Esquirol - Activities

The pool at Esquirol

The Grounds
An acre and a half with:

Large 12m x 6m pool with year-round safety cover and loungers and extended paving.
Vegetable garden -- tomatoes, courgettes, aubergines, onions, potatoes, garlic
Fruit and nut trees -- plum, apricot, nectarines, apple, fig, walnut, hazelnut, cherry, vines
Oaks, Acacias, Laurel hedges
A well and iron gates
Parking

The Area
The immediate surroundings:

Open countryside with small woods, scattered properties.
Farmland around with sunflowers, soya, maize, vines, cattle.
Some wildlife -- deer, hares, wild boar, pheasants, hawks.
Several hill-top villages are visible from house -- Montastruc, Tombeboeuf, Monbahus and Monclar; views towards the windmill at Coulx.

Further afield

The Dordogne, Bergerac, Sarlat, Perigueux.
The Lot and Garonne valleys -- Casseneuil, Villeneuve-sur-Lot, Marmande (each about half hour drive).
Gascony -- home of the three musketeers.
The St Emilion and Bordeaux wine regions.
Longer trips:
Bordeaux 1.5 hrs; Arcachon (Atlantic coast) 2 hrs; Toulouse 2 hrs; Biarritz/Pyrenees 2.5 hrs; Spain (San Sebastian 3 hrs, Barcelona about 5 hours); all mostly by motorway.

Sight-seeing

Bastides
The Hundred Years War between England and France led to many local villages being fortified and walled by both sides in the late thirteenth century. These attractive bastides are to be found at Monflanquin, Eymet, Villereal, Domme and Miramont. Pujols near Villeneuve is another fine example of a mediaeval village and is graced too by fine restaurants.
Castles (Chateaux)
Mediaeval castles are major tourist attractions at Duras, Bonaguil, Biron, Josephine Baker's Chateau Les Milandes and Monbazillac. The last is famous also for its excellent sweet wine and fine view over the Dordogne valley.
Museums
There are museums of all sorts, including those covering wine at Bergerac, trains, foie gras, monks at Clairac, prunes at Grange and water-lilies at le Temple-sur-Lot.
Churches
Romanesque churches are another feature of the region and there is a fine abbey at Cadouin, with a good restaurant, pottery and market hall adjoining.
Caves
There are caves at Fontirou to explore and in the Dordogne the famous neolithic caves at Lascaux and les Eyzies.

Climate
The climate is delightful with early springs, long hot summers and mild autumns. The sun can reach the large (12m x 6m) swimming pool almost every day of the year.
See Weather Online for the climate in the department.
Esquirol is in the high 'Agenais' and therefore has a somewhat different (seemingly drier) micro-climate to that of Agen which is in the Garonne valley. On average Agen has about 80 more days over 21C each year than London and is on average over 4C warmer during the six months from April to September.

It can be very hot; in August 2003 Esquirol hit 43C.
It can also be very cold when a winter continental high pressure system sets in.

Necessities

Shopping
Local shops in Tombeboeuf (5 mins.), Monbahus (10 mins.), Monclar (10 mins.).
Supermarkets at Miramont (15 mins.), Tonneins (25 mins.), Marmande (30 mins.) and Villeneuve-sur-Lot (30 mins.).
Agen, the departmental capital, is under an hour away.
Doctors
A list of local doctors is provided in the gite. Be sure to bring your new European Health Insurance (EHIC - no longer E111) card(s).
Basic medical supplies including treatment for insect stings are available. There is a pharmacy at Tombeboeuf (Green Cross sign).
Travelling
A car is a necessity and can be hired from the airports and towns (Avis, Europcar, Hertz). There are nearby garages at: Monbahus, Miramont, St. Pardoux

