The Setting

The Dordogne, the Lot and the Tarn are sister rivers. Their streams give life to a beautiful region of France, where the towns have hardly spread beyond the limits of their ancient walls, and the countryside is untarnished. The stranger, looking at it, will cry, Now I know why they say ‘La Belle France’! To lovers of beauty, to lovers of history, this land has everything to offer. Let them come here, and beauty and history will fill their minds as water fills a spring.

Freda White — Three Rivers of France, 1953

Freda White’s 1953 description is still apt today. The setting of Nougayrede Bas bears witness to it, and the beauties she describes lie on every side. The house stands on a sunny spur of the hillside, encircled by her untarnished countryside. Beyond, there are spellbinding landscapes in every direction, bathed in ever-changing sunlight.

Her history too is all around, and across the valley can be seen the ancient hilltop town of Montcuq, hardly spreading beyond the limits of its ancient walls, and crowned by its mediaeval castle.

So if you tire of lying by the pool and drinking in the views, this lovely region contains much to explore, including history and more material comforts : -

The region's hilltop towns, villages, castles, cathedrals. These cluster round on all sides. To the south, the world famous abbey 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.
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.
Tennis in Montcuq, golf nearby
Festivals and concerts, which are widespread in the summer evenings.
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 bringing a car with a good-sized boot!
Walking - along well-marked routes. Good large-scale maps are available at Tourist Information Offices.
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.