Maison Fermontes

In this house you can enjoy peace and nature, but the area is vibrant! This is an area with a long history and therefore many castles, caves and beautiful old towns. And of course the Dordogne river is a fifteen-minute drive away, with lovely swimming spots, canoe rental, nice terraces and restaurants. The catering industry is flourishing in Martel. And there are parties, brocantes and vides grenier everywhere in the area in the summer. Even climbing parks, everything is there. And then the major attractions, such as the famous pilgrimage site of Rocamadour, the large Gouffre de Padirac, old Turenne, Collonges La Rouge and even more beautiful towns such as Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne, Souillac, Sarlat-la-Canéda and the pleasant shopping town of Brive la Gaillarde. The house is a few hundred years old. It is wonderfully quiet here, time has stood still. The road past the house runs a little further into the forest, the hiking maps are ready. Send a message and we will send a file with information about the area!

BAKERY, SHOPPING AND FUEL
The nearest supermarket can be found in Les Quatre Routes du Lot, a Carrefour with a pump, just outside the village in the direction of Turenne. In this village you will also find a bakery, a pharmacy, a post office and a Presse Tabac. Occasionally a few market stalls.

If you want more, drive a little further to Martel. A beautiful medieval town with a few shops and some restaurants. Here you will find a larger supermarket, an Intermarché with pump and next door a farmers' union shop. In Martel you will find everything you need. If not? Then you can go to Brive la Gaillarde, the largest city in the area. You will be there in about half an hour. The center is nice, well-organized, good for shopping and eating.

RESTAURANTS AND CAFES
On the cupboard with the pans and glasses there is a white tray with cards from restaurants in the area. You can watch some online. If it is high season, it doesn't hurt to make a reservation by telephone. Outside the high season it is also nice to have lunch, which is often extensive, especially in local restaurants such as La Bonne Famille, where reservations are also recommended. Below are a few favorites!

• La Bonne Famille in Sarrazac. A classic. The restaurant is located in the beautiful village of Sarrazac, a few minutes by car. Unpolished and unadulterated local food. Sometimes even willing to cook vegetarian.
• Au Vieux Four in Les Quatre Routes du Lot/Le Vignon en Quercy, not far and very tasty.
• Le Bistrot des Consuls in Martel on the market square.
• Le Petit Moulin in Martel, in a side street of the market square.
• Le crépuscule, a creperie in Martel on the market square.
• Au Hasard Balthazar, above a delicatessen in Martel.
• Pizza Martel'li, delicious pizzas at friendly prices. Also pick up!
• Au Coin de la Rue, a cafe in Martel, very nice but not always open.
• Le Virage in Montvalent, with a view over the valley, above the swimming spot Le Vieux Chene.
• Of course there are many more restaurants and cafes. Every village has something, but these are certainly nice. Of course, there is also plenty of good food in the city of Brive la Gaillarde!

SWIMMING AND THE RIVER
• There are various opportunities for swimming in the area. The river is of course the obvious choice, here you will find plenty of nice swimming spots. Below are the three that we visit the most, but apart from this you can of course find nice swimming spots in many places, such as here and here, although these are often a bit stonier.

• Le vieux chêne in Montvalent. Here you can lie on the grass and swim. You don't encounter many foreigners. You can enjoy swimming in the Dordogne river. There is a restaurant where you can also have a drink or you can take your drinks with you to your lounger. Unfortunately the restaurant is currently closed, waiting for a new owner. Nevertheless, a very nice place.
• Gluges plage. Also very nice and a little closer, just over the bridge at Gluges, with plenty of grass and a beautiful view of the high rocks on the other side. During the high season, a section of water is cordoned off here for small children, who are monitored by a lifeguard.
• Copeyre. Here you can lie on the grass a little less comfortably, but the river is deep and on the other side there is a rock that is fun to swim to. Tough local boys and girls regularly jump from the rock into the water here. There is a restaurant with a terrace.
• Outside the city of Brive you will find the Lac du Causse, a reservoir with sandy beaches! Safe swimming areas are cordoned off here. No current and the water is warmer.
• And in Souillac there is a large swimming pool with slides www.copeyre.com/piscine.html

If you would like to read more about beautiful towns in the area, markets, brocantes and vides greniers, about caves, castles, museums, and hiking, send a message and we will send a file with extensive information and links.