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Cassagnal is about 5 km from Lauzerte, a pretty hilltop village on the route of the pilgrims of Compostela and “l’un des plus beaux villages de France”. It has twice-weekly markets, supermarkets, Post Office, a boucherie/ charcuterie, boulangeries, bars and restaurants, a tourist office, doctors, pharmacy, a library, as well as fascinating architecture and history. During the summer you can sit in the Place (or Square) at the top of the village enjoying a coffee, lunch or a drink. For some more on this fascinating village, click here.
This area of Southwest France has many of these fortified bastide villages. The countryside is stunning; with gently undulating hills dotted with little stone hamlets, vineyards, sunflowers and orchards. This particular area is known for its fruit growing and the blossoms in spring are breathtaking. Summers can be hot with temperatures in the high 20s and even low 30s, while spring and autumn see brisk misty mornings followed by warm sunny days.
There are numerous local markets where you can buy the fresh local produce, like this one in Montcuq (15 km away).
From the house you can walk or cycle for miles in all directions along deserted chemins rurales, woodland and country lanes.
The Quercy region has much to offer, from the great rivers of the Lot and the Garonne, historic towns and chateaux to numerous markets and vineyards.Cahors, Bergerac and Gaillac are nearby famous wine regions.
Many leisure centres can be found for children, providing a host of activities: Le Plan d’Eau des Chenes at Montaigu de Quercy has a leisure lake offering tennis, a children’s play area, boats and pedalos and a restaurant. There is another lake at Montcuq, where there is also a pizza restaurant.
Parc en Ciel in Lacapelle-Biron offers a fantastic adventure playground in the trees, complete with aerial runways. There is also the Walibi Theme park at Agen and for the more mature a parachute school at Bouloc. In Golfech you will find an excellent leisure pool with slides and diving platforms, as well as a large lane swimming pool for the more serious swimmer annd at nearby St Nicholas de la Grave there is a leisure centre at the confluence of the Tarn and Garonne rivers.
Within a short drive are many other bathing lakes, horse riding centres, adventure centres, canoeing and numerous local markets. The horses below are at the local riding centre, with their celebrated pigeonnier in the background.
There are tennis courts in a nearby village for which we have a key, and you are welcome to borrow rackets and balls.
Toulouse with its historic centre and cosmopolitan range of shops is a little over an hour’s drive away