Parc St. Vincent

How to immerse yourself in ‘la vrai’ France? Let’s start with those aforementioned sunflowers. During June and July, Parc St Vincent is surrounded by fields of them all standing in serried ranks – they make an Insta-worthy backdrop for your morning stroll to the boulangerie in Levignac (25 minutes’ walk) for your morning pastries and baguettes. Sample regional wines on tours and tastings of local vineyards including hillside Château Carbonneau (half an hour’s drive), known for its biodynamic wines, or visit the Maison des Vins (10 minutes) to acquaint yourselves with produce from 25 wineries and châteaux in the Côtes de Duras region. Book ahead for tours of the Domaine de Laplace (15 minutes), or rock up to the historic bastide town of Eymet (20 minutes) and taste local specialities including cassoulet and foie gras flavoured with truffles in auberges lining pretty Place des Arcades. To immerse yourself in the history and culture of south-west France, wander the Vieille Ville in pretty Bergerac (45 minutes), awash with soft stone, half-timbered cottages, or explore the ornate Notre-Dame church, complete with a peaceful cloister and formal parterre gardens, in medieval Marmande (20 minutes).