Chateau Bardouly – Perigord Heaven

Chateaux Bardouly is beautifully tucked away affording privacy and a calm retreat in a stunningly appointed and luxurious setting . From my en suite chic bedroom in 18 century classic style and charm I woke each morning to birdsong . The Chateau is a perfect family retreat or special place to celebrate long French lunches with old friends savouring the delights of what has to be the most irresistible (perigord) region of France . Taking little breaks in between breakfasts of croissant laden tables and cups of fine French coffee in the airy well stocked kitchen before lunch , we were able to discover the delights of the Bastide villages , the stunning medieval streets of Issigeac nearby . Short trips to Eymet , Castionnes and half an hour away to my favourites of Monpazier, and the must see Cistercian Abbey of Cadouin provided easy diversions to forage in the markets before returning to leisurely lunches with friends . The panelled dining room is simply redolent with the beautiful style of chateau bardouly where many hours were spent in vibrant banter with our friends and the other visitors, whilst savouring the chestnut full bodied flavours of the Bergerac wines over wonderful local cheeses . This is a gourmet paradise from which to explore the perigord region, the enchanting hanging gardens of Marqueyssac in the belvedere of the Dordogne with its 1000 chateaux . I so appreciated the luxury of playing on the grand piano whilst beyond the fire crackled in the drawing room with chatter and laughter, before dinner in the evenings. The wildlife is a joy with woodpeckers, exotic zimbabwean hoopoos flitting across the lawns , hares and rabbits in the fields and an abundance of deer . I was amazed at the extraordinary number of birds of prey we saw , hawks and kestrels in abundance hovering over scattering mice. This is a nature lovers retreat , a place to stop, recharge, indulge and be creative, with loads of space to escape the party and find some sunny or shaded spot to read quietly with the gentle hum of bumblebees darting between the lavender and the stone walls in the secluded walled garden . The Pigeonnier is a great spot to also stay and perfect for a family or teenagers on a party. Its absolutely self contained within close proximity of the main chateau , overlooking the pool. I suspect that in the summer months one would be more inclined to simply lie around the pool with chilled glasses of lillet ( a local aperitif on ice) and drift off and dream of fo