Kaylee & Ben

Château de Chanet sits in the heart of Périgord Vert; the unspoiled, green northern Dordogne, away from the tourist trail. Getting here is part of the adventure, and once you arrive, you'll understand why we chose this corner of France. We encourage anyone flying to rent a car at the airport and let the drive itself begin the celebration; unlocking  the villages and the countryside.

Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport is your gateway to the Dordogne. It's well-served by long-haul connections via Paris (CDG or ORY), London Heathrow, Amsterdam, and other European hubs. From Vancouver or Calgary, you'll most likely connect through Paris or London. From Australia, Paris CDG is your easiest European connection.

~1h 45 Drive to Chanet

ALTERNATIVE AIRPORT
Périgueux Bassillac Airport (PGX)
Périgueux is the closest airport to Chanet at just 45 minutes away, but it has limited international connections and is mainly served by domestic French routes. Worth checking if you're already travelling within France.

~45 min Drive to Chanet

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
London St Pancras → Périgueux, then hire a car
Take the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord (around 2h 15min), then cross Paris to either Gare Montparnasse or Gare d'Austerlitz for a TGV or intercity train south to Périgueux. The Paris–Périgueux leg takes approximately 3.5–4 hours. From Périgueux, it's a 45-minute drive to Chanet. Hire a car at Périgueux station or arrange a transfer.

ALTERNATIVE ROUTE
London St Pancras → Bordeaux, then drive
Take the Eurostar to Paris, then a TGV from Paris Montparnasse to Bordeaux Saint-Jean (around 2 hours at high speed). From Bordeaux, it's roughly 1h 45min by car to Mareuil en Perigord. This option works well if you'd like to spend a night or two in Bordeaux (a world-class wine city well worth a visit) before driving on.

THE ROUTE
London → Le Shuttle → Calais → Périgueux → Chanet
Drive to Folkestone and board the Le Shuttle (LeShuttle.com-  the car-carrying Eurotunnel service that crosses to Calais in just 35 minutes). From Calais, head south through France on the A26, then pick up the A10 and A89 toward Périgueux. From Périgueux, it's a further 45 minutes on the D939 to Chanet. 

This is a journey we have done when first exploring venues and is well worth the drive.

We'd strongly recommend breaking the journey with a night somewhere in between. Book your Le Shuttle crossing well in advance for mid-June; it's a popular departure weekend. Expect to pay French motorway tolls on the autoroutes south.

You've come a long way. Stay a few extra days and let this extraordinary corner of France work its magic. The Dordogne is one of the most beautiful regions in Europe: medieval villages, prehistoric caves, 1,001 châteaux, rivers perfect for canoeing, and markets overflowing with foie gras, truffles, and Périgord walnut cake. Everything below is within easy reach of our venue by car.

Brantôme
The "Venice of the Périgord". A medieval abbey town built on an island in the River Dronne. Wander the monks' garden, cross the 16th-century arched bridge, and linger over lunch on the water. One of France's most beautiful small towns.

Bourdeilles
A romantic riverside village with a double castle - medieval fortifications alongside a Renaissance palace - set above the Dronne. Exceptional furniture collection inside, lovely walk along the riverbank outside.

Périgueux
The regional capital, with a magnificent Byzantine-Romanesque cathedral (a UNESCO World Heritage pilgrim site) and a beautifully preserved medieval town centre. Outstanding Saturday market.

Château de Puyguilhem
A stunning Renaissance château near Villars; often compared to the Loire castles. The extraordinary chimney depicting the Twelve Labours of Hercules alone is worth the trip.

Saint-Jean-de-Côle
One of the official "Most Beautiful Villages of France". A perfect medieval ensemble of château, Romanesque church, and golden stone houses gathered around a riverside square. Almost impossibly picturesque.

Sarlat & Lascaux
Worth the drive south. Sarlat is the finest medieval town in the Dordogne; the Lascaux cave paintings (Lascaux IV) are among the most extraordinary prehistoric artworks in the world. The "Sistine Chapel of prehistory."