Messing about on the river
In Puy l'Evêque (9km), you can enjoy active pursuits such as canoeing, rafting or hiring a pedalo on the River Lot.
Tourondel
Floressas, South West France
- 4
- 2
- 2
FROM
£ 1,082
PER WEEK
Accommodation
At a glance
- Sleeps 4
- 1 Double Bedroom
- 1 Twin Bedroom
- 2 Bathrooms
- WiFi
- Ground Floor: Entrance hall. Shower room. Open plan room comprising: kitchen (oven, dishwasher), dining and living areas (TV, DVD, CD), with French doors to balcony. Double bedroom (ceiling fan) with French doors to covered terrace. Bathroom (roll top bath). Twin bedroom (ceiling fan) with French doors to covered terrace.
- Outside: Balcony. Covered terrace. Seating area. Pool terrace. Open grounds left mainly ‘au naturel’. Store room (washing machine). Private parking.
- Private swimming pool (11m x 5m) with corner steps.
A restorative, rural retreat is the most befitting way to describe Tourondel, a delightful addition to our collection. Tucked away on a hillside in the glorious Lot countryside, it is a bolthole for those wishing to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life, an open invitation to relax, drink in the views and enjoy the peaceful sounds of nature.
And there are plenty of enticing spots from which to do so: an east facing balcony is the perfect place for breakfast; a covered terrace provides shade during the summer afternoons and a blissful area for dinner; the garden becomes an open air yoga studio; and finally the pool terrace, with its far reaching views over the green patchwork of fields, woods and hills so evocative of this region, can be enjoyed throughout the day and night (why not try stargazing under the night skies?).
The charm of this rustic haven continues indoors. Wood beams and floors, a deep fireplace lined with patterned tiles, a glass chandelier and cosy sofa and armchairs give character and style to the open plan area, zoned into three distinctive areas (kitchen, dining, living). Both bedrooms have access to the covered terrace and the recent addition of a shower room means there is a bathroom for each bedroom.
The nearby village of Floressas (2km) holds a weekly market during the summer, whilst Sérignac (4km) has a local restaurant. Both can be reached on foot by following the pathways from the house uphill through the woodland, taking approximately 30 – 40 mins. Worth noting for a special occasion or simply because you are on holiday, the nearby Château de Chambert (3km) offers fine dining and wine tasting in a fabulous setting and comes highly recommended by people in the area.
Tourondel’s location almost equidistant between Tournon d’Agenais (20min) and Puy l’Évêque (15min) ensures that amenities are within easy reach. These hilltop towns are a delight to walk around, with riverside Puy l’Évêque also offering boat trips and canoeing on the River Lot. Continue along the river and you will reach Cahors, famous for its market, the Valentré Bridge (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and, of course, its wines.
- Terraced grounds and some low stone walls mean that younger children will need supervision.
Pricing & Availability
Location of Tourondel
Locality
Great Things to Do Near Tourondel
Horse riding
The Lot is a great place for horse riding, especially on the heights of Lacapelle-Cabanac where Le Cheval Blanc has been organising horse rides for donkey's years! www.chevalblanc-lot.com
Les Arques, a hidden gem
The small village of Les Arques (27km) harbours a surprising wealth of culture and interest. The Zadkine museum features the work of Ossip Zadkine, a Russian born sculptor & artist who settled there in 1934. You can view some of his prestigious works and documents that illustrate his life. Five of Zadkine's sculptures enliven the village and some of his religious works are presented in the Saint-André chapel near the museum. You can also go for a lovely walk in the surrounding woods and round off the outing with a meal at the highly regarded local restaurant.
Hire a bicycle
Hire bikes in nearby Puy l'Evêque (9km) and explore the country lanes, or join part of the 'Lot Valley' marked bicycle route which follows the River Lot westwards for 160km from Cahors all the way to Damazan where the Lot flows into the Garonne.
Gastronomie
There are many restaurants in this area, particularly in Puy l'Evêque and other villages along the river. Some have vegetarian options.
Wine tasting
Book a tasting (dégustation) at 1 or 2 wine 'domaines' in the local area, whose vineyards provide the Malbec grapes for the famous Cahors wines.
Fun for kids and big kids!
CapNature near Cahors is a outdoor activity park with treetrop adventure courses, paintball, zorb/bubble football, laser-tag, climbing and kayaking.
