Booklovers explore Bruno, Chef de Police, Dordogne and meet author Martin Walker

If you were hooked with that first flakey croissant in Faugquet’s Bistro, join Bruno, Chief of Police in his adventures through rural Périgord and savour the mouth-watering delicacies that have made this region the gastronomic heartland of France. Book Clubs and fans of Bruno can meet author Martin Walker for a book reading and discussion by the country fireside at Le Mas & Le Mazet and enjoy Domaine de l’Ancienne Cure wines which feature in his books.

View of the Dordogne River from Perigord

“I’m a storyteller. It’s the people, and the setting of the people. The Périgord is the real star,” Walker says of his Bruno series. Chat with him about his fascination with this extraordinary region of France. From the lush woodlands that harbour the truffles, boar and porcini mushrooms that garnish French tables to the rustic farms that produce duck, geese, lamb and acorn fed pigs; the Dordogne is a gourmet paradise. The region’s history reaches deep into the paleolithic period with the Lascaux Caves as a featured attraction. The romance of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II of England is entwined in castles and churches that date to the period of the great crusades. The Chateau de Castelnaud and Chateau de Beynac are both fine examples. Modern history buffs can reconnoitre the command post for the French resistance in 1944.

To create Bruno’s St Denis, the author borrowed elements from Sarlat and Bergerac, but mainly from smaller towns like St Cyprien and Belves, Les Eyzies and Siorac, Eymet and Sainte Alvere, Tremolat and Le Bugue and Le Buisson. Explore Limeuil, the setting for Bruno’s latest adventure and dine at the Vieux Logis in Trémolat. Wander the cobbled laneways of Sarlat and venture into Bergerac. Enjoy Monpazier, one of the prettiest villages in all of France on market day in the old square. Picnic on the banks of the Vézere and lay back with your favourite read. Disconnect and reconnect with another time, coached by Walker’s unique take on his adopted home. Mr. Walker resides in the Dordogne where he writes a local wine column except when he is on book tours.

Le Mas & Le Mazet, a 16th-century farmhouse and its adjacent cottage are situated right in the heart of Bruno’s haunts. Recognized by The Times’ 50 best holidays in France for 2019, Le Mas, with five bedrooms, is ideal for book clubs, multi-generational families, groups of friends or wine clubs. And for a romantic get-away the charming Le Mazet is a delightful way for couples to escape. Hosts Rupert Springfield and Franck van der Hooft will be there to welcome you and offer advice on wineries, walking tours, restaurants and all the secret pleasures that make this part of France so special to Walker and to them. “We are just delighted that Martin Walker has agreed to become one of those very special experience we can offer our guests.”

Le Maz and Le Mazet

Le Mas and Le Mazet offer guests a central location from which to explore the castles, wineries and restaurants of the Dordogne region of France

To enjoy the very best of France and avoid the crowds, head to the Dordogne, the romantic backwater in rural Aquitaine. Rupert Springfield, co-owner of the charming Le Mas & Le Mazet reports that “luckily the only traffic jams in the Dordogne are around Sarlat in the summer on a market day!”

Crossed by the Dordogne River to the south, and the Vézère running north-east from Limeuil, the region boasts some of the lushest landscape in all of France. The area is dotted with ancient monasteries and castles and is home to the world-famous Lascaux Caves. The Dordogne offers excellent wineries, fine cuisine and some of the prettiest villages to be found anywhere.

Le Mas & Le Mazet is a 16th-century farmhouse located in the heart of the Dordogne countryside, and provides the perfect base for exploring the surrounding countryside. In 2016, owners Rupert Springfield and Franck van der Hooft teamed up with Dutch interior designer Joris van Grinsven to renovate both houses, adding modern design to complement the history and character of the buildings. With six bedrooms, Le Mas accommodates up to 10 guests and is ideal for multi-generational families, groups of friends or even a garden club.

Le Mas has six bedrooms and can accommodate ten guests

Le Mazet is a charming 1-bedroom cottage with the most gorgeous views over the valley to the 12th-century village church. Le Mas & Le Mazet can be rented individually or together for groups of up to 12 guests. On behalf of the Ministry of Tourism, Le Mas was awarded 5-stars by the Dordogne Perigord Tourist Board. The classification is based on the facilities, space, accommodation and information offered to guests. It is the perfect base to explore all of the castles, markets, prehistoric caves, wineries and restaurants that the Dordogne has to offer. Recently recognized by The Times’ 50 best holidays in France for 2019, it is an idyllic retreat for families or groups of friends after a day’s excursion.

Surrounding Sights
20 minutes away – Belvès
Built in the Middle Ages on the site of an ancient hill fort, this small village has seven towers and is classed as one of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France. It is nicknamed the ‘city of the Pope’ as it was part of the medieval fiefdom of Pope Clement V.

40 minutes away – Bergerac
Bergerac has always been an important trading town, with a quayside on the river where boats would carry goods to the port of Bordeaux. It’s home to Cyrano de Bergerac and to wine. There are over 300,000 acres of vineyards in the area with 13 appellations for red, rosé, dry and sweet white wines like the famous Monbazillac.

60 minutes away – Sarlat
Often described as the pearl of the Dordogne, Sarlat is a town of exceptional beauty with its narrow winding streets, stone roofs & open squares. It is one of the most important undamaged medieval city centres of the world. Thousands of tourists visit this small town yearly, so plan your trip well!

100 minutes away – Saint-Émilion
On the way to Bordeaux, Saint-Émilion is a beautiful town world famous for its wine. The vineyards around the town are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and offer wine tours and tasting.