Le Chevrefeuille

Tickets for Font de Gaume in 2013

Le Chevrefeuille — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 18:20:40 +0000

Tickets for Font de Gaume in 2013

For the first time and in an attempt to restrict visitors numbers to the no 1 tourist site in the Vezere, the grotte of font de gaume no longer accepts advance reservations to guided tours.

Font de Gaume in an attempt to slow the deterioration of the only original color cave art examples left open to public in France. have made the decision not to accept any advance sales of their tours. This makes visiting the site difficult for visitors staying for a short time in the area over the spring/summer season. Le Chevrefeuille is no longer able to book tickets in advance for our guests, as queueing outside the ticket office each morning is now the only chance of obtaining the limited allocation tickets for their tours.

This may prove a major disappointment to some tourists whos main reason for visiting the Dordogne is to visit the wealth of prehistoric sites in which Font de Gaume is the jewel in the crown

Peter Greenberg features Le Chevrefeuille

Le Chevrefeuille — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 18:05:19 +0000

we are thrilled to have an article written and submitted by Elizabeth Thorpe of poshbrood.com which has been featured on the esteemed travel website www.petergreenberg.com

The article entitled family friendly adventures in Southwest France can be read by clicking the following link 8 Family-Friendly Adventures in Southwest France

Highlights :

Le chevrefeuille as an idea choice for family oriented accomodation.

Le Chevrefeuille has gone to great lengths to provide kid-friendly facilities with a swimming pool, babysitting service, game room and playroom, bikes for all ages, swings, DVD, TV and Wii and Wi-Fi.

Petergreenberg.com is the travel website of Peter Greenberg, travel editor ofor CBS News, chief contributing editor for the Mitchelin Travel and Americas most recognised front line travel news journalist.

Easter Egg Hunt 31st March 2013

Le Chevrefeuille — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 17:41:35 +0000

Chocolaty fun for the children in our annual Easter Egg hunt on Sunday 31st March

Le Chevrefeuille is pleased to offer one more of their easter egg hunt for all children staying with us on the morning of Sunday 31st March.
Baskets are issued and the children are invited to hunt the length and breadth of our gardens for an assorted collection of colourful chocolate eggs. Last year we had 14 children participating with lots of fun and chocolate all round!

[Show as slideshow]

Easter egg traditions

An egg hunt is a game during which decorated eggs, real hard-boiled ones or artificial ones filled with, or made of chocolate candies, of various sizes, are hidden for children to find, both indoors and outdoors.

When the hunt is over, prizes may be given for the largest number of eggs collected, or for the largest or the smallest egg.

Real eggs may further be used in egg tapping contests.

In the North of England, at Eastertime, a traditional game is played where hard boiled pace eggs are distributed and each player hits the other player’s egg with their own. This is known as “egg tapping”, “egg dumping” or “egg jarping”. The winner is the holder of the last intact egg. The losers get to eat their eggs. The annual egg jarping world championship is held every year over Easter in Peterlee Cricket Club. It is also practiced in Bulgaria, Hungary, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Lebanon, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Ukraine, and other countries. They call it tucanje. In parts of Austria, Bavaria and German-speaking Switzerland it is called Ostereiertitschen or Eierpecken. In parts of Europe it is also called epper, presumably from the German name Opfer, meaning “offering” and in Greece it is known as tsougrisma. In South Louisiana this practice is called Pocking Eggs and is slightly different. The Louisiana Creoles hold that the winner eats the eggs of the losers in each round.

The central European Slavic nations (Czechs and Slovaks etc.) have a tradition of gathering eggs by gaining them from the females in return of whipping them with a pony-tail shaped whip made out of fresh willow branches and splashing them with water, by the Ruthenians called polivanja, which is supposed to give them health and beauty.

Egg rolling is also a traditional Easter egg game played with eggs at Easter. In the United Kingdom, Germany, and other countries children traditionally rolled eggs down hillsides at Easter. This tradition was taken to the New World by European settlers, and continues to this day each Easter on the White House lawn.

Different nations have different versions of the game.

Egg dance is a traditional Easter game in which eggs are laid on the ground or floor and the goal is to dance among them without damaging any eggs which originated in Germany. In the UK the dance is called the hop-egg.

