Villages of Perigord

“I’m a German who fell in love with the Perigord region when

I was looking for a place to settle.In 1998,I discovered an

abandoned XVIIth century hamlet in the middle of nowhere,

at a place called Montgeoffrey.It was love at first sight! We

bought and gradually restored the buildings in the purest

traditional style thanks to the talent and know-how of local

craftsmen.We then moved in here and brought the place

back to life.There are twelve buildings in the hamlet,that we

renamed:Cheval d’Or.We work here in the communication

field,in advertising,in Bordeaux fine wine trading,and we

also host seminars.Executives come to this idyllic peaceful

spot surrounded by fields and forests,to find a quiet place

conducive to concentration…”

For the last 35 years, the Floralies has been the region’s

major highlight for all gardening enthusiasts. Over two

days, the second weekend in May, a wide variety of

flowering plants are given pride of place.A hundred or so

professionals (nursery gardeners, horticulturists, craft

workers…) display thousands of plant species, some

familiar and others more exotic. Every year, the show

draws thousands of visitors to the village, entirely flower-

decked for the event!

“An ideal peaceful work

environment”

TheMonzkas,

creators

of the Cheval d’Or business resort

The Flower Show

The stately Old Saint-Jean Bridge spanning the River Côle,

is the village emblem. This superbly restored Romanesque

bridge was probably built in the XVth century. On the

upstream side, the humpback structure is equipped with

bull nosed cutwaters to protect the piers and regulate the

flow. The cobblestoned bridge is strictly pedestrian today

but because of its location on the road between Nontron

and Thiviers, in the past it was a very busy route until it

was replaced in the XIXth century by the national road

that goes through the village.

Over the Bridge!

©DR

A LITTLE BACKGROUND

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24+1 VILLAGES OF PÉRIGORD

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