Monsegur Duras an introduction to the area Monsegur swing Jazz festival

LOCATION OF ACCOMMODATION FOR RENTAL (Scroll down for Google map).

The nearest airports are Bordeaux (Merignac Airport) - one hour, and Bergerac - 50 minutes drive.
Toulouse (Blagnac Airport) is about two hours drive away. Bordeaux and Toulouse are both large
international airports. Hire cars can be rented from the airports.

Eurostar goes to Paris from where it will also link you straight into the high-speed network in Lille, from
where the TGV goes to Marmande and La Reole, the nearest stations to the farmhouses.

Less than one hour's drive south-east of Bordeaux on the borders of the Gironde and the Lot-et-
Garonne in the Aquitaine region, lie the pretty hamlets of Dieulivol (Gironde), where Les Pruniers and
Bouteau I are situated. Caubon St. Sauveur is the hamlet where you will find La Peyriere (Lot-et-
Garonne).

For the 2011 season we have a new property in our portfolio, Le Rieutord, which is situated near to
Duras, Eymet and the village of Allemans-du-Dropt.

LOCALITY

Despite being small, the village of Dieulivol has its share of history - it is said that pilgrims set off from
Dieulivol Church in search of the Holy Grail. In French Dieulivol means "God wished it". The hamlet has a
small Post Office that also sells French bread, although you may have to order this if you are a large
party.

This is a particularly quiet and beautiful part of Aquitaine - an area noted for its stunning countryside and
fertile valleys. It has been likened to rural England one hundred years ago. Throughout Aquitaine the
imposing number of 'bastides' (fortified villages and small towns) are a reminder of the battles between
France and England. Surrounded by ramparts the 'bastides' were often built on cliff tops, and Monpazier
is a fine example of this.

La Peyriere is near to two small villages each with a small selection of shops including a butcher and
baker. One of them, Levignac-de-Guyenne also has a bar. Marmande is a large town about 15 minutes
drive away and clients will find an excellent selection of shops and hypermarkets there. Duras is 15
minutes drive and Monségur about 20 minutes.

Monsegur Holiday Rentals. Monsegur with supermarket, restaurants, weekly market, banks and bars -
and is just 5 mins drive away from Dieulivol. Shopping in Monsegur is relaxed and delightful and very
French. Local shops and markets offer a mouth-watering variety of fresh food and regional delicacies.
Monsegur has a good boulangerie (baker), butcher, florist, supermarket, chemist, a chocolatier, a number
of restaurants, cafes, banks and post office. It also has a traditional market on Friday mornings.
Monsegur Church is open to visitors for worship or sight seeing. Monsegur also has doctor and dentist
surgeries. There are also a number of Estate Agents in Monsegur. The Monsegur Tourist Office provides
lots of useful information.

Monségur has its own cinema that shows an English language film once a month. Each holds a colourful
weekly day market, selling excellent local produce. In July and August Monségur, Duras and Levignac-
de-Guyenne hold a weekly night market with entertainment where you can choose local produce to eat,
dining at tables laid out in the square. These towns also offer a larger range of shops, including
supermarkets, a good selection of restaurants, bars, banks, pharmacies, hairdressers and estate
agents. The larger town of Marmande is about 20 minutes drive.

Monségur is a bastide town in the heart of the Entre-Deux-Mers vine-growing area. Its name means , "a
hill where one feels secure" , and is an ancient medieval city, founded in 1265, and overlooking the valley
of the Dropt.

During the summer months fetes are held in nearby villages and towns when sometimes the town
square plays host to visiting bands. Visit Monségur's annual 24 hr. Jazz and Swing Weekend that
normally takes place over the first weekend in July, with up to 30 bands - http://www.swing-
monsegur.com

About 30 to 45 minutes drive away are Eymet, Bergerac and St. Emilion, all well worth exploring. St.
Emilion is our favourite and to give you a flavour of this medieval town, during most of the year an open
sided tourist tram takes you on a short interesting tour of the ancient cobbled streets and nearby
famous vineyards. It also has the largest underground monolithic church in Europe, hewn out of a solid
limestone cliff between the 8th and 12th centuries. In our opinion, St. Emilion has grabbed the world's
share of excellent restaurants and history.

For a day's sightseeing, clients interested in excavation sites and prehistoric caves will find an excellent
selection.