The Pace Egg plays are traditional village plays, with a rebirth theme. The drama takes the form of a combat between the hero and villain, in which the hero is killed and brought to life, The plays take place in England during Easter.

In some Mediterranean countries, especially in Lebanon, chicken eggs are boiled and decorated by dye and/or painting and used as decoration around the house. Then, on Easter Day, young kids would duel with them saying ‘Christ is resurrected, Indeed He is’, breaking and eating them. This also happens in Greece (where the eggs are painted red). In Easter Sunday friends and family hit each other’s egg with their own. The one whose egg does not break is believed to be in for good luck in the future.

In Germany, eggs decorate trees and bushes as Easter egg trees, and in several areas public wells as Osterbrunnen.

In Egypt, it’s a tradition to decorate boiled eggs during Sham el-Nessim holiday, which falls every year after the Eastern Christian Easter.

Le Chevrefeuille listed on Poshbrood

Le Chevrefeuille — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 15:07:49 +0000

We are extremely happy and proud to now be listed on the wonderful Family Travel Site “Poshbrood“

The fact that Le Chevrefeuille has been listed on this Family Travel Guide means that we have been approved by both children and parents as being a”Family Friendly Accommodation“

Le Chevrefeuille now listed on the Family Travel Site "Poshbrood"

About Poshbrood

Poshbrood, a hip and chic upscale family travel website, was started by Elizabeth Thorp, a writer and
mom to three little divas: Isabelle, Lucy and Penelope. Elizabeth has published travel stories in
Washingtonian Magazine, Huffington Post, Capitol File Magazine and Momlogic.com and had amassed
a ginormous folder of fantastic family hotels, resorts and villas along the way. Some savvy girlfriends
suggested corralling the family travel findings in one spot et voila! Poshbrood was born.

Poshbrood has researched, identified, visited, vetted chic and luxurious family travel just for you and
will continue to add to our database.

Check our listing at : Le Chevrefeuille on Poshbrood

Easter Special

Le Chevrefeuille — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 04:55:37 +0000

Why not book with us at Easter, for 4 nights accommodation or more booked between 28th March and 29th April we are offering a free 3 course evening meal for your group.
We are having a Easter egg hunt for all the children on Sunday morning, 31st March which is always great fun. The eggs are well hidden in our secure grounds which usually allows the parents to enjoy a leisurely Easter breakfast. Baskets are provided!
There is plenty of events happening in the Dordogne Valley at Easter time so why not benefit from the low season prices and plenty of activities.

To benefit from this offer simply quote EASTER OFFER (valid until 31st March) on your online booking form

And the winner is

Le Chevrefeuille — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:53:36 +0000

LE CHEVREFEUILLE

LONDON, U.K. – 18 January 2012 – TripAdvisor, Inc., the world’s largest travel website, today reveals Le Chevrefeuille was chosen as a winner in the bed and breakfast Category by TripAdvisor in its 2012 Travellers’ Choice® awards.

Now in its tenth year, the annual TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice awards honour the world’s best hotels, earning their distinction from those who know them best – real travellers. Unlike any other hotel honours, TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice winners are based on millions of valuable reviews and opinions from travellers around the world.

“With the help of millions of travellers around the globe, TripAdvisor is thrilled to recognise the world’s most outstanding hotels for the tenth year of the Travellers’ Choice Awards,” said Christine Petersen, president, TripAdvisor for Business. “From the best bargain hotels to best luxury hotels, remarkable service, value and quality are the hallmarks of our Travellers’ Choice winners.”

For reviews on the Le Chevrefeuille go to Le Chevrefeuille on TripAdvisor

In Search of Self in the Dordogne

Le Chevrefeuille — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:23:54 +0000

In search of Self is Intensive therapies for mind, body and spirit, for those who wish to effect positive change in their lives through Massage, Meditation, Counselling and Tai Chi.
The courses are run by Dave Tabb who we have known for many years. These courses are being offered exclusively at Le Chevrefeuille for one week stay incorporating a five day course and include counselling, massage, meditation and tai chi sessions.

