Staying at Les Terrasses means setting down your bags in the heart of the Périgord Pourpre and the Lot-et-Garonne — one of the parts of Europe with the greatest concentration of medieval bastides. These “new towns”, founded in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, have for the most part kept their grid plan, their arcades and their market halls remarkably intact.
Here are five that are well worth the detour.
Villeréal — the ideal starting point
Your home village Founded in 1267 Listed monument
The village you are staying in is itself a royal bastide, founded in 1267 by Alphonse de Poitiers, brother of Louis IX. At the centre of the place des Cornières stands its magnificent fourteenth-century market hall, resting on elegant timber posts. A listed monument, it still hosts the traditional Saturday morning market.
In July and August that market becomes an institution: farmhouse cheeses, Périgord strawberries, foie gras, Duras wines and local produce spread out beneath the arcades.
Give yourself an hour to wander, with a coffee on a terrace: it is the best way to take in the atmosphere.
Monflanquin — the royal bastide on its hilltop
Plus Beau Village de France 15 min
Listed among Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, Monflanquin sits on a spur with a 360° view over the surrounding valleys. Its almost perfect cross-shaped plan, its arcaded square and its ochre sandstone lanes form an unusually harmonious whole.
Do not miss the Musée des Bastides, in a restored medieval house, which explains the history of these planned towns clearly and well.
Allow half a day to explore the village, enjoy the views and have lunch under the arcades.
Monpazier — the best preserved bastide
The most perfect in France 35 min Founded in 1284
Founded in 1284 in the Dordogne by Edward I of England, Monpazier is often held to be the most perfect bastide in France. Its central square, ringed with golden sandstone arcades, the old grain measures still visible under the market hall, and its houses built flush against one another — deliberately, to prevent intrusion — make it a history book in the open air.
To have it at its quietest, go early in the morning, before the summer visitors arrive.
Eymet — easy living and a lively market
30 min Thursday morning market
Eymet wins you over with its lively, cosmopolitan feel. A sizeable British community has been settled here for decades, giving the village a relaxed, international character. Its Thursday morning market is among the busiest in the area, with local growers and craftspeople.
The central square, lined with café and restaurant terraces, is ideal for a long lunch with family or friends, in a proper holiday-village atmosphere.
- Villeréal — 5 min
- Monflanquin — 10 min
- Monpazier — 15 min
- Issigeac — 20 min
- Eymet — 30 min
Issigeac — charm off the beaten track
25 min Sunday market Medieval town
A little different from the classic bastides, Issigeac is a genuine medieval town on an irregular plan, and charms by being entirely unplanned. Its winding lanes, timber-framed houses, eighteenth-century baroque bishop’s palace and gothic church make a thoroughly authentic whole.
The Sunday market is much loved: growers come from across the region.
Many of our guests make it the discovery of their stay, taken with its intimate, timeless feel.
How to plan your tour of the bastides
From Les Terrasses, all of these are within a 45-minute drive. A good rhythm is one a morning, then back for the pool and the quiet in the afternoon.
If you were to choose only one besides Villeréal:
- Monflanquin for the panoramic views and the Plus Beau Village atmosphere.
- Monpazier for its architectural perfection.
A question? Do write to us directly.