Aquitaine, land of water, is the third largest region in France and is famous for having the longest beach
in Europe, a multitude of healing hot springs, dozens of inland rivers and a string of large lakes. Sitting
on 270km of Atlantic coastline, the region's western edge consists of one long expanse of sandy beach
stretching as far as the eye can see. Known as the Cote d'Argent (silver coast) it is a source of joy not
only to swimmers but also to surfers and body boarders. Its high, rolling breakers make it one of the
best surfing spots in Europe. Dune de Pyla, at 3km long and 100m high the largest natural dune in
Europe, attracts thousands of hang gliders as well as sand boarders. The beaches are 1.5 to 2 hours
drive from the properties. The Bassin d'Arcachon, an ornithological park, is the only one of a series of ten
lakes close to the coast that opens out to the Atlantic. It is also the centre of oyster farming. The small
town of Gujan Mestras is known for its Maison l'Huitre (Oyster Museum), and throughout July and August
this area has oyster fetes in most of the local towns and villages.

The Landes Forest is designated a regional natural park and is a treasure trove of flora and fauna,
including more than 260 species of migratory birds in the Teich Bird Reserve. A leisurely cycle among the
sun-streamed pines is a memorable experience. There are 500km of cycle tracks stretching from the
mouth of the Garonne to the Spanish border, most of them far from the traffic of the roads. La Reole,
about 20 minutes drive from Monségur, has a cycle track leading to Bordeaux.

The area abounds with excellent vineyards and restaurants, and the region is noted for its superb 'foie
gras' (goose liver pate), duck dishes such as 'confit de canard' and 'magret de canard'. Weekly markets
selling local produce are held in all of the towns.

Not only is the region famous for wines (Bordeaux, Duras and Entre-deux-Mer) but it also produces
excellent prunes, 'Pruneaux d'Agen'. Bordeaux is the largest fine wine producing area in the world and
visited by connoisseurs from all over the world, having over 3,000 wine 'chateaux'. St. Emilion is worth
visiting with its famous vineyards and chateaux, many producing excellent grand cru wines - there is a
tourist train that takes you for a trip through some of the town's vineyards with an English commentary .

Every year normally at the end of June/beginning of July, Bordeaux hosts a Wine Festival on the banks of
the Garonne. The festival ground extends over more than 29 acres, with a tented village. 300,000
visitors are expected and they will sample the very best vintages from Bordeaux and the region. At
nightfall there will be four nights of free live shows (including classical, variety and pop) in the Place des
Quinconces, entertainment, parades, wine-barrel race and firework display. For further details see the
official website www.bordeaux-fete-le-vin.com

The city of Bordeaux is a magnificent example of 18th century grandeur with its ancient quarters, wide
avenues and numerous historical monuments, including the elegant Grand Theatre (Opera House). It
has a vibrant nightlife, a botanical garden, well known churches, museums and art galleries, a good
shopping centre and, for antique hunters, an area well known for its antiques.

The region is blessed with three UNESCO World Heritage sites, within 20 minutes of Bordeaux - Port de
la Lune in Bordeaux, St. Emilion and Blaye Citadel.

Bergerac Airport has a parachute club, whilst Eymet has an English Cricket Club and welcomes visitors.
Bikes can be hired locally with delivery direct to the client's holiday farmhouse. The Tourist Office in most
towns has details including suggestions for walks and bike rides.

CLIMATE

The temperate climate is usually very agreeable, with warm weather normally beginning as early as April
or May and lasting well into September and October for the grape harvest, 'vendange'. During the hot
summer days there is usually a refreshing breeze. The swimming pools at the farmhouses we have
available for rental are normally open for swimming between May and the end of September or early
October, depending on water temperatures.

SPORTING ACTIVITIES

Horse riding, fishing, clay pigeon shooting and canoeing are all within easy reach, and the Atlantic
coastline offers facilities for surfing and windsurfing. For golfers there are a selection of private and
municipal courses, details of which are in the House Book at each property. One of the best courses is at
Chateau de Vigiers - www.vigiers.com

Levignac-de-Guyenne has a public tennis court, whilst Monségur has 6 floodlit public courts.

FURTHER INFORMATION

This is just a very brief introduction to an area that really does offer something for everyone. More
detailed local information on much of the above, including vineyards, restaurants, beaches, sporting
facilities and places of historic interest are included in the farmhouse House Book.

The French Government Tourist Office's site is www.franceguide.com. For details on the Aquitaine area
please contact the French Tourist Office or see www.crt.cr-aquitaine.fr

For a taste of Bordeaux and nearby please visit www.bordeaux-tourisme.com - you will see a wonderful
short on-line video, and you can view this website in English.

Another website which may be of interest, although it is in French, is www.paysdeduras.com

Living French Holidays wish you 'Bon Voyage'