The Vignette

The vignette is very popular in classic French interior design. The grouping together of treasured items to form a picture is a wonderful way of showing the character of both home and owner. Unfortunately it is not used sufficiently in holiday homes. Here at Domaine des Faures we believe in creating vignettes and our guests say it gives them a very welcoming and homely feel when they arrive.

Dordogne home

The historic homes in the Dordogne are beautiful. The stone has mellowed to a soft colour and the lauze roofs add to the wonderful way they blend into the countryside enhancing and not detracting from all that nature has to offer. The lack of uniformity in design reveals the history of the building and how it has developed over the years. The greenery of the trees and hedging are punctuated with colour from the roses and geraniums that do so well here. This area is a beautiful part of  the world to enjoy a holiday with family and friends.

Pigeonnier in the Dordogne

The Dordogne countryside is dotted with pigeonniers. They can be attached to barns or free-standing towers. The designs are so varied even within the Dordogne region.

The Romans introduced the use of ‘pigeonniers’ to help supplement a diet made mainly of cereals. The droppings also made excellent fertiliser which was very important.

Our pigeonnier (not shown here) is attached to one of the barns and is the home of a family of barn owls who entertain us as they emerge at dusk.

Signs in the Dordogne

Visiting the Dordogne in the spring or autumn is an excellent idea if you are in search of an active and cultural holiday. There are less tourists than in the busy summer period. The roads are perfect for cycling and the countryside is woven with You also you have the space and leisure to look at all the wonderful signs that adorn the boutique style shops.

Gabarres on the Dordogne

The Dordogne river has long been used as a means of transport and communication.Old Bordeaux was built on the site of the ancient Gallo-Roman port and amphora, once used for wine have been uncovered in Bergerac.

The gabarres were the traditional flat-bottomed boats used on the Dordogne. on the Upper Dordogne the gabarres were used for transporting wood from the forests. The middle section of the river would transport oak,chestnut,cheese and wine and return with salt, wheat and salted fish from the Lower Dordogne.

Now they provide a wonderful way for tourists to view the Dordogne valley from the river.

L’ Abbaye de Cadouin

Not too far from here is the picturesque village of Cadouin with its beautiful abbey. Opposite is the friendly restaurant named L’Abbaye de Cadouin where guests are assured of a warm welcome. In summer it is a delightful spot to wile away an evening in the shadow of the church or enjoy a lunch after visiting the cloister.

Winter is coming

The Dordogne enjoys a lovely climate and much of our time is spent outdoors. However we do usually have a cold snap during the winter months and it seems that the next few days may well be chilly. The countryside and gardens always look beautiful covered in frost and if we have a fine covering of snow the peacefulness of Les Faures seems even more intense. To walk across the fields is a delight.