Great Things to Do Near La Maison Prunier
Potter around Castillonnès
Have a coffee in the main square in Castillonnès and admire the arcades and the stonework. Take a guided tour around the town and learn a bit more about its history and architecture. The guided tour in English takes place every Tuesday, leaving the Tourist Office at 5.30pm.
Delicious fresh produce from the markets
Don't miss all the great food markets. The area is well known for its locally grown produce so head to Castillonnès on a Tuesday, Bergerac on Wednesday or Saturday, Eymet or Monflanquin on Thursday, Villeréal on Saturday, Issigeac on Sunday... In July & August, head to the evening 'marchés gourmands' where you sit with the locals at long tables and eat food that you will buy from the local producers that have cooked for you. You can also buy local wine and drinks. Bon appétit !
Lots of walks in the area
Pick up a walking itinerary/map from the tourist office in Castillonnès and discover the local area from a different perspective. There is a range of walks and bike rides to suit all.
Visit the Medieval Bastides
of the Lot et Garonne and the Dordogne, such as Villeréal, Monflanquin, Beaumont-du-Périgord, Monpazier, Issigeac, Miramont-de-Guyenne. The best day to visit them is on market days when there is such a lovely, lively atmosphere!
A spa day
If you wish to relax even more, visit Les Bains de Casteljaloux (about an 1hr drive) where you will find thermal spas, massages, Japanese baths, and both indoor & outdoor pools.
Vineyards and châteaux
Don't miss the château of Monbazillac (25km) with its fine collection of XVIIth century furniture, and a museum of wine and its vineyards. Discover the wonderful wines in the area by tasting them at the château. And further afield, in the area around Creysse, visit the Pécharmant vineyards and the wonderful Château de Tiregard at the heart of a working vineyard – visit the barrel hall and the formal gardens and of course, taste the wine.
Saint-Emilion
Do not miss a wander around the famous wine town of Saint-Emilion (84km). It is the first wine growing area listed by UNESCO so it is definitely worth a visit. There is also a huge monolithic church carved out of limestone rock, as well as miles of underground tunnels and caves.
Le Cinéma
The French love the cinema and produce some great films. There is a cinema in Castillonnès (Place Jasmin), which shows both French and English films (look for Version anglaise - VO - sous-titrée if you want to watch the English version).
Extraordinary frescos
In Allemans du Dropt, visit the church to see the 15th century frescos – they depict lively devils and gruesome goings-on!
Take the children to the Parc-en-Ciel
in Lacapelle-Biron (33km) - 14 hectares of trees and fields where you will find mini golf, a farm of baby animals and an adventure playground through the trees with different courses depending on the age of the children.
A day at the lake
The nearby Lac de Lougratte is a large lake where you can swim and spend the day relaxing. It is open in July and August. https://www.lougratte.com/enbaignade.html
Chocolate Museum
For the chocoholics amongst you, don't miss a visit to the chocolate museum and factory between Lougratte and Castillonnès.
Prune Museum
If you are staying at La Maison du Prunier and like the taste of the famous 'Pruneaux d'Agen' (originally from the Villeneuve-sur-Lot area rather than Agen), why not visit the Ferme et Musée du Pruneau, which is in Lafitte-sur-Lot. Discover the history, the production process, and how good they are for your health (as well as how delicious they taste).
Canoeing and sightseeing
Although La Roque-Gagaec is over an hour away, it is well worth taking a picinic and going there for the day. Canoeing down the river, admiring the chateaux and the picturesque villages of the Dordogne is a lovely way to spend the day.
Music everywhere
There are little music events everywhere in the summer: the free pop concerts in Villeneuve-sur-Lot, in the park of the old hospital in the town centre; the 'soirées baroques' in July in Monflanquin; the free concerts during the jazz festival in Villeréal in July, etc... For more details, ask at your local tourist office or search online.
Medieval Festivals
From end July until August, you can take a trip back in time with a visit to one of several medieval festivals which take place along the Bastide towns in the Dropt Valley. There are reenactments of battles, food to sample and displays of local crafts which you can buy. You can even hire a medieval costume yourself to really relive the experience of life in medieval France.
Bastid'Art street theatre festival
Over a weekend in early August, a couple of villages near Miramont-de-Guyenne host a street performance festival, with an eclectic mix of theatrical, musical and circus performances to enjoy. Fun for all! https://bastidart.org/
Antiques and 'brocantes'
In the summer, there isn't a Sunday without an antique market, a brocante, a flea market around. Villeréal holds a great antique/brocante market every second Sunday of the month. Head there in the morning for a stroll around the stalls to see what you can discover, followed by lunch at one of the restaurants in the square.