Explore Puy l’Evêque
This superb medieval town built on a rock by the river Lot is well worth a visit, with its 13th century donjon at the top of the town. Tuesday is market day in Puy l’Evêque, held in the square in front of the town hall.
Cahors
The main town of the Lot, Cahors was founded during the first century BC around a sacred spring. Built in a tight meander of the River Lot, it is compact and walkable. Sights include the lovely Cathédrale de St Etienne, a Romanesque-style cathedral, and the famous Pont Valentre, a fortified bridge with six pointed arches and three tall towers. The Musée Henri Martin is also worth visiting, housed in a 17th century former Episcopal palace. On Wednesday and Saturday mornings, a wonderful open air market fills the Place Chapou whilst a flower market takes place on Sunday mornings. A daily market is held in the 19th century halle.
Montcuq and Castelnau-Montratier
Two villages south of the River Lot which are lovely to wander around. Montcuq is built on a cone-shaped hill with most of the houses on the south side with fine views across the countryside. If you can, go on a Sunday morning for its market, classed as one of the ‘most beautiful in France’. Castelnau-Montratier is typical of the Quercy Blanc region, with its white stone houses.
The Secret Gardens of Cahors
The secret gardens were first created in 2002 and consist of 29 separate gardens around the city, each with a different theme. Spend half a day following the trail linking the gardens.
Visit the Château de Bonaguil
Visit the fabulous fortress of Bonaguil (22km), dating back to the 13th century, dramatically set on a rocky outcrop above oak woods. You can enjoy a tasty meal followed by a long walk in the surrounding countryside. In summer this chateau is a venue for theatre festivals and classical music concerts.
From hilltop village to stunning caves
Just over an hour's drive, passing Cahors, will take you to St Cirq Lapopie, a village with the accolade of 'Un des Plus Beaux Villages de France'. A very impressive place with a view to match. Best visited late afternoon or early evening when the tour buses have left. At the foot of the village you can visit the cave of Pech Merle with its superb prehistoric art.
If you like live music
you might like to try the Blues Festival in Cahors mid July, the Saint-Céré Music and Theatre Festival from mid July to mid August, or the Bonaguil Music and Theatre Festival in the chateau, first week of August.
Markets
Some excellent local markets can be found in this area, such as in Prayssac on Friday morning, Puy l'Evêque on a Tuesday, Monsempron-Libos on a Thursday or Cahors or Luzech on a Wednesday. You will find all the best vegetables, fish, meat, cheese, honey, wine, dairy and so much more.
Water Parks & Tree Parks
Head west to the Walygator amusement park in Roquefort near Agen (64km) for water rides, tropical forest, corkscrew and pirate boat rides, and an 18th century castle. Or Parc-en-Ciel in Lacapelle-Biron (42km) has 14 hectares of trees and fields in which you will find mini golf, a farm of baby animals, a snail museum, and an adventure playground through the trees with different courses depending on the age of the children.
Walks from Tourondel
From the house there are several lovely walks (up and down the hills) to local little villages that offer either a small café, a restaurant or cooperative grocery shop; Le Boulvé, Floressas or Sérignac.
Nearby
Towns/Villages
| Floressas | 5 mins | |
| Sérignac | 10 mins | |
| Puy-l'Évêque | 15 mins | |
| Duravel | 20 mins | |
| Villefranche-du-Périgord | 35 mins | |
| Cahors | 40 mins | |
| Villeneuve-sur-Lot | 50 mins | |
| Monflanquin | 50 mins |
Airports
| Bergerac | 1 Hr 20 mins | |
| Toulouse | 1 Hr 50 mins | |
| Bordeaux | 2 Hrs 50 mins |
Train Stations
| Agen (TGV) | 1 Hr 10 mins | |
| Toulouse-Matabiau (TGV) | 1 Hr 50 mins | |
| Toulouse-Matabiau (TGV) | 2 Hrs 20 mins |
ports
| Bilbao | 5 Hrs 30 mins | |
| Santander | 6 Hrs 20 mins | |
| St Malo | 7 Hrs 30 mins | |
| Caen | 7 Hrs 45 mins | |
| Le Havre | 8 Hrs | |
| Dieppe | 8 Hrs | |
| Cherbourg | 8 Hrs 45 mins | |
| Calais | 9 Hrs | |
| Roscoff | 14 Hrs |
