Castles, caves, food and wine

Au Pied du Château looks out on the village square and the Chateau de Bourdeilles, a medieval castle with a renaissance addition. Au Pied du Château is a little townhouse nestled into the center of a lively village in the Dordogne department in the Aquitaine region of the south of France, in an area known as Périgord. Au Pied du Château accommodates six adults and two children. Fully furnished and equipped, it can be rented for a week, a weekend, or a few days. The House Facing the 12th-century castle, just down from the church, Au Pied du Château is a small town house on a cobblestone pedestrian street, with two bedrooms, fitted kitchen, bath and living room on two floors. The master bedroom, living room, kitchen, and bath comprise the ground floor. The second floor houses the second bedroom. In its 400-plus years, Au Pied du Château has witnessed quite a bit of history. In addition to its patch of grass by the front door, the house faces the chateau’s park and gardens across the street, with benches, trees, and pretty views across the Dronne River. A few steps down Rue de l’Église takes you to the village square, where you may enjoy a drink under the trees at one of the cafés. Deep in the Heart of France Bourdeilles is out in the country, yet a short drive the the international airports at Bordeaux and Bergerac, and to the TGV stations in Angoulème and Bordeaux. The new TGV takes you from Paris to Bordeaux in two hours. How to Get There From Great Britain: Fly to Bergerac direct from Stanstead on Ryanair; rent a car and drive 47 miles to Bourdeilles. From Paris: Take the TGV to Angoulême; rent a car and drive 37 miles to Bourdeilles. Or take the train to Perigueux and drive 15 miles to Bourdeilles. From East Coast USA: Fly to Bordeaux direct from Montreal on Air Transat, or via Lisbon from New York or Boston on TAP, or from Boston or New York on Air France to Bordeaux. Rent a car and drive 95 miles to Bourdeilles. Or fly to Paris and take the train from CDG. Things to Do Visit a Chateau. You’ll find a nice one right across the street, and a dozen others in the towns nearby. As well as old churches, cute villages, and active farms. Visit Brantôme. The Venice of France, just six miles away. One of many places to visit in the Dordogne area. Taste Wine in St. Emilion. Take a 1.5 hour drive through the Bordeaux vineyards to get there. Visit the Caves at Lascaux. Take a 1.5 hour drive through the Périgord countryside to get there. Play Tennis. The village tennis courts are near the village pool, a short walk across the river. Visit Bordeaux. A nice 1.5 hour drive on the autoroute takes you to France’s 5th largest city and hub of wine export. Visit Cognac. A nice 1.5 hour drive on through Dordogne and Charente takes you to the city of stills, surrounded by vineyards. Try Foie Gras in Bergerac. A one-hour drive south takes you to the hub of production of red wine and foie gras. Eat Well. Enjoy a gourmet lunch or dinner at one of Bourdeille’s fine restaurants. Or find a five-course lunch for 13€ in Tocane-St-Apre. Or lunch at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Perigueux for 29€. Or buy fresh from the farmers at the weekly markets in Bourdeilles (Sunday), Brantome (Friday), or Perigueux (Wednesday) and prepare it Au Pied du Chateau. Go to Market. Fresh vegetables, aged cheese, organic meats, crafts, and snacks present themselves at the weekly markets in Bourdeilles (Sunday), Brantome (Friday), or Perigueux (Wednesday). The Owners Kathi and Jim Lengel own Au Pied du Chåteau. Kathi is a recovering school principal. Jim is a retired college professor. They live in Vermont at Crossett Hill Lodge for most of the winter. In the summer, they sail on their fleet of boats from Rhode Island, and live in Cedar Cove Cottage. Each spring and fall, they spend several weeks at Au Pied du Chåteau.