Chateau de la Malartrie

Chateau de la Malartrie © Karen TaitOn the edge of the village, the Château dela Malartrie was built at the start of the 20thcentury in Renaissance style, on the site ofan old bourgeois house and leper’s hospital;it’s now a luxury hotel. Also, look out for theSisters’ House - built in 1805 by a boat master,it became the village’s religious school in 1876.Take a break in one of the lovely riversiderestaurants and indulge in regional specialitiessuch as duck confit, walnut salad, goat cheesetart, truffle omelette, local river trout or aslice of tarte aux noix, washed down with aBergerac wine.Although a place of leisure these days, fromthe 17 th to 19th centuries the Dordogne Riverwas a vital artery for transporting goods viaships known as gabarres.River cruises leave regularly from the pontoonand last around an hour, just enough time to get acloser look at the lovely Périgordine houses alongthe banks until you reach the Castelnaud bridgewhere the boats turn around to head back to thevillage. The more energetic can hire a canoe orkayak and paddle along the gentle current.Today, La Roque-Gageac is one of themost photographed villages in France. Thelocal economy thrives on tourism, heritagepreservation, gastronomy and river-basedactivities, while maintaining a small, authenticcommunity. Summer markets, regional food fairs,musical concerts and the three-day La Roqueen-Fetefestival, with pétanque competitions,a torch-lit river descent and fireworks, bringtogether locals and holidaymakers in acelebration of the village and region.Close by there are majestic chateaux andseveral listed Plus Beaux Villages includingCastelnaud and Beynac-et-Cazenac,medieval rivals facing each other across theriver valley. The Jardins de Marqueyssacare renowned for their hanging gardenswith boxwood topiary and panoramicThe hanging gardens of Marquessac © Jeremy Flintlookouts. Other key sites include the everpopulartown of Sarlat; the clifftop villageof Domme with its extraordinary views;Chateau du Castelnaud-la-Chapelle andits medieval war museum; and Châteaudes Milandes, home to 1920s stage starJoséphine Baker.LE MOULINSUR CÉLÉIf you’re just visiting La Roque-Gageac for theday, you can experience it from the narrowlanes, the edge of the cliff, the tropical gardensand the Dordogne river, each perspectiveshowing a different side of the village. But Irecommend staying longer and experiencingthe wider area – you won’t be disappointed!An enchanting luxurious riverside retreat in the beautiful Célé ValleyExperience la France Profondewww.lemoulinsurcele.com© Karen Tait98 | The Good Life FranceThe Good Life France | 99