Southwestern France Escapades

We finally made it to the famed wine-growing region of Bordeaux in southwestern France, a destination that has been on our travel list for some time, given our passion for wine. When Wayne and I chatted about travel before embarking on this endless journey around the world, a château in the south of France was always on our list.

Coming from Bayonne, it was a simple two-hour train trip to Bordeaux, where we were to pick up our little electric car to enjoy the region for a week. With only the first few nights booked, the world was our oyster, well, at least Southwestern France in this case.

We had found a beautiful stay in a winery on Airbnb; it ticked all our boxes, and we booked three nights to enjoy the peaceful nature and relax among the vines while sipping vino. Although not everything was what it seemed, upon arriving, we wandered the winery, and there was not a soul in sight, so we made a call, and on the second call, she picked up. The owner was on vacation and would send the maid to open up and check us in. Still, after expressing our disappointment in the experience and with little faith that it would deliver what we had been expecting, we felt we would have to fend for ourselves, so we politely declined and told her we would not be staying. Fortunately, Airbnb came to the rescue once again and fully refunded us.

As experts in sourcing accommodation, we were back searching for the perfect place and instantly booked a château that was actually open and even had a restaurant. Which we highly doubt our previous stay had, so we were back on the road, whizzing past the beautiful green vineyards. As we approached Château Fage La Maison des Vignes, our moods were lighter and smiles brimming; we found it!

Château Fage was precisely what we had been hoping for: a beautiful, pristine 4-star hotel situated between Bordeaux and Saint-Émilion, nestled among lush green vines and offering views across the meadows, with castles in the distance. We soon increased our number of nights to three, as this place needed to be enjoyed.

On our first night, we booked a table at the restaurant for a leisurely dinner, and the wine and food reminded us of why we love France; we even started with a cheese plate. This dining order confused the wait staff, but they soon succumbed to our dining style, and we all enjoyed the evening.

Following a relaxing few days absorbing the tranquillity of Château Fage, we booked into a Michelin-recommended 'Lune Restaurant' in a nearby commune called Vayres in the Haute-Vienne department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Inhabitants are known as Vayrois in French.

We eagerly booked an Uber and soon found ourselves in a quaint French town, surrounded by tiny streets, beautiful old buildings, monuments scattered throughout the village, and even a winery perched on a hill in the centre.

We arrived at Lune Restaurant and, again, were impressed with the Michelin Guide app; it rarely disappoints. The restaurant is housed in an old inn on the banks of the Dordogne, a former Gallo-Roman site. The restaurant has a charm; it feels like a cosy country house. You can feel the farmhouse atmosphere with the beautifully crafted long wooden centre table, and all the finishing touches and table decorations complement the modern country vibe.

We settled in for an afternoon of devouring culinary surprises accompanied by wines worthy of five stars. The food melted in your mouth, surprisingly clean for French cuisine; we are loving this style. The service was delightful, and each and every dish was faultless. Thank you, Lune Restaurant, for a very memorable slow lunch.

Following our fabulous lunch, we strolled through the quaint village, enjoyed the small-town vibe, and captured some candid photos to remind us of our time in Vayres.

Our three nights at Château Fage soon came to an end, leaving us feeling bittersweet about leaving, as it was indeed perfect. However, our next destination was a weekend in Saint-Émilion, so we soon overcame this feeling.

Our final morning was spent searching for a salon to smarten up the hairstyle, and we found a charming old 13th-century bastide town called Libourne. It is on the confluence of the Dordogne and Isle Rivers. We strolled around, taking in the weekend vibes, and loved how the narrow streets with cobbled stones, amidst the city square, were sprinkled with shimmering decorations.

It was great to explore more of the region; we felt blessed as we drove towards Saint-Émilion that afternoon and were able to experience many stunning villages, all surrounded by overwhelming châteaux with sweeping views and grounds, all within a short distance of each other - some sleepy and some full of vibrancy.

Date visited: 5 Aug 2023