Having just returned from a week’s stay at this lovely Gite on the outskirts of Rouffignac, we can’t wait to visit again. Xabi welcomed us on our arrival, and his family, Elise, the two boys and not forgetting Jenco the dog, all contributed to making this a wonderful stay at their property. The gite is situated in lovely rolling countryside with beautiful far reaching views from the house and superb heated pool across the valley to the forest beyond. The kitchen is very well equipped, had everything we could wish for, including an electric mixer for when my wife decided to bake a cake using the delicious walnuts that we bought from the nearby Nut Museum. We spent a pleasant hour shelling the walnuts, whilst sitting under the covered dining area one warm and sunny afternoon. We also made good use of the barbeque some evenings. The property itself has a bedroom downstairs with bathroom, and two good sized bedrooms upstairs separated by a galleried landing. The landing has a useful sitting area which made a perfect spot to relax and read, away from the lounge and TV. There is also a second bathroom and WC upstairs. The gite is in an excellent base for visiting many historic and scenic locations all within a one-hour drive. We visited the pre-historic cave paintings at Grotto Rouffignac, and the amazing cliff dwellings at La Roque-Saint-Christophe and La Roque-Gageac. Sarlat is a lovely mediaeval town with narrow streets, charming cafes and restaurants, and the small town of Domme has picturesque houses and great views, well worth a visit. The gardens of Marqueyssac with their fabulous manicured topiary walks offer stunning views of Castelnaud and Beynac Castles and of the meandering Dordogne far below. To round off a memorable week we visited Chateau de Campagne on Saturday evening for a free evening concert followed by a candlelit walk through the chateau gardens … truly stunning. We only saw a fraction of the sites this region has to offer, which leaves us looking forward to another visit. Petite Vallee is the perfect holiday location to unwind, absorb some rustic French culture, and most memorable of all to drift off to sleep listening to cuckoos, and owls hooting.