Activities		... and Attractions
For excellent tourist information material, visit the departmental tourist web site. Activities: Barbecuing at Esquirol Swimming at Esquirol and in the lake at Lougratte Health spa and swimming at Casteljaloux (1 hour) Golf at Tombeboeuf (9 holes), Castelnaud-sur-Gratecambe (18 holes), Chateau des Vigiers (18 holes) Tennis at Tombeboeuf and other locations Walking and Cycling: a guide to local walks and rides and maps are available in the gite. St. Jacques' pilgrims' way to Compostella in Spain passes through the area on one of the many well-marked paths. Horse-riding Bird-watching Boating and cruising on the Lot Canoeing on the river Lot at Casseneuil (20 mins) House hunting for those looking for a French property. Golf at Tombeboeuf, Apricots at Esquirol Tennis at Tombeboeuf, Mirabelles at Esquirol For Children They will enjoy visits to the Adventure Park at Walibi, The Magic Forest and the animal farm at Le Chaudron Magique. Fetes and festivals As throughout France, every village has a fete during the summer and there are quite a few other occasions that lead to flags being put out and for eating out in the village square, often with dancing. Talented artists entertain all ages at street festivals, for example locally at Miramont and at Cadillac. Jazz festivals are also held in the region, especially at Marciac in Gascony. Evening market with food and wine Markets There is a market close by every day. Markets are always full of local produce in season. Specialities include plums, apricots, peaches, cherries, figs, Marmande tomatoes, walnuts, hazelnuts, many cheeses and the famous prunes of Agen. Duck, fish and shell-fish are in plentiful supply for the traditional regional cooking. The Perigourdin and Gascon cuisines are regarded as amongst the best in France. In the summer, there are frequent evening farmers markets, with outdoor tables to enjoy the food in holiday company. Crafts Interesting craftwork is practised throughout the area with the bastide town of Vianne particularly noteworthy for its glassware. There are frequent antique and bric-a-brac sales. Restaurants A list of local restaurants is available in the gite. They range from simple pizza houses for the family to haute cuisine for gourmets at Pujols and Puymirol. Wine This is wine country. Locally the region has wine from the Marmandais, Duras, Buzet and Bergerac areas, with the Bordeaux region (for example, St. Emilion, Sauternes) within easy driving distance. The Armagnac region of Gascony is within easy reach too, for those with a taste for fine spirits. Buzet and Duras both have good wine centres and wine-tasting is free at the Maison des Vins in Bergerac. The river Lot at Castelmoron Locals playing petanque		The pool at Esquirol The Grounds An acre and a half with: Large 12m x 6m pool with year-round safety cover and loungers and extended paving. Vegetable garden -- tomatoes, courgettes, aubergines, onions, potatoes, garlic Fruit and nut trees -- plum, apricot, nectarines, apple, fig, walnut, hazelnut, cherry, vines Oaks, Acacias, Laurel hedges A well and iron gates Parking The Area The immediate surroundings: Open countryside with small woods, scattered properties. Farmland around with sunflowers, soya, maize, vines, cattle. Some wildlife -- deer, hares, wild boar, pheasants, hawks. Several hill-top villages are visible from house -- Montastruc, Tombeboeuf, Monbahus and Monclar; views towards the windmill at Coulx. Further afield The Dordogne, Bergerac, Sarlat, Perigueux. The Lot and Garonne valleys -- Casseneuil, Villeneuve-sur-Lot, Marmande (each about half hour drive). Gascony -- home of the three musketeers. The St Emilion and Bordeaux wine regions. Longer trips: Bordeaux 1.5 hrs; Arcachon (Atlantic coast) 2 hrs; Toulouse 2 hrs; Biarritz/Pyrenees 2.5 hrs; Spain (San Sebastian 3 hrs, Barcelona about 5 hours); all mostly by motorway. Sight-seeing Bastides The Hundred Years War between England and France led to many local villages being fortified and walled by both sides in the late thirteenth century. These attractive bastides are to be found at Monflanquin, Eymet, Villereal, Domme and Miramont. Pujols near Villeneuve is another fine example of a mediaeval village and is graced too by fine restaurants. Castles (Chateaux) Mediaeval castles are major tourist attractions at Duras, Bonaguil, Biron, Josephine Baker's Chateau Les Milandes and Monbazillac. The last is famous also for its excellent sweet wine and fine view over the Dordogne valley. Museums There are museums of all sorts, including those covering wine at Bergerac, trains, foie gras, monks at Clairac, prunes at Grange and water-lilies at le Temple-sur-Lot. Churches Romanesque churches are another feature of the region and there is a fine abbey at Cadouin, with a good restaurant, pottery and market hall adjoining. Caves There are caves at Fontirou to explore and in the Dordogne the famous neolithic caves at Lascaux and les Eyzies. Climate The climate is delightful with early springs, long hot summers and mild autumns. The sun can reach the large (12m x 6m) swimming pool almost every day of the year. See Weather Online for the climate in the department. Esquirol is in the high 'Agenais' and therefore has a somewhat different (seemingly drier) micro-climate to that of Agen which is in the Garonne valley. On average Agen has about 80 more days over 21C each year than London and is on average over 4C warmer during the six months from April to September. It can be very hot; in August 2003 Esquirol hit 43C. It can also be very cold when a winter continental high pressure system sets in. Necessities Shopping Local shops in Tombeboeuf (5 mins.), Monbahus (10 mins.), Monclar (10 mins.). Supermarkets at Miramont (15 mins.), Tonneins (25 mins.), Marmande (30 mins.) and Villeneuve-sur-Lot (30 mins.). Agen, the departmental capital, is under an hour away. Doctors A list of local doctors is provided in the gite. Be sure to bring your new European Health Insurance (EHIC - no longer E111) card(s). Basic medical supplies including treatment for insect stings are available. There is a pharmacy at Tombeboeuf (Green Cross sign). Travelling A car is a necessity and can be hired from the airports and towns (Avis, Europcar, Hertz). There are nearby garages at: Monbahus, Miramont, St. Pardoux

Activities

... and Attractions

Golf at Tombeboeuf, Apricots at Esquirol Tennis at Tombeboeuf, Mirabelles at Esquirol

Evening market with food and wine

The river Lot at Castelmoron Locals playing petanque

The pool at Esquirol

Golf at Tombeboeuf, Apricots at Esquirol

Tennis at Tombeboeuf, Mirabelles at Esquirol

The river Lot at Castelmoron

Locals playing petanque