Shopping

Bourdeilles

The local village of Bourdeilles is host to several art ateillers selling local paintings, pottery and novel furniture and sculpture from recycled materials, as well as a recycling/bric a brac shop run by a group of amiable youngsters. For convenience there is a local boulangerie for your croissants and baguettes and a village shop/mini supermarket for all other essentials.

It is still possible throughout France to purchase homemade/grown foodstuffs direct from the farm gate, and the Perigourd is no exception to this. Less than 3 km away from the Stables you will find delicious fresh goats cheeses at the Terres Vieilles, or see your walnut oil being pressed in front of you at the ancient Moulin de Rochereuil. In addition, you will often see roadside signs indicating the sale of foie gras, rabbits, walnuts, oysters or whatever is in season at the time.

Brantome

Brantome, less than 10km away offers many enjoyable and unique shopping opportunities with Brocante (antiques/bric a brac), specialist foods and basket wares for sale directly out of shops built into the caves that surround the town. There is even a traditional glass blower plying his trade in one of these caves with many beautiful and individual gifts for sale.

Along the many cobbled streets and overhanging alleys you will find gift/crafts, clothing, antiques and interior shops as well as specialist butchers and purveyors of local produce. Enjoy a visit to the local artisan bakers where you will still see an ancient wood fired oven in daily use and enjoy their delicious patisseries.

Brantome is at it’s liveliest on market day every Friday morning when traders fill the streets and main bridge with colourful stalls selling home produced preserves and walnuts, locally grown produce, artisan cheeses and charcuterie, a fabulous fishmonger, traditional home wares and textiles as well as beautiful plant stalls.

Whilst the weekly market offers a great opportunity to purchase treats and gifts it is more than just retail therapy, it is a social gathering where locals catch up on recent gossip, and is an insight into traditional yet still contemporary French culture.

There is a number of small supermarkets in Brantome, and a cash machine in the market square.

Perigueux

Further a field (approx 20km away) is the city of Perigueux, capital of the Dordogne region. A venture into the medieval and renaissance heart of this busy town is rewarded with a delightful shopping experience on the cobbled Rue Limogeanne. This pretty narrow street is lined with swish boutiques, patisseries and no fewer than five choclatiers. Combine a shopping trip with a treat in one of the many pavement cafes and bars in the squares just off Rue Limogeanne such as Place St. Louis and our particular favourite Place St. Silain.

Although there is a small fresh produce market every day in Perigueux, the main market days are Wednesdays and Saturdays when the extensive range of stalls spill out along the streets surrounding the cathedral.

As with most cities Perigueux also benefits from a large retail zone on its outskirts containing most of the major stores and usual array of French supermarkets – useful to stock up on booze if you are travelling by car or want a major food shopping expedition.