The Rough Guide to Dordogne & the Lot (Travel Guide eBook) by Rough Guides

Author:Rough Guides
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Travel, France
Publisher: Apa Publications
Published: 2022-01-05T15:07:32+00:00

Éco-musée de la Noix du Périgord

April to mid-Nov daily 10am–7pm; mid-Nov–March Mon–Sat 2am–5.30pm • €5, children €4 • 05 53 59 69 63, http://ecomuseedelanoix.fr • The park is on the D57 south of Castelnaud, by the turning up to the Château de Castelnaud

The Éco-musée de la Noix du Périgord is considerably more interesting than it might sound. This part of the Dordogne is prime walnut-growing country, and as well as detailing oil pressing, the exhibits here reveal all kinds of unexpected nut-related titbits, such as the fact that Louis XI’s beard was trimmed using heated walnut shells, and that walnuts were used in the insulation of American spaceships. They also point out the nuts’ many health benefits, before you’re shepherded through to the well-stocked shop, which makes a good place to pick up some unusual – and completely organic – walnut souvenirs. If you’re lucky the mill itself will be working (July & Aug Tues, Wed & Thurs afternoons), but otherwise there’s a self-explanatory video. The adjacent orchard, scattered with picnic tables and giant walnuts rendered in cement, might appeal to young children.

Activities Castelnaud-la-Chapelle

Bike rental From Castelnaud-la-Chapelle you can follow the quiet Voie Verte cycle route along the lovely Céou valley to Daglan and L’Abbaye-Nouvelle, in the Lot. Bike Bus (05 53 31 10 61, http://bike-bus.com), at the Voie Verte car park charge around €20 per day.

Canoe rental On the riverfront, beside the bridge, you can rent canoes at the Base Municipale Canoë-Kayak (daily 9am–6pm; 05 53 29 40 07; €6/hr).

accommodation

Lou Castel 05 53 29 89 24, http://loucastel.com. While there are no hotels in Castelnaud, you’ll find this lively and well-equipped four-star campsite set among oak woods on the plateau roughly 3km to the south. It has several pools, water slides, a grocery store, bar and restaurant, as well as children’s activities in July and August. There are also fixed tents and chalets to rent (from €80). Closed Oct–March. €29

La Tour de Cause Pont-de-Cause, 05 53 30 30 51, http://latourdecause.com. High-quality chambre d’hôte in a lovely Périgordin manor house in the hamlet of Pont-de-Cause, 2km south of Castelnaud on the D57. There’s a choice of three rooms downstairs and two up in the eaves, all different (1950s style in one, and tropical bird in another) and all with their own charm. Guests also have access to a communal living room and kitchen area and a saltwater pool. The Belgian owners, who worked as chefs in their homeland, go out of their way to make you comfortable, and prepare copious breakfasts; fabulous evening meals (guests €40, non-guests €45, reservations essential) are also available. Closed mid-Oct to May. Four-night minimum stay in July and August. €120

Les Milandes

Daily: April & Oct 10am–6.30pm; May to mid-July & Sept 9.30am–7pm; mid-July to Aug 9.30am–8pm; early Nov 10am–6pm • €12, children €7.50 • 05 53 59 31 21, http://milandes.com

From Castelnaud-la-Chapelle it’s a scenic drive 5km west along the river past Château de Fayrac (not open to the public) with its slated pepper-pot towers – an English forward position in the Hundred Years War, built to watch over Beynac – to Les Milandes.

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