Our News

Autumn is a lovely season in the Dordogne. The summer crowds are gone and the days are still wonderfully warm.

Late last night, when we were taking the dog out, a strange, low, and almost ghostly sound came from the orchard. It came from very close by; we didn't immediately know what it was. A few seconds later, it sounded again…. Deer!

The rutting season has begun. The males make themselves heard mainly in the evening and at night, and when they stand so close bellowing, it is very impressive.

It is such a special sound that people from the surrounding villages come to Meyrals specifically for it. If you are with us during this period, take a walk into the orchard in the evening and listen. You might hear them close by, and if not, simply enjoy the silence and the beautiful starry sky.

At exactly 10 p.m., all streetlights go out and it is dark, very dark. We have gotten used to this by now and find it pleasant. Because there is no light pollution here, you see many more stars than elsewhere.

If guests want to take a closer look at the stars, we are happy to set up the telescope.

Looking for mushrooms

Although the first mushrooms have already been found, we really just need to be patient a little longer. As soon as the first showers have fallen, it won't be long before all sorts of things appear in the woods, including in our own forest.

We enjoy mushroom hunting ourselves, but we are certainly not true experts. If we think we have found an edible mushroom, we take it to the pharmacy just to be sure. There, they can tell us whether it is actually safe to eat.

And if we don't find anything, we get it at the market. That continues as usual in the autumn, too. You can still find the last summer fruits there, but also the first pumpkins and other products of the new season. Goat and sheep cheeses, nuts, vegetables, and of course all kinds of other local products.

And then there are the truffles. At Le Jardin des Amis stands an enormous truffle oak, and we are curious to see if we manage to track down truffles there this autumn. Perhaps we should send our Charlotte, the miniature poodle, on a truffle course!

Walnuts and chestnuts

Towards the end of September, the first walnuts begin to fall. With our eight walnut trees, we have a substantial harvest, good for quite a few kilos of nuts that we are happy to share with our guests. Last year's harvest is now almost gone, so we are looking forward to the first new walnuts.

There are also several beautiful chestnut trees on the grounds under which you can gather plenty of sweet chestnuts. Pop or roast them, make a purée or crème de marrons… Delicious!

Peace on the paths and on the water

It is also still pleasant to spend time on and along the rivers after the summer holidays. In September, you can still enjoy excellent canoeing here and view the surroundings from the river in peace and quiet. Some rental companies even continue operating until the end of October.

The temperatures are very pleasant for a nice walk; several routes run past our estate.

Hot air balloon ride

From Le Jardin des Amis, we regularly see them drifting by: hot air balloons. Sometimes very close, and sometimes high above the hills. We always stop to watch them for a moment. Would you like to see the Périgord Noir from a different perspective? We are happy to help you with your booking.

The wine harvest has begun

Around Bergerac and Pécharmant, the grape pickers are now hard at work. During a drive through the region, you see the picking teams among the vines and smell the freshly harvested grapes.

Some wineries are open to visitors during the harvest and organize tours or tastings. A great opportunity to see more of the region and the wine produced here.

Experience autumn at Le Jardin des Amis

From beautiful walking routes and cozy markets to outings that are especially fun in the autumn: there is plenty to discover. Feel free to ask us about our favorite spots and tips for a wonderful autumn holiday.

You are very welcome!

We had an idea…

We are making a new website.

A fresh look, taking a close look at everything again, improving texts, new photos, adjusting pages… How hard could it be?

Well… let’s just say we misjudged that a few times during the high season.

Because in the meantime, of course, everything at Le Jardin des Amis continued as usual. Welcoming guests, preparing the gîtes, answering questions, maintaining the pool, mowing the lawn, and so on… and “just” creating a new website in between.

So that meant working the night here and there, blood, sweat, and tears. Mild stress broke out when double bookings suddenly appeared and strange emails were sent as well.

But… it’s there!

We are proud to announce that our new website is now online.

We have tried to recapture online the atmosphere you experience here at our small-scale holiday estate in the Dordogne, in the heart of the Périgord Noir. The authentic stone gîtes, the greenery, the heated swimming pool, the space, and of course, the relaxed atmosphere.

Of course, a website can never fully convey what it feels like here. For that, you really just have to come and see for yourself.

And we received help…

A big thank you goes to Pieter, who made a beautiful video for us.

A video that actually shows exactly what Le Jardin des Amis is and what it is all about for us: the atmosphere, the space, the greenery, the gîtes, the surroundings and above all… enjoyment.

Some things are simply better shown than told. And as far as we are concerned, Pieter has succeeded admirably in doing so.

Thank you, Pieter! And of course, we thank all the guests who made this production possible ;-)

Still the same Le Jardin des Amis

Fortunately, behind the new website, nothing has changed regarding what is most important to us.

Creating a lovely place where you can enjoy the Dordogne, where children can run wild, where you can take a dip in the pool after a day of discovery, and where you can fire up the barbecue in the evening.

We are curious what you think of it!

And should you come across a small mistake, a misplaced comma, or a forgotten photo somewhere… then at least we know that we aren't quite finished yet.

Have fun looking around and see you soon in Meyrals! 🇫🇷

The Garden of Friends
Small-scale holiday domain with authentic stone gîtes and a heated swimming pool in the Dordogne