September is a GREAT time for a gite holiday
Why come to the Dordogne in September?
Whilst it’s not as hot in the Dordogne in September as it is in the summer and the days are shorter, it can still reach over 30 degrees day time temperature, so you still get good holiday weather.
When the children go back to school, the roads and major tourist sites are quieter so you can get to them much easier. The markets, which in the summer have a lot of tourist stalls, revert back to a more traditional form and you get the flavour of real France. In this area there is a market every day of the week including Sundays, so even if you come for a short break, you can still get to at least one market. If you are looking for a souvenir of your visit, go to one of the many vide greniers (attic sale), where you may find something old to remind you of your stay.
September is la vendange (grape harvest) time. Most of the grapes are picked by machine and as you drive around this area you get to see thin, very strange looking machines going up and down the rows of vines. The main exception to this is the grapes for the Monbazillac wines which have to be hand picked as the grapes need to be mouldy for this type of wine. There are so many vineyards in this area you will never get through them all in a week or even a month. If you do run out of vineyards in the Dordogne, there are those of Duras and even the wines of Bordeaux nearby!
The food here is good all the year round. I like going out to lunch, which is often 4 courses with wine. I then spend the rest of the day resting! Prices have gone down a little as the French government dropped the VAT rate on eating out. If you don’t know where to eat, look for a lot of white vans in a restaurant car park – white van man know where to eat in France. The specialty of this area is duck, truffles, prunes and foie gras.
Gites are often cheaper in September. At the auberge, we charge low season rates. You also find flights and ferries are cheaper. If you have young children or no children, this is a good time to visit. To find more about the auberge visit our wesite www.auberge-razac.com
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