© Philippe Roy
© Philippe Roy
©BertrandRieger
©MichelDartenset/Studiode l’image
102
©BertrandRieger
A Village set in the Heart of the Vineyards
Nestling in a sea of vines, on the left bank of the Dordogne river, the village has
plenty to offer: elegant white stone houses, an early XVIIth century Romanesque
church, a XVIth century manor house “Le Manoir de Fonvieille”, and of course
its numerous wineries. But the star attraction of the village is undoubtedly the
majestic Monbazillac castle
(above)
, which watches over the vineyards like a sen-
tinel. A heritage listed monument, it has been owned by the local winemaking
cooperative since 1960. The castle was built in the XVIth century in a tasteful
style somewhere between Gothic and Renaissance. From the terrace of the castle,
there’s a breathtaking view over Bergerac and the Dordogne valley.
Inside Monbazillac
castle, you can
wander around
twenty or so period
furnished rooms,
where local and
regional history
exhibitions are
permanently on
display. Do not
forget to follow up
with a tour of the
vaulted cellars.
This is one of the best addresses in the
Dordogne. From its hilltop setting,
La Tour des Vents has a magnificent pa-
noramic viewofMonbazillac’s vineyards.
Star-studded chef Damien Fagette, who
trained with Marie Rougier Salvat, adds
his original touch to fine cuisine. Just to
give you a taste: sweetbreads browned in
a sautoir pan served with salsify fritters.
Michelin Magic
24+1VILLAGES OF PÉRIGORD
103