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Manoir d'Autoire A 17th Century Bed & Breakfast in the Lot/Dordogne Valley |
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Manoir d'Autoire A 17th Century Bed & Breakfast in the Lot/Dordogne Valley |
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CASTLES & NEARBY ATTRACTIONS
A Ten Minute Drive Takes You ToChâteau de Montal- The elegant Château de Montal, which sheltered the Mona Lisa painting during World War II, with its spectacular Renaissance staircase.
Château de Castelnau- The second most important medieval military castle in France, Château de Castelnau, whose construction began in the year 1000.Carennac- The 10th century priory above the Dordogne River at Carennac.Bretenoux- The weekly outdoor market in the 12th Century square at Bretenoux.Jean Lurcat in St. Céré- The hilltop castle museum of the tapestry artist Jean Lurcat in St. Céré.Padirac- World-renowned Padirac, with its underground caves and waterways.Glanes- The vineyards of Glanes for a wine tasting while watching the sunset.Loubressac- Loubressac, whose château and charming homes have a commanding view of the Dordogne Valley.Historical Villages- Numerous unchanged farming villages with tractors and livestock roaming through town."... The Lot Valley rivals the Dordogne and yet remains relatively undiscovered and less traveled.. vistas are dramatic at every turn.... includes the most stunning 51 kilometer stretch in France." - Karen Brown, guidebook author 
An Hour’s Drive Or Less From AutoireSt. Cirq-la-Popie- « Every morning when I get up, I have the impression of contemplating the very best of art, nature, and life. » André Breton, one of the founders of Surrealism, born in the Lot, speaking of this clifftop village.Rocamadour- Even to this day, pilgrims climb the dramatic cliff stairs on their knees to worship the 11th C black Virgin, in this unique perched village.Collonges-la-Rouge- A village built almost entirely from red sandstone, mostly dating from the 11th to 16th centuries, with a rosy glow each sunset.Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne- The town surrounds a Bénédictine Abbey and has gorgeous hikes and cycling along the Dordogne River.Cahors- Contemplate the exquisite Pont Valentré (bridge) or relax with a deep crimson, full-bodied wine in the gardens of nearby Château de Mercues.Lalbenque- The ‘world’s biggest truffle market’ (so the locals say) each spring; lavender also grown here.Day Trips: The Dordogne Valley And BeyondCordes-sur-Ciel- "Everything is beautiful there, even regret": philosopher Albert Camus.Domme- High above the Dordogne River, a 13th century bastide overflowing with purple wisteria in springtime.La Roque Gageac- Spectacular outcropping of houses built into the cliffs, along with a sheltered garden of cacti and palms by a 16th century church.Lascaux II caves- An exact replica of the Lascaux I cave with its 17,000-year-old Cro-Magnon paintings, just steps from the original.Oradour-sur-Glanes- The untouched, ruined shrine of a village savaged by the Nazis during their retreat from France. An unforgettable site.Musée de Préhistoire, Les Eyzies- A 13th C fortress crammed with artifacts and surrounded by prehistoric caves.Château de Hautefort- The most famous chateau in Perigord, a massive 17th C chateau with panoramic terraces and immaculate French gardens.Aubusson Tapestry Museum- These world-renowned tapestries are the result of delicate colored dyes produced from the pure waters of the Creuse River.Sarlat- Contains the greatest concentration of medieval, Renaissance and 17th-century facades of any town in France.Toulouse and the Canal du Midi- Stroll the riverbanks past rose brick facades, which are, as the French say, “Pink at dawn, red at noon and mauve at dusk.”Bordeaux, St. Emilion vineyards- Known for its superb reds, Bordeaux is the world’s largest fine wine region.Limoges- Synonymous with porcelain since the 18th C, Limoges offers museums of ceramics and enamels as well.Bergerac- Tobacco hanging from barns along the road, leads one to this village on the Dordogne River and its Musée du Tabac. Have lunch at the Château de Monbazillac, surrounded by vineyards.". . .the grand tour is just the inspired man's way of heading home." -Paul Theroux Other Sports ActivitiesHiking- A dozen well-marked trails depart from Autoire, with varying levels of difficulty and duration.Cycling- Bicycle rentals available in St Céré, 10 minutes away at Velo & Oxygen, tel 05 65 38 03 23, rue Faiderbe.Sarah and Glenn are avid cyclists. They can advise you or lead you on rides of varying distances to scenic pebble swimming beaches on the Dordogne or Lot rivers, past rolling fields, with rarely a car in sight. The area is also ideal for motorcycle enthusiasts - sport as well as off-road riding. Glenn rides both a Ducati and a Solex, but has come to extol the virtues of the latter - a unique French motorcycle/bicycle design, perfectly suited for the alternately hilly/flat terrain. Turn off the engine and glide down a hill with exhilarating speed in complete silence! Two hour tours are available on these unique bikes. Kayaking- Canoe or Kayak rentals are available at several locations along the Dordogne, just minutes from Manoir d’Autoire, such as Saga Team in Carennac. Tel: +33 05 65 10 97 39.GolfChâteau de Montal Golf Course in St. Jean Lespinasse, 9 holes. Tel: +33 (0)5 65 10 83 09 Coiroux-Aubazine Golf Course in Aubazine, 18 holes. Tel. +33 (0)5 55 27 25 66 Souillac Country Club, in Lachapelle, 18 holes. Tel: +33 (0)5 65 27 56 00 Glenn is a lifelong golfer, having grown up on Hilton Head Island, SC, and thus can help you design your golfing itinerary. Cultural FestivalsWeek-long World Music/Jazz festival in July at Assier (20 km) Summer theatre festival in Saint Céré (7 km) Summer opera series, outdoors at Château de Castelnau (6 km) "I believe that this great peaceful region of France will be a sacred spot for man, and when the critics have killed off the poets this will be the refuge and the cradle of poets to come. France will someday exist no more but the Dordogne will live on just as dreams live on and nourish the souls of Men." - Henry Miller |
