Fonroque in the Dordogne - a little village with a big heart!

Gite Les Roches - a stunning Dordogne holiday home for 10/12

Welcome to the stunning Dordogne - with something for everyone!

Something for everyone in the stunning Dordogne!

Fonroque

A medieval heritage...

Founded in 1284 by the English King, Edward the 1st, Fonroque is an ancient bastide village that once stood on the front line between the warring French and English armies. Although now rather more welcoming, Fonroque retains all of the charm of yesteryear - the original tower still stands proud at the head of our lovely secluded valley from where the stream 'Le Touron' eminates from its source in the caves, the square is still very much the centre of village life that carries on as it has for centuries.

Built in 1278, the tower still stands proud over Fonroque's beautiful little valley. The source of 'Le Touron' - a natural spring that feeds the ponds, lies en-route to the village square
With approximately 350 residents, the village now has a boulangerie (bakery), epicerie (village shop / grocers), bar/restaurant, campsite and hotel. The bakery is arguably the best in the Dordogne, offering the very best butter croisants, pain au chocolats, baguettes and pain (bread), Viennoise pastries and cream cakes. Philippe can also make up birthday cakes and dessert canapes to order. The epicerie is open all hours, and sells all the basics, including beer and wines, cheeses, newspapers, gas etc.

Viticulture is its main activity with approximately 70 ha of AOC Bergerac vines.

Fonroque village from the air - Les Roches is on the lane heading out to the left just out of the picture Fonroque hosts in annual 'vide grenier' - where locals empty their attics and barns with goodies to trade.

Les Roches is ideally situated on the outskirts of this very friendly and welcoming village. As you look at the aerial photograph, Les Roches is just off the picture middle left.

...now with plenty going on...

A short walk via the spring of 'Le Touron' takes you into the Bastide square where the village shops (boulangerie and epicerie) are to be found. There are annual events such as a the Vide Grenier (mid August) and Fair (early August). In 2005 the weekly 'Moules Frites evening' takes place every Saturday evening throughout July and August offering locally produced wine and moules frites - this is where a number of the villagers (French and English) meet to chat in an informal gathering where guests are warmly welcomed.

The Epicerie seems to be open all hours - and also stocks some very nice wine! The boulangerie is arguably the best in the Dordogne - with croissants, pain-au-chocolats, all sorts of patisseries and cream cakes.

...in a beautiful vicinity.

There are some beautiful walking and cycling routes in and around the village with the old windmill taking pride of place on the hill. Deer and wild boar inhabit the woods around - an exciting sight for those with a keen eye.

The first building one comes to when leaving Les Roches for the village - a ruin of a simple hut used by farmers in days gone by. The old windmill stands prominent on the hill behind Les Roches - a beautiful memory of times gone by.

Fonroque is only five minutes from Eymet, a lovely medieval town awash with excellent restaurants and all the usual facilities, and 20 minutes from Bergerac with its international airport offering low-cost flights to and from the UK.

...a little village with an exceptionally big heart...

Boulangerie (arguably the best in the Dordogne)

Village shop - Epicerie (convenience store) 'open all hours'

Bar / restaurant

Hotel / restaurant

Local beaty spot 'Le Touron'

Moules Frites 'al fresco' in the village square every Saturday

350-odd residents

Markets, local fairs, other events throughout the summer.

Surrounded by vines, sunflowers, maize, oil seed rape, oak-filled woods.

Criss-crossed by official walking routes.

Easy access to Eymet (5 mins), Bergerac (20 mins), Issigeac (20 mins), Dordogne River (20 mins).

English owners Arthur & Tina Seymour. Gite Les Roches 24500 Fonroque Nr Eymet Dordogne France Europe

tel: +44 (1892) 619 065 enquiries@gite-les-roches.com