is usually quite mild and the abundance of deciduous woodland makes for some spectacular colours. Your cuisine could be enhanced by the addition of some local mushrooms or truffles. At this time, one might notice the aroma of wood smoke in the air as people begin to light their log fires and our garden will be carpeted with wild cyclamen.

When spring arrives, our orchard is a riot of cherry, plum, apple, peach and pear blossom, followed by Japanese quince and early peonies. In June this year, our cherry tree was groaning with sweet dark red fruit. Throughout the year, you are likely to catch a glimpse of our resident red squirrels chasing each other through the trees.

The area has a variety of gardens to visit but our favourite is at Sardy, about an hour's drive from here. It is an elegant Italianate garden which is beautiful, natural and unpretentious and from which one can take ideas for one's own garden. If you prefer something more thought-provoking, the Gardens of the Imagination at Terrasson are just over an hour away.

So if you like the idea of being able to stay in luxurious surroundings, swimming in the warm pool, relaxing under 100 year-old trees, strolling down to town for an excellent dinner of local produce, or preparing your own supper in the gîte's kitchen, do please get in touch. We let the house as a gîte in the high season and the rooms are also available on a bed and breakfast basis at other times, but we are flexible. There is ample parking and we would love to see you!