Out and about
Local Amenities
There is a wide range of shops – including a supermarket, several boulangeries, newsagent, wine merchant, and post office, among others – and bars in neigbouring Mareuil-sur-Belle (a five minute drive). There's a market here on Tuesday mornings, and a chateau to visit. There's also a filling station and local Carrefour supermarket en route.
Exploring
As one might expect in France there are a number of good restaurants in the area, and a book in the house gives details of restaurants and activities that people have enjoyed during their stay at the Chemin Vert. There are a couple of restaurants just outside the village (including the restaurant at L’Auberge de L’Etang Bleu, some 1.5-2 miles walk or short drive away, which offers tables both inside and outside on a terrace overlooking the lake from which it takes its name), with plenty more in easy driving distance.
It is easy to explore the Dordogne and Charente from Le Chemin Vert, or simply enjoy the smaller local towns and villages and lovely unspoilt countryside.
Brantôme, known as the Venice of Perigord, is a beautiful small town about 9 miles from Vieux Mareuil surrounded by the river Dronne. The abbey, church and belltower are among the sights here, as is the river itself, and it is delightful to wander through the little streets or along the river bank. A number of the bars and restaurants are set on or look over the river. Boat trips and kayaking are also available here. There is an excellent market here on Friday mornings.
Nearby Bourdeilles with its ancient chateau and attractive village on the river is also worth visiting, again with some very pleasant restaurants and bars.
About 25 miles north west of Vieux Mareuil the cathedral town of Angoulême offers all the amenities of a regional city – including the old town with its cobbled streets and ramparts (with views over the Charente Valley), as well as good shopping, cafés and restaurants, supermarkets, and railway station. There is also a comic strip art and cartoon museum and multimedia centre (Centre National de la Bande Dessinée de l’Image) among other museums and places of interest.
In the market town of Périgueux (about 25 miles south east of Vieux Mareuil), the capital of the Dordogne, the ancient narrow cobbled streets of the old town and the cathedral are well worth a visit, and there is also a Périgord museum (Musée du Périgord), as well as a good range of cafés, bars, restaurants and shops. The old town buzzes with the market on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.
Many other local towns and villages offer all sorts of delights. The large Friday morning market at Riberac, the monolithic church carved out of the rock at Aubeterre-sur-Dronne, the Grottes de Villars (magnificent underground caves), and the numerous chateaux (such as those at Jumilhac-le-Grand, Hautefort, and Puyguilhem) are among the many sights well worth visiting.
In addition to plentiful countryside walks, details for activities such as canoeing, fishing, and horse-riding can be found at tourist centres locally. A visitors’ book with details and suggestions for activities and places to visit during your stay is available at the house.
