Stunning Dordogne Holiday House in La Roque Gageac, France - La Malartrie Reviews

We shared La Mirador with another couple for 5 nights during our two week visit to France this May. Lorna and David are friendly, warm hosts, with lots of tips about the area. We can’t wait to return to visit more villages, eat more incredible food and see more cave art. We considered emailing our grown children in the US to tell them we were not coming home- and they were welcome to book a flight and visit us- that’s how special this area of France became to us! We easily entertained one another on the two terraces – watching the river, kayakers, deer swimming, and hot air balloons pass by- but we got up and out because there is so much to see and do. A car is a must and it allows you to see the countryside and have a truly French experience. We visited in May when wisteria, lilacs, calla lilies and red poppies were blooming in the fields and successfully avoided the summer crowds that flock to this family friendly, gorgeous area. Stay at least five nights and expect to do lots of walking and climbing in these charming medieval towns perched on mountaintops with incredible views. From La Mirador, it is a pleasant walk, off the main street, into the town of La Rocque despite the distance implied in photographs. La Belle Etoile provided 5 star dining experiences at extremely reasonable prices compared to the USA. The town, bakery and shops are charming. We traveled to Cena, with its fun small market, Domme, with beautiful stone buildings and a breath-taking view, Beynac and its’ feudal castle, Castlenaud, another castle and museum, the Jardins du Marqueyssac, Sarlat- with an incredible market day, kayaked from Cena to Beynac and snagged the last 4 tickets of the day which permitted us to take an English speaking tour to see the 10 to 25,000 year old cave art in Grotte Font du Gaume. The cave is just outside the one street town of Les-Elysies de-Tayac where the wonderful National Museum of Prehistory is located. Fois gras, baguettes, strawberries, white asparagus, eggs, crepes, walnuts, cheese and wine equal paradise. We missed eating tarte tatin and drinking noisette- another reason to return!