Daves interest in the field of self development began some thirty years ago, when he started to learn the art of Tai Chi. In the West the art of Tai Chi is seen as a form of exercise, in the East it is seen as being a system, not just a martial art, designed to promote the accumulation and flow of chi. Daves instruction in meditation came from Tibetan, and Theravada Buddhist Monks. Both here in U.K. and in Malaysia.
Tai Chi was taught by Daves friend and teacher Lim Chong Watt (A former international Tai Chi judge, and President of the Malaysian Tai Chi Association) who to this day instructs him in Chi transference and the healing power of massage. Through the study of meditation it became a natural step to pursue the understanding of what it is to be human and the psychology of this. Through this interest he first volunteered and trained to be a Samaritan, he did this for some years, and later qualifiying as a counsellor with CSCT (Counselling Skills and Counselling Training). He qualified as a Humanistic Counsellor, and further to this he became a member of BACP, The British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (www.bacp.co.uk). The largest professional body representing counselling and psychotherapy in the UK, which sets the standards for therapeutic practice.
Later through his interest in chi transference he trained and became a member of the Holistic Healers Association (HAA). During this period of development he has practised and taught Tia Chi in the U.K. and abroad. he was bereavement counsellor for a number of years and trained as a cancer counsellor.
Meditation and massage are both his regular practice. Through the study and practice of these therapies he became increasing aware of the health benefits of the flow of energy, between these therapies, which compliment each other perfectly and the accumative benefit of intensive, one to one, practice. This is the ISOS Approach.

Details and pricing can be found on the ISOS website at www.isosapproach.com

Culinary courses Dordogne France

Le Chevrefeuille — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 19:58:30 +0000

Culinary Courses in France are becoming more and more popular, especially cookery courses in the Perigord Noir as it boasts to be the gastronomic capital of the country.

Le Chevrefeuille Cookery School Dordogne was established in 2003 but was only available for a limited time due to the success of Le Chevrefeuille restaurant. It has now been re-established by popular demand and we will be running courses throughout the 2012 season. They are a great way to learn some cookery techniques that will elevate your food to restaurant standard. If you cant wait until then, here is my Tapanade recipe which, is fantastic with fresh bread and a cold crisp white wine.

2 Tins of pipped olives (I prefer black)
1 Clove of Garlic
10 Anchovies Fillets
40 Grams of Capers
125 Grams of almond powder

Put all ingredients in a food processor turn on and start to add extra virgin olive oil, about a cup full. Finish with black pepper and lemon juice to taste.

Bon appétit!

I am often asked about the region’s products as they are very different, almost mystical, The two I have picked today are Foie gras and the elusive truffle.

Probably the most famous product of the region Foie Gras, Its flavor is described as rich, buttery, and delicate, unlike that of an ordinary duck or goose liver. Foie Gras is sold whole, or is prepared into mousse, parfait, or pâté (the lowest quality), and may also be served as an accompaniment to another food item, such as steak. French law states that “Foie gras belongs to the protected cultural and gastronomical heritage of France.

Truffles are also a well known product of the Perigord Noir, a truffle is the fruiting body of an underground mushroom; spore dispersal is accomplished through fungivores animals that eat fungi. Almost all truffles are ectomycorrhizal and are therefore usually found in close association with trees.

There are hundreds of species of truffles, but the fruiting body of some (mostly in the genus Tuber) are highly prized as a food. The 18th-century French gastronome Brillat-Savarin called these truffles “the diamond of the kitchen”. Edible truffles are held in high esteem in French, Spanish, northern Italian and Greek cooking, as well as in international haute cuisine. Prices are about Euro 800.00 a kilo.

Hope to see you soon Ian

Self catering holidays in the Dordogne

Le Chevrefeuille — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 04:01:23 +0000

Self catering holidays in the Dordogne are one of the most popular ways to stay in the Perigord Noir. Self catering gives you the best of both worlds.You are able to prepare you own meals from time to time with the fabulous ingredients you have found at the local market and you can sample the varied local restaurants as and when you find them.

Self catering accommodation is big business in the Dordogne Valley with hundreds of properties to choose from most of which are beautifully restored and converted farm houses. The design of these buildings keeps them cool in the summer months and warm throughout the cold winter months.
Most people visiting this magical area seek out the oldie woldie accommodation to get the full French experience.
Many accommodation providers like Le Chevrefeuille offer the full range of facilities including evening meals which allow you to meet other guests, which can be a lovely way of planning the next days events.

