the surrounding area
Dordogne and Lot-et-Garonne
Do you have extra vacation days?
The area around Simply Canvas Farm is a beautiful rural setting. If you’re on vacation for a longer period before or after your retreat, there’s plenty to explore near Simply Canvas Farm. Here’s what you can discover in the Dordogne & Lot-et-Garonne
Stay on vacation a little longer
For a smooth transition after your retreat
Sometimes, after a retreat, guests want to stay in the area for a few more days so they don’t have to let go of their new rhythm right away, and to take in the surroundings at their own pace. That’s perfectly possible in our area, where you’ll find many peaceful medieval villages and towns like Eymet and Bergerac, as well as fun activities such as canoeing, wine tasting, and visiting a beautiful garden. Would you like to stay in the area a little longer for a vacation? Then visits to Bordeaux or Sarlat are also wonderful options. Below are our favorite places to visit and experiences to enjoy.
Charming medieval villages
near Simply Canvas Farm
Within a 10- to 15-minute drive, there are several medieval villages full of character where you’ll find everything you need for an extra day off: cafés, croissants, farmers’ markets, village festivals, restaurants, and shops selling local products.
What’s so idyllic is that you can buy a croissant at the bakery and enjoy it with your coffee at most cafés.
Do you have a day off during your retreat but no transportation? This often works itself out because other participants have come by car, or we work with a local transfer company that you can book. There is no public transportation within walking distance. So if you really want to go exploring, rent a car yourself.
Eymet (10 minutes)
The prettiest little village in the area, with a beautiful medieval square. There are many restaurants here. Our favorites are:
- the creperie
- Andine (Peruvian restaurant)
- a delicious Italian restaurant on the square
- The Walnut, for a slightly more upscale dining experience.
There’s a farmers’ market on Thursdays, and in the summer there are plenty of village festivals.
Our favorite café is called Sarah, where they even serve coffee with oat milk.
Duras (10 minutes)
Duras has a beautiful castle that you can visit, and it’s situated on a hill. There’s a farmers’ market
on Mondays.
At the foot of the hill is a nice thrift store, and a little further on is the Ginguet chocolate factory, which has a lovely shop where you can buy gifts to take home.
Sainte-Foy-la-Grande (15 minutes)
The best farmers’ market in the area takes place here on Saturdays. Ste Foy la Grande once won an award for having the best market in France.
You can take a walk along the Dordogne River. If you cross the bridge to the other side of the river, you’ll find a spot with a small beach where you can swim in the river: Plage de Bardoulet.
Our favorite restaurant here is Dulcezza, a Corsican restaurant with very friendly service and delicious food.
Nearby is Pineuilh, home to a LeClerc hypermarket where you can buy EVERYTHING.
Miramont de Guyenne (10 minutes)
Miramont isn't the prettiest village, but it has a really nice farmers' market on Mondays, and you'll find the best croissants here at the bakery on the square or at the bakery across from the post office. Take them to the café for a great start to the day.
Monsegur (25 minutes)
A little further away is the medieval town of Monségur (behind Duras), with a beautiful covered market hall on the square (farmers’ market on Fridays), a fantastic jazz festival in July, and one of our favorite restaurants, Le Patio, where you can enjoy truly delicious food and find a grapevine inside that’s over 300 years old.
Bergerac (30 minutes)
Bergerac is the first small town nearby. You can easily lose yourself in its little shopping streets. There are plenty of restaurants, and you can take a walk along the river. There’s a train station. It’s a great place to spend a night and a day.
Slow Life in the French Countryside
In our little corner of France, life still moves at a leisurely pace rather than rushing by. The farmers’ markets aren’t just for practical shopping—they’re also a place to catch up with friends. You can buy your croissant at the bakery and take it to a café to eat, and there’s almost always time for a chat.
fun outings
In the Dordogne and Lot-et-Garonne
If you're in the mood to do something, we also have a few fun ideas for you.
- Wine châteaux and wine tastings
Do you like wine? There’s more than enough to choose from among the many wine châteaux, all just a stone’s throw away. Our favorites in the area:- Chateau Fayolle
- Château Panisseau
- The cooperative in Duras
- Rivers and lakes for swimming
Enjoy a swim in the Dordogne River or a lake.- Plage des Bardoulets in Porte Sainte Foy (15 min)
- Lac de Pombonne in Bergerac (40 min.) (the Dordogne River is about 15 minutes away)
- Hiking
Enjoy the tranquility of French nature- Around Lac de Lescouroux (10-minute drive)
a half-hour walk around the small lake, and an hour-and-a-half walk around the large lake
- Around Lac de Lescouroux (10-minute drive)
- Visit a beautiful garden
- Jardin de Boissonna (15 min) is a beautiful rose garden with an idyllic café where you can enjoy delicious tea with scones and rose jam.
- Latour Marliac (45 min) is a fantastic water lily garden where Monet used to buy his water lilies.
Cities You Can't Miss
in the Aquitaine Region
If you love cities, there are plenty of places to explore in our Aquitaine region. For example, just an hour and a half away from us, you can choose from:
Bordeaux (90 minutes)
Bordeaux is a fantastic destination for a day trip or a short stay: a beautiful city that’s easily accessible by both car and train (from Sainte-Foy-la-Grande by train). Guests also enjoy spending a night there, as a gentle transition between the retreat and home, or before their arrival.
Our favorite spots:
- Walking along the river for kilometers
- Espace Darwin
: This is a place where you can enjoy organic food, have a drink, and take a stroll past all the graffiti art. - Bassin des Lumières
: Old bunkers now house a fantastic art exhibition featuring light projections. - City Walk
: Bordeaux is so big—following a city walk will guide you past all the beautiful spots.
Sainte-Émilion (50 minutes)
You really shouldn't miss out on wine tasting in the world-famous, medieval town of Saint-Emilion. It's a compact little town, perfect for a day trip, with beautiful views all around.
Sarlat (90 minutes)
The route to the beautiful medieval town of Sarlat takes you deeper into the Dordogne and is well worth the trip. Along the way, you’ll pass by large castles, such as Benac and Cazenac, both of which are worth a stop. Sarlat itself has a beautiful old medieval center where many films have been shot. Sarlat can also be reached by train from Sainte-Foy-la-Grande.
Download our "Best of" guide to the area
MORE ABOUT the retreat center
WHERE WILL YOU STAY DURING YOUR RETREAT?
DISCOVER OUR RETREATS in the Dordogne
READ MORE IN OUR BLOGS
