| Les Rapaces |
| Agugnac, Dordogne, Aquitaine, France, Europe |
Attractions
Nature-bound activities
Water sports are well represented in the Perigord with its numerous reservoirs specially developed for bathing, with imported sandy beaches, lifeguards and pedallos.
Nearby lakes include Rouffiac, Ladignac le Long and St. Yrieix le Perche
The region's tame rivers are ideal for canoes. Paths for hikers, horseback or bikes crisscross their way through the woods and forests and the vast waves of meadow. The cliffs and caves are a paradise for rock-climbing and caving fans.
Gastronomy
Duck, goose, truffles, porcini mushrooms, walnuts, strawberries, vines …. The growing of local produce and breeding here are part of a long tradition and the art of gastronomy reigns over most dinner tables. The region is in the heart of the Fois Gras industry and there is a museum at Thivier plotting the history of this product. Traditional or farmer’s markets provide the perfect occasion to sample the delights of the land from the source.
Nearby markets include
Thivier – Saturday
Brantome – Tuesday and Friday
Jumilhac Le Grand – Wednesday
La Coquille – Thursday
Nontron – Saturday
Piegut Pluviers - Wednesday
Perigord Limousin Regional Natural Park.
Les Rapaces is located within the boundaries of this park.
This is a natural environment particularly favourable to leisure and exploring. Among the many lakes maintained as leisure areas are Rouffiac, Ladinac le Long and St. Yrieix le Perche. At Miallet a dam forms an artificial reservoir which is used to feed the Dronne in dry periods and an educational trail footpath skirt the lakeside.
As everywhere in Perigord the artistic and architectural heritage is appreciable. Two Romanesque churches at least are worth a detour, those of Bussiere-Badil (XII and XV centuries, limousine influence) and La Chapelle Saint Robert (XII century, saintongeaise frontage).
Numerous chateaux reflect the turbulent history of the area nearby chateaux include Jumilhac Le Grand, Puyguillham, Hautefort and the location of Richard the Lionheart’s death in Chalus.
One of the features of Periord-Limousin is the number of sites displaying traditional economic activities, like the gallery of gold at Jumilhac. The Nontron forges remind us that from the XV1th to the XVIIIth centuries, Perigord-Limousin was one of the great iron and steel centres of the Kingdom of France. The longstanding reputation of the knives of Nontron, with their engraved boxwood handles, is one of its survivors.
Cole and Dronne
At Saint Jean de Cole, the village (medieval houses), the church of Saint Jean Baptiste and the semi-classical, mid-renaissance chateau, all owe a great deal to the La Marthonie family. The most distinguished member of the family, Mondot de la Marthonie, built at Villars at the beginning of the XVI century, the chateau de Puyguilhem, comparable in style to those of the Loire.
In the same commune is another unmissable attraction, the Grottes de Villars, a series of caves with spectacular chalk stalactites and prehistoric paintings. A few kilometres beyond the Dronne-Cole confluence is Brantome. Known as the “Venice of Perigord”, the toen is enchantingly encircled by the two arms of the river. Of particular note is the Abbey and its bell tower, the famous angled bridge overlooking the monk’s garden. A few kilometres away is the chateau de Bourdeilles. It is in fact two chateaux with an octagonal medieval keep and renaissance buildings, housing a memorable collection of furniture.
Taking the Perigueux-Limoges road you will find two gastronomic capitals of Haute Perigord. Thivier, with its foie gras museum and whose gras markets in autumn and winter offer the best goose and duck produce, and Sorges, which has the truffle ecomuseum and a truffle exploration trail. At Lanouaille, the Maison de la Pomme is devoted to the magic and mystery of the fruit. Finally, for sports enthusiasts, the lake at Rouffiac, besides a lovely sandy beach, offers numerous sporting activities, the most original being the nautical teleski (boatless water skiing).
Nearby attractions
Numerous chateaux
Markets
Grottes de Villars (Caves)
Museums - Limoges (Porclain), Lanouille (Apples), Thivier (Fois Gras), Jumilhac (Gold)
Railway cycling - cycle along a disused railway on specially converted railway cars
Canoeing
Cycling
Hiking
Eating
Drinking
Aquarium - Limoges