The Area:
Within easy reach are several interesting historical areas and features. We are close to the historic Richard the Lionheart route - where nearby at Chalus, Richard was fatally wounded by an arrow and the route traces his last campaign. The nearest tourist information is at Chalus, with public telephones at Dournazac, Firbiex & Chalus (telecard - available from any branch of La Poste.
At Oradour sur Glane (the Martyr Village) is a national monument for anyone interested in the 2nd World War.
The "Pays des Feuillardiers" is a region of woodcutters and charcoal burners which we are within. Also around the area can be found several prehistoric menhirs.
Activities:
Nearby swimming lakes with sandy beaches eg: LA GRANGE DU LAC, SAINT MATHIEU, Velo-Rail at Bussiere Galant, several Chateaux, Rochechouart for its art gallery, jazz festival, fireworks on Bastille Day, estate agents and antiques. Brantome has the best market around which is on Fridays (get there early if you want to eat/sit). It has some lovely shops, troglodite dwellings (some now converted into shops), monastery, boating etc.
Nontron has a slightly interesting pen-knife factory and shop, where you can oversee the artisans at work.
Antiques are to be found at Piegut Pluviers, Chalus, Rochechouart, Brantome, St Junien, etc.
Eating Out:
The nearest and most spectacular is La Taverne at Château de Montbrun, Dournazac; Marval has an excellent restaurant, and there are several restaurants in Chalus. Rochechouart has a pizza restaurant (try fish curry pizza!!!), and other restaurants and bars. Your comments are welcome as to any discoveries. If you are feeling brave there is a Ferme Auberge (farm restaurant) open seasonally quite close by on the road to Dournazac.
Shops/Deliveries:
There are several regular deliveries to the village of bread, fish and meat. Listen out for the van horns.
Bread is from the boulingerie at Dournazac and can be pre-ordered for delivery.
The nearest shops are at Dournazac (boulingerie, small general store, chemist etc), Firbiex (boulingerie, bar, telephone cabin), Chalus (nearest supermarkets and most other types of shops + nearest bank and cash machine). St Junien has several hypermarkets and Limoges has everything you would expect from a city of that size.