Our local village, Aubeterre-sur-Dronne is listed as 'one of the most beautiful villages in France'. It boasts a fabulous cultural heritage together with beautiful natural surroundings and the famous French 'art de vivre' !

Aubeterre has been welcoming tourists for over 1,000 years! Visitors enjoy meandering up and down the narrow streets, admiring the specialist shops and settling down in one of the many cafés or restaurants for a drink or bite to eat. The village square 'Place Trarieux' is the perfect spot to stop, comfortably shaded by the old lime trees and overlooked by the ancient chateau.

The extraordinary monolithic, underground Church of St Jean and the Romanesque Church of St Jacques, with its stunning façade, add to the cultural importance of Aubeterre.

At the foot of the village, where magnificent poplar trees and meadows meet the river Dronne, you will find the river beach and beach restaurant. A sandy beach with play area and beach volleyball, plus regularly organised attractions. The popular tennis club has an annual tennis tournament, open to all, plus you can hire Kayake form the Kayake station, where you can either go out for a paddle or they will drop you off further up stream and you can meander back towards Aubeterre at your own pleasure.

Aubeterre is only a 5 minute drive from Longeveau, or a very pleasant walk or bike ride along quiet roads and woodland tracks. But be warned it is uphill on the way back!

There is a fantastic selection of river beaches on our doorstep

Aubeterre - Sur - Dronne

You can swim, dine, play, and sunbath comfortably with children playing in this picture perfect river beach environment nestled at the foot the stunning village.

Poltrot

Our nearest river beach with a fabulous array of facilities for all ages is less than 3KM from Longeveau. The beach itself is quite small and accessed via a rope bridge which children adore. It is safe and well covered by trees for warmer days. In addition to play areas, tree climbing and a maze, there are picnic / BBQ areas and a restaurant with plenty of dinning options. Poltrot is also popular starting point for kayaking down to Aubeterre.

Etang Vallier

This small but lovely lake is a 20 minute drive from Longeveau. It has long sandy shore with a play area for the kids and a restaurant.

La Jemaye

A 25 minute drive from Longeveau.  Guests can avail of slightly more amenities at this very large lake. There is lots to do, including fabulous play areas for younger and older children. There is also plenty of tree coverage for the more sizzling days!

Our rural location has plenty to offer guests who do not wish to venture far and we have an extensive list of activities for all ages and interests.

Throughout spring and summer there really is something to inspire any visitor.  With tree Climbing, Kayaking, bike rides, running trails, horse riding, forest walks, wine tasting, cookery courses, chateau visits, Perigordian markets,  all topped off with a good smattering of World Heritage sites, yoga days and seasonal festivals right on our door step.

Situated in the South West (Frances Hidden Corner), Longeveau is nestled within the largest wine growing region of France. From Bordeaux and the Gironde Estuary through to the Bergerac and the Lot each of these sub-regions produce wines of distinctive character for every pallet and pocket.

We can arrange guided visits of wine cellars, featuring meals and the opportunity to experience local gourmet specialities.  Enjoy a lunch at the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Saint Emilion and Bordeaux or a meander along the Dordogne river through the array of village appellations on the Bergerac / Duras wine route.   Winemakers welcome you into their vineyards for an introduction and a wine tasting.

We also work with regional growers and host regular wine tasting events at Longeveau.

Longeveau is located on the Charente / Dordogne border in a beautiful valley in rural South West France. Nearby villages are full of activity, with places to visit, dine and drink. The picturesque old Roman town of Aubeterre, which is listed as one of the prettiest villages in France is only a bike ride away. Wander up through the winding streets to the 12th century subterranean church carved out of the rock or enjoy a drink on the village square with it’s variety of shops, eateries and museums, all overlooked by a 1000 year old chateau. Alternatively walk down to the river beach for a swim, relax or a bite to eat.

Slightly further are the market towns of Chalais and Riberac (with one of the biggest markets in France!). Further still, about a 45 minute drive, are the capital towns of Angouleme and Perigeux which offer a wider and more sophisticated range of shops in a typically French setting. Brantome, nicknamed the ‘Venice of Perigord’ is well worth a visit at a similar distance.

Also within easy reach are towns such as St. Emilion, Bergerac, Cognac and Bordeaux, all famous for their wines and spirits and equally beautiful places to visit. Beyond Bordeaux are the unspoilt beaches of the Atlantic coast with several superb resorts all within a reasonable drive.

There are a variety of local festivals, fetes and firework displays that take place throughout the summer in the local villages and towns. These are aimed at all ages and generally take place between the months of June and September.

Children will find plenty to occupy themselves and their families with activities ranging from crazy golf, horse riding and tree top adventure's to daytrip’s to the popular attractions of Aqualand Water Park, La Palmyre Zoo and Futuroscope.

Longeveau is fortunate to have a number of very good restaurants in the area, ranging from cafés to fine dining. As with everything, our staff will be happy to recommend or help you with decisions or to make reservations for you.

St. Aulaye

Another village with a lovely river beach and a simple restaurant/snack bar. There is a small selection of shops, a cozy Tapas Bar and cinema which regularly plays Version Originale as well as a Carrefour mini-market.

Verteillac

A beautiful village with some cute bars, restaurants and Brocantes around the square. There is small play area for the children and a municipal swimming pool (from June to the end of August). There is also a very diverse grocery/hardware store which is worth a browse!

Villebois Lavalette

This ancient villages is so named for its ancient covered market, which still makes quite an impression today! Oysters are a must on market day (Saturday) or enjoy a meal in the historic setting. An impressive old Château sits at the summit of the village.

Riberac

Visit the largest market in the Perigord region every Friday morning, a cornucopia of gastronomy, arts and natural produce an easy way to absorb the culture of our beautiful region. This market town also offers an array of supermarkets and general stores, beauticians, hair salons, bars and restaurants.

Brantome (Little Venice!)

An attractive town about 50 minutes east of Longeveau, dubbed “the Venice of the Dordogne”. A bit of wishful thinking but none the less a very pretty town encircled by the river. There are some great restaurants and interesting shops. You can hire canoes to paddle around the town or relax in the park. The caves near Brantôme, at Villars, are fascinating for children and adults alike. Bourdeilles is another lovely village about 40 minutes on the way to Brantôme. The Château there is really worth a visit.

Further afield

We are located between the regional capital cities of Angouleme (Charente) and Perigueux (Dordogne), both about 45 mins drive away. Angouleme has a small but nice 'old town'. Plus it hosts the annual vintage car festival and race 'Circuit de Remparts'. If you would like a more touristy experience, Perigueux has a lovely town centre with narrow winding street and a selection of lovely shops and eateries.

Bordeaux is just under hour and a from here, but well worth a visit if you get a chance. Steeped in history with some magnificently renovated buildings and spaces. The shopping is amazing and there are more restaurants per head, than any other city in Paris!

Finally, St Emilion is just over an hours drive from here, but top of the list if you are planning a day out! A beautiful, historic village / town, surrounded by vineyards and some of the best producers on the planet.