The South West of France has about 350 bastide towns: “new towns” created in the XIIIth & XIVth centuries, they are planned around a large central market square but each one has its own identity. St Emilion is a must see, a world heritage site and also surrounded by some of the most famous vineyards in the world. It is not a bastide town, it's over a thousand years older than they are, having been founded by the Romans and it's beautiful & no distance from our Mill ! We also

There are canoeing clubs in Pessac-en-Dordogne and in St. Antoine du Breuilh, both less than 10 minutes away. Just next to the Palma Nova restaurant is the canoeing club - Canoé kayak de Pessac sur Dordogne, Les Quais, 33890 Pessac-sur-Dordogne. Tel : +33 (0)6 63 82 34 53. Mid June – mid Sept The neighbouring village of St Antoine de Breuilh also has a club - Canoe Kayak Saint Antoinnais. Adresse : 1820 Route de la Moutine, 24230 Saint-Antoine-de-Breuilh. Tel : +33 (0)5 53 73

Castillon la Bataille is another local town, just 15 mins away. Its Restaurant, Guinguette la Plage, has fun dining by the river on the Right Bank opposite the town. There is dancing on Thursday evenings & Sunday afternoons (must book in advance). Simple hearty fare but a good time – Tel 0557403548. It has a 100 years of history. From mid July to mid August in the evening, Castillon La Bataille has a famous reconstruction of the last Battle of the Hundred Years’ war between