The Setting

Freda White’s description in 1953 is still apt today. The setting of Nougayrede Bas stands witness to it. All around are the scenes which she describes. The house stands on a sun-blest spur of the hillside, encircled by farmland.

Beyond, her countryside can still be seen in its untarnished state. Spellbinding landscapes extend in every direction, bathed in ever-changing sunlight. Across the valley can bee seen the ancient hilltop town of Montcuq, crowned by its mediaeval castle.

If you tire of lying by the pool and drinking in the views, you may want to explore what this lovely region has to offer.

• Restaurants - You will be delighted at their range and quality in the area, and reassured by their price. Visitors’ suggestions and impressions are logged in the Visitors' Handbook at Nougayrede.
• The region's hilltop towns, villages, castles, cathedrals. These cluster round on all sides. To the south, the world famous cathedral and cloister of Moissac. On the river Lot are the town of Puy L’Eveque and the village of St Cirq Lapopie, voted the prettiest in France. On the river Aveyron is the town of St Antonin, Roman in origin, where the film Charlotte Gray was made. The hill-town of Cordes sur Ciel lives up to its name.
• Tennis in Montcuq, golf nearby
• Festivals and concerts, which are widespread in the summer.
• Every day there is a market in one of the surrounding villages.
• Visiting local vineyards - suggestions are logged in the visitor's guide. It's worth having a car with a good-sized boot!
• Walking - along well-marked routes. Good large-scale maps are available at the newsagent in Montcuq
• Canoeing - on the local rivers, including the Lot and Aveyron
• Visiting Caves - These abound in the region. The Grotte de Pech Merle, NE of Cahors, has particularly fascinating prehistoric wall paintings. The Gouffre de Padirac, near the Dordogne, gives you boating on an underground river.