Things to eat and drink! Gastronomy
In the Périgord we eat well, there is no doubt about that! Many producers prepare our local products according to recipes handed down from generation to generation. From the traditional foie gras, through duck breast, confit, wines, nuts, chestnuts, truffles, ceps, cabécous or strawberries, don’t come to the Périgord to lose weight!
So yes, it would be a shame to stay in Perigord without tasting at least some of these specialities!
Discovering local products
Ducks and Geese
One of the specialities of the Perigord is the breeding of geese and ducks. You will therefore have the opportunity to taste the many products derived from it, of which foie gras is the most famous. Did you know that Perigord foie gras has a PGI (Protected Geographical Indication)?
But there are, of course, other not to be missed products such as confit, magret (duck breast), gésiers (gizzards), rillettes or pâtés.
Many breeders open their doors to visitors and take pleasure in introducing you to the secrets of their trade. If you want to visit a farm during your stay with us, we recommend the “Domaine de Barbe” in Badefols, 5 km from the campsite. Isabelle and Pierre-Yves Kuster and their team do their utmost to offer you quality products. You can choose between a guided tour with tasting or an open tour following playful displays.
Walnuts and Chestnuts
During your walks along the roads and paths of the Perigord, you will come across walnut and chestnut orchards everywhere. Their fruits are widely used in Perigordian cuisine, both in savoury and sweet dishes. They can be consumed all year round. Sometimes they are used to flavour wines or liqueurs.
The Perigord walnuts have a PDO (Protected Designation of Origin). There are 4 varieties of walnuts in the Perigord, including “Corne”, “Marbot”, “Grandjean” and “Franquette”. Even today, traditional mills still extract oil from walnut kernels, a delight to season your salads with.
At the “Maison de la Châtaigne” in Villefranche-du-Périgord, you can learn all about this “breadfruit tree” that saved entire generations from famine.
The wines of Bergerac
You will find no less than 17 wine appellations in the surroundings of Bergerac. There is the “Bergerac” of course, but also the “Monbazillac”, the “Pécharmant”, the “Monravel”, the “Saussignac” or the “Rosette”.
Want to know more about it? Visit the Bergerac Wines website.
For our grocery and bar offerings, we work with 3 producers:
- Since 1960, three generations of the Sadoux family have been managing their 17th century wine estate in Razac-de-Saussignac. They have been supplying us with our white, rosé, red and sweet Bergerac wine under the names Château Court-les-Mûts and Château Petite Borie for over 30 years! They are very often awarded medals and mentioned by the Guide Hachette des Vins… so, needless to say, the quality is there!
- In our search for a good organic wine, we have also decided to offer you the white and red Bergerac wine from Château Haut-Fongrive. This vineyard has been organic since 2009.
- Finally, our offering would be far from complete without a good Pécharmant! The Pécharmant is a red wine produced in a very small area northeast of Bergerac, the oldest vineyard in Bergeracois. This is where you find the wine of the famous Château Tiregand, property of the heirs of the Countess of Saint-Exupéry.
And don’t forget: wine is drunk in moderation!
Mushrooms - Cepes and Truffles
Obviously, you will find in Perigord many more species of mushrooms than cepes and truffles. But these two deserve a little more time spent on them.
Cepes and Périgourdins are part of a very old love story. Here, when we talk to you about the “Cèpe du Périgord”, it is a “Cèpe de Bordeaux”, a Boletus edulis. You can also find “Bronzed Boletus mushrooms”, also called “Black Head” in the market stalls. Cepes are a classic in Perigordian cuisine and are used in many dishes, including the famous “Omelette aux cèpes”.
Perigord is a major truffle centre in France. Also called “Black Diamond” in reference to its rarity (and also, no doubt, on account of its price), truffles are a highly sought-after product from the great gastronomic tables. It is grown under specific conditions (soil type, host tree species, environment, etc.) and only in certain regions of France, including the Perigord.
It is possible to visit a truffle field run by passionate people in Péchalifour near St Cyprien, less than 30 km from our campsite.
The Cheeses
Yes, everyone agrees that France is the land of cheese. It is impossible to say how many different cheeses exist, even if we only talk about the Perigord. Here, we present you with two cheeses, essential ones to taste during your stay with us.
“Cabécou du Périgord” is a goat cheese in the shape of a small fine disc. It is unctuous, has a pale yellow rind and is mainly consumed fresh. Enjoy it on a bed of salad and with a small walnut kernel. A real delight!
The “Trappe d’Echourgnac” is produced in the Abbey of Notre Dame de Bonne Espérance in Echourgnac. This cheese – the oldest in Perigord – will seduce you with its taste and texture. The small version of the Trappe, refined with walnut liqueur, is particularly tasty and is sold in several local shops. For the traditional Trappe, you will have to travel to the monastery store.
The Strawberries
The Perigordian Strawberry also benefits from a PGI (Protected Geographical Indication). Seven varieties of strawberries are grouped together. The best known are the Gariguette and the Mara des Bois.
Spring and summer are the ideal seasons to enjoy strawberries, so don’t deprive yourself during your stay with us!
Traditional local markets and producers' shops
Holidays are the perfect time to go for a walk to the local market, either to fill up with fruits and vegetables, dairy products, meat, local products or artisanal products, of course, or to simply saunter around with the children or as a couple. The colours, smells and flavours will delight and awaken all your senses.
There is a market every day! You can find the complete list of market days at the campsite reception.
You will find more and more “producers’ shops” in Perigord. These are collective stores where several producers join forces to sell their products directly to consumers. This is the best way to support shorter food circuits!
The producer shops closest to the campsite are:
And for your gourmet getaways ...
Restaurants and Inns
The surroundings of the campsite are abundant in restaurants and farm hostels where you will have the opportunity to enjoy excellent meals.
There are Périgordian specialities, of course, prepared according to traditional recipes or revisited. Or why not just enjoy a good pizza?
During your stay, we will share our favourite little spots with you.
Gourmet Night Markets
A village, a square, long tables and surrounding stalls where producers prepare their specialities for you: this is what we call the Night Gourmet Markets.
You bring your own cutlery, settle down and make your choice. Grilled meats or duck confit? Sarlat potatoes or a vegetable gratin? Mussels with fries or pizza? There’s something for everyone! And all this at very affordable prices. In addition, there is always a small band to create a good atmosphere.
All in all a really good plan for an outing with family or friends!
The night gourmet markets are held in July and August in different villages. We will be there to keep you posted.
Take advantage of your stay at our campsite to enjoy all the culinary delights of the region.
