Great dinner, reasonable local wines and very helpful staff!! Really enjoyed every minute of itread more

CHATEAU DE MONBAZILLAC Chateau de Monbazillac…read more24240 Monbazillac http://www.chateau-monbazillac.com 05 53 61 52 52 and 05 53 63 65 00 An afternoon visit to the Chateau de Monbazillac was the highlight today. We arrived at the home of the famous sweet wine after a 70 km trip. Built around 1550, the chateau stands today almost exactly as when built by the AYDIE family more than four centuries ago. This was a very interesting visit indeed, highlights including the Grand Salon, the Mouney-Sully Hall, the Grand Staircase and the Hall of Bottles. The world renowned vineyard was first cultivated in the 11th century and is famous for using the noble rot method to make its sweet wines which draw thousands of visitors every year. We availed of the tasting service, naturally, and purchased some of the golden nectar along with some Bergerac Rouge and Bergerac Sec. In entering this place, you are entering a part of the History of France. So says one of the chateau's leaflets. Today, the Wine Cooperative of Monbazillac owns the chateau and makes every effort to look after the monument and open it as much as possible to visitors. For EUR6.40, we thought it was very good value indeed.

The famous sweet white wines of Monbazillac are grown in the vineyards surrounding this historical…read moremonument dating from 1550. We visited on a day that it rained followed by sunshine and were delightfully greeted with double rainbows arching over the vineyards and behind the Chateau creating postcard perfect memories. Le Chateau boasts twenty furnished rooms with unique and original architecture. Make sure to go down the stairs to the wine cellars and read some of the historical documents. When we visited, the top floor dining room was hosting a very odd art show of trash and garbage. We weren't sure what the meaning was, however, we decided to think about it as a nod to the importance of recycling. The view from the northern terrace offers extraordinary landscapes over the Bergerac valley and the Dordogne river. The white wine was too sweet for our California palate, but would be delicious over ice cream as a dessert!

Charming stone cottage with a spectacular view of a medieval castle. Swimming, canoeing, tennis,…read morebiking, randonee, hiking and golf all close by. Weekly rentals so you'll have time for it all. Sarlat, the medieval jewel of the Dordogne is 3 kms. Check it out thru the Office du Tourism Sarlat... "montfort" ref 20007. They speak english as well as french.

This is probably the #1 attraction in Bordeaux. I would recommend coming at night, preferably later…read moreat night when it's completely dark. There's less kids playing in the water and the lights on the Bourse make a great reflection on the water. Also, there's mist and the water drains or rises periodically. The water is still pretty shallow though. Plus, they play music and people dance nearby which was nice. During the day, it's super hot especially since there's no trees or cover. Also, the reflection is not as prominent. Definitely come at night!

It is reflective mirror from the shallow pool. This famous area is popular among the local France…read morepeople during the summer. The kid and adult alike playing and walking in the pool. The design of the mirror pool has a minor concave with filling of water about 2 to 3 inches height. This water stay for half hour and drain to dry and the process start again to fill up. The drain of the water is to purify it. The name of this attraction is call Water Mirror. It is hard to get mirror image since there are a lot of kid running around and create the wave on the water surface. It is difficult to get still water surface like mirror. May be late at night when no one around. Once the water surface is still, it will reflect the place de la Bourse. This water mirror becomes the famous picture for the viewing.

The City of Sarlat is one of the most endearing, charming, historic, and magical places I have ever…read morevisited. The amount of history surrounding this entire area of Southwest France is unparalleled to begin with, and Sarlat-la-Caneda contributes a very large portion to this magical setting. It is a medieval town that was established mainly due to the Benedictine abbey of Carolingian origin. The Sarlat Cathedral is dedicated to Saint Sacerdos, and the building itself can be seen in records as early as 1081. It was one of the very few cathedrals in the region that was never raided by the Vikings!!!! Those rascals!! Thank God, because if it were destroyed and leveled to the ground, we would not be able to visit and understand how profound this divine place actually is today and how well the efforts to preserve it have been accomplished. The Malraux Law was passed in 1962, which saw Sarlat restored, and this effort saved many buildings from demolition. The architect of this law, Andrea Malraux, was, at the time, the French Cultural Minister. This legal act greatly enhanced Sarlat's medieval center through the extensive restoration of most of its houses. My favorite (as mentioned in one of my earlier reviews) was the Manoir de Gisson, a museum that you should not miss when visiting! Some of my most favorite highlights during my visit were, of course, the food, the winding, cobblestone roads, the art galleries, and the nightlife, where visitors can enjoy an aperitif at a cozy, outdoor cafe' before venturing out to enjoy the tantalizing cuisine of this city! From foie gras, black truffles, cepes, dried sausages, cheese, walnuts, and wine, this girl was golden and I had everything that needed or could ever want! There is a great little grocery mart, tons of places to find delicious food and lot's of curiosities. There are candy shops, cafes, and desert spots galore!, And one cannot leave without visiting the farmer's markets, which are huge and packed full of the most amazing produce, delectables, and gifts. They have markets two times a week and they are a must see! I even ventured out to discover a wonderful art store and since I happen to be a painter, I could not pass up the 1.5 mile walk to scope out some French art supplies and I even got to pop into an incredibly curated antique shop as well! I could go on and on about this magical place, but I am going to leave it to you to book your ticket and see for yourself. My only hope is that my photos tell it's story and make you want to book your next trip to France!

Sarlat is a beautiful village, and if you planned to stay here, stay in one of the Bed & Breakfast…read more(mentioned in my previous review). But stay for the Market Day on Saturday. Market Day is fabulous! You'll see stuff not sold anywhere, and you'll see various foods not cooked anywhere else (unless you're in Spain), so get ready for lunch and have some Paella! There's no warnings for pickpockets, here! They're friendly people! Go early, before it gets too hot, & too crowded, and while the dish is fresh! BTW: Our Tour Guide told us, French Costumer Service, they ignore their customers, they don't pressure you to buy, sometimes they don't even greet you. That's their style! I'm in Customer Service, but I always talk to my customers. If I was ignored, I just assumed, the seller don't care about me! But not in France.