Things to do…
Spring - markets, walking & wildlife!
The days are drawing out, the daytime sun often hot! A gorgeous time for visiting south-west France, possibly for your Easter break. The millpond at the Moulin is at its best, jade in colour, full to overflowing, the tranquil sound of running water. For les pêcheurs amongst you, trout fishing is highly desirable in the river Seye, but here you can have it all to yourselves along our own private river banks. Or choose from the many beautiful walks around the area and take a picnic lunch for the day. The Gorges de l’Aveyron are a stunningly breathtaking sight, whether driving through or on foot. Experience them up close with the ‘Cirque du Bone’ walk.
Wildlife abounds. Baby ducklings on the millpond. A family of Dippers rearing their young. Catch a flash of turquoise on the river as Kingfishers are in full action. Spot some of the migratory birds, such as Golden Oriole and Hoopoes. Photograph the mighty Heron stalking its prey beside the Moulin.
Take our gîte bikes and cycle along beside the Aveyron river all the way into St. Antonin for the Sunday market, and lap-up the atmosphere of our lovely medieval town like a local, without rubbing shoulders with too many tourists. Purchase local produce in the market: fresh fruit and legumes; cheeses from local chèvre and brebis farms; cured hams and saussissons from the Aveyron; fresh herbs and garlic; local honey; bio wines from the Gaillac; and of course your artisanale baguette, croissants, chocolatines or a tarte for later!
Also a great time of year to visit the many medieval towns in the area, see our Autumn and Winter sections below!
Summer - outdoors living !
The summer months are all about being outdoors! Here, either in the swimming pool, in the natural millpond or paddling in our private stretch of the river Seye. Collect eggs from our free range chickens. Or amuse yourselves in the grounds playing badminton or pétanque! For keen photographers, bring your macro lens and capture beautiful swallowtail butterflies, damsel-flies, bees collecting pollen, hummingbird hawkmoths and lizards.
However for a change of scenery there are other must-do’s very locally. A full or half day canoeing on the Aveyron is highly recommended. Other watersports include stand-up paddle for something more leisurely, or simply playing on the weir. Head down to Manjo-Carn cafe and jump off the large rock into the river, or simply park up by a piece of beach along the Aveyron and have a paddle and a picnic.
Other activities include tree parcours for kids of any age, and we really recommend donkey rides for the liitle ones with St. Anton’âne on Sunday market days, or horse-riding for those older. And for the super adventurous there is rock-climbing, via ferrata, caving, or you can para-pente off the Rock D’Anglars.
Evenings here are full of activity too : music festivals, night markets, Gaillac wine festival evenings, etc. We particularly recommend the female singers at Verfeil-sur-Seye, 4 km from us : world music acapella style. Keep an eye on our notice-board for these local events!
Eating out is also all about the outdoors. Try out any of the restaurants in St Antonin and the surrounding area for cafe culture, a lazy lunch during the heat of the day, or dining by candlelight into the evening. We can recommend many top quality restaurants, depending on your tastes and budget. Or stay home and enjoy a barbecue on your private terrace beside the millpond with a bottle of chilled rose. Take a late dip in the turquoise-lit pool after dark and look up at the dazzling Milky Way above.
Autumn - culture, châtaigne & truffles!
September and even October are often a Monsoon summer here. But if you’re not so lucky there’s still plenty to do! Walking, cycling and local markets abound. Choose from cèpes, pumpkins, foie gras and truffles in local markets and eateries. Visit the châtaigne festival in Laquepie. It’s a good time for spotting wildlife as the red squirrels hoard their nuts before winter, and deer munch on the fallen pears. You may even spot a Pine-Marten.
Off-peak breaks are also a great time for culture. We are right on the edge of the Lot, Aveyron and Tarn, and spoilt for choice with historic towns and villages to see. Visit Cordes-Sur-Ciel just 20 minutes south in the Tarn, a unique hilltop medieval town, worth the climb!! Albi for its cathedral and Toulouse-Lautrec museum. We adore Najac, 20 mins into the Aveyron: follow its long long spine, the main street, all the way to the magnificent chateau, which is very worth a visit too. We can also recommend a gorgeous walk along the river here. Visit Penne and Bruniquel, their chateaux, and stroll along the meandering ancient alleyways, and treat yourselves to coffee, lunch or afternoon tea. Cahors is great for its Sunday and Wednesday markets, a visit to its cathedral, its Pont Valentré, and we especially recommend lunch at ‘Les Petits Producteurs’, outside on a sunny day. During truffle season have lunch at ‘Chez Monique’ for true paysan cooking.
There is a whole new movement of bio wines in the Gaillac region on our doorstep, which are fantastic! We can arrange wine-tasting at any of the chateaux there. You will never want to drink anything else afterwards! We can direct you to further reading on the subject if you’re interested.
Winter - christmas, cozy log-fires & oysters !
Winter breaks are so under-estimated, and so re-vitalising as an alternative to the home-work indoor routine life. Winter days, when the sun shines, are food for the soul. Sit outside a cafe with a hot steaming coffee and a croissant, or have a glass of dry white with your platter of oysters from Arcachon! See St. Antonin as a local. Admire the architectural details, the ‘Lovers’, its doorways, its labyrinth of streets. It is the setting for various films, notably ‘Charlotte Gray’ and Stephen Spielberg’s ‘The Hundred Foot Journey’. Support the market stall vendeurs who set up at dawn no matter what time of year. Spend the morning walking, then enjoy a two or three course leisurely lunch as a reward! Visit any number of the historic towns nearby, with their Christmas markets, festivities, mulled-wine and hymn singers around Christmas time. Go wine tasting in the Gaillac. Any time of year there is always something going on!
