Brantôme: The Venice of Périgord

Visit the waterways, abbey and gardens of Brantôme in northern Dordogne, and you may well be seduced to buy a home there, writes Karen Tait

In the north of Dordogne, the charming town of Brantôme-en-Périgord is at the heart of the Périgord Vert area, named for it’s lush green scenery. With the picturesque River Dronne encircling it, and many old watermills and waterside cottages, the town is often called the ‘Venice of Périgord’.

Set between Périgueux (the Dordogne capital), Riberac and the Charente border, Brantôme (population 2,088) is a peaceful town with pretty streets and bridges, Renaissance and medieval buildings, artisan shops, weekly markets and a good choice of hotels and restaurants offering local cuisine and specialties such as foie gras, truffles and walnuts.

The town’s landmark is its soaring Benedictine abbey, founded by Charlemagne in the 8th century and now open to the public. It has the oldest bell tower in France and sits between the river and a tree-lined cliff, providing a backdrop to the whole town.

You can also wander around the pretty gardens of Moines and Tranquilles, explore prehistoric caves and troglodyte dwellings in the cliffs, visit the Peyrelevade Dolmen (a megalithic monument) or enjoy a boat ride, hire a canoe or hike along the river banks.

North of the town is the Périgord-Limousin park, a haven for nature lovers. Other places to visit nearby include the châteaux of Bourdeilles and Jumilhac, and the Plus Beaux Village of St-Jean-de Cole.

Access from the UK is relatively easy, with airports at Bergerac, Limoges and Angoulême. Calais to Brantôme is around an eight-hour drive.

Despite having so much to offer, Brantôme is a bit of a hidden gem. Northern Dordogne is less touristy than further south around hotspots like Sarlat-la-Canèda and La Roque-Gageac, and it offers more affordable property.

That said, Brantôme has been popular with British and other overseas buyers for some time now, attracted by the relaxed pace of life, gentle scenery and attractive properties.

The average property price in Brantôme is €1,351/m², which compares to €2,246/m² in La Roque-Gageac, €1,887/m² in Sarlat, €1,782/m² Périgueux and €1,629/m² in Bergerac. Head further north and prices drop further, to €875/m² in Nontron. The average for the whole of the Dordogne is €1,513/m².

Lead photo credit : Scenic top view of the city Brantome en Perigord. France