When you are searching for your self catering accommodation in France you will come across the word Gite, A “Gîte” is a holiday home that is available for rent.
Gîtes are usually fully furnished and equipped for self-catering. Many owners choose to handle their own rentals, and you can find these by searching online on the multitude of listing sites or by checking with the local tourist information office. Technically speaking, to be called a gîte, the owner must live close by in order to provide help, assistance, and a warm welcome to guests Gîtes are generally old farmworkers’ cottages or converted outbuildings and barns within proximity of the owners’ principal residence. This type of holiday accommodation is sometimes regarded as ‘basic’ in terms of facilities; however, most gîtes are generally very well kept, and a growing number will have excellent facilities such as fully fitted kitchens, en-suite bathrooms, TV, DVD and access to a swimming pool or other sporting activities.

The term gîte nowadays encompasses most forms of holiday cottage and even holiday flats or apartments. Many gîtes will also accept pets. The term *gîte* originally meant quite simply a form of shelter. Gîtes are encouraged by the local tourist board and planning authorities as they attract investment and tourism. All gîte owners are required to ensure that their gîtes are safe and comply with the necessary rules, regulations and insurance requirements. If you haven’t experienced this amazing part of France its time to get booking.

Le Chevrefeuille offers the two following self catering gites :

Passiflore

Passiflore is our two-bedroom traditional apartment with sandstone walls renovated within our barn dating back to 1891. Mixing traditional charm with modern comfort, with two double bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen, dining area and living area, it is ideally suited for families of 4.
The apartment terrace at the back has immediate access to our large meadow garden and swimming pool. In the meadow garden, large walnut trees offer splendid shaded areas for eating or reading and from this garden you gain a beautiful view over Pechboutier and its woodland which provides a delightful spot for bird watching.
A children’s play area located at the bottom of the garden provides entertainment for children in a safe environment that can be viewed from the terraces for the comfort and relaxation of the parents with total peace of mind… more info

Grapevine

Grapevine is identical in size and layout to Passiflore but adds an additional bedroom plus bathroom annex which in turn has its own terrace. With three bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, kitchen, dining area and living area, it is ideally suited for families who have friends, teenagers or grandparents who wish to be together but have their own private space.
The apartment and annex terraces at the back have immediate access to our large meadow garden. In the meadow garden and swimming pool. Large walnut trees offer splendid shaded areas for eating or reading and from this garden you gain a beautiful view over Pechboutier and its woodland which provides a delightful spot for bird watching.
A children’s play area located at the bottom of the garden provides entertainment for children in a safe environment that can be viewed from the terraces for the comfort and relaxation of the parents with total peace of mind… read more

Markets in the Dordogne

Le Chevrefeuille — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 06:04:46 +0000

A list of Dordogne Markets and Dordogne Market days

Agonac : Saturday
Beaumont : Tuesday, Saturday
Belves : Saturday
Bergerac : Saturday, Wednesday
Brantome : Tuesday, Friday
Cenac : Tuesday
Cubjac : Friday
Daglan : Sunday
Domme : Thursday
Eymet : Thursday
Excideuil : Thursday
Issigeac : Sunday
Jumilhac : Wednesday
La Coquille : Thursday
Lalinde : Thursday
La Roche Chalais : Saturday
Le Bugue Tuesday
Le Buisson – Cadouin : Friday
Les Eyzies : Monday
Mareuil : Tuesday
Monpazier : Thursday
Montpon : Wednesday
Montignac : Saturday, Wednesday
Mussidan : Saturday
Neuvic : Saturday, Tuesday
Nontron : Saturday
Perigeux : Saturday, Wednesday
Piegut : Wednesday
Razac : Saturday, Wednesday
Riberac : Tuesday, Friday
Rouffignac : Sunday
Salignac-Eyvigues : Tuesday
Sarlat : Saturday, Wednesday
Sigoules : Friday
Sorges : Sunday
St Aulaye : Saturday
St Astier : Thursday
St Cyprien : Sunday
St Genies : Sunday
Terrasson : Thursday
Thenon : Tuesday
Thiviers : Saturday
Tocane : Monday
Tremolat : Tuesday
Vergt : Friday
Villefranche du Perigord : Saturday