The Village and Environs

Bouillac is approximately 820 hectares in size and has around 450 inhabitants. People have lived here since ancient times, attracted by the river’s natural resources and minerals. Bouillac is on the Aveyron / Lot border.

Guests can wander along the riverbank and up into the village to pick up fresh bread and croissants from the boulangerie or groceries from the organic shop. There is an old, abandoned, chateau in the village, along with a children’s play area, and guests can play petanque in the square with the locals. Les Berges du Lot, which has a bar and a restaurant, is a family run business within strolling distance of the house and serves delicious food. There is also a traditional restaurant 5minutes drive away in Asprières, which is guaranteed to fill you up with wholesome, home cooked food, served in eye popping quantities, at a very reasonable price. There is a lovely church at St Martin de Bouillac, just over the river.

This is a really good location for walking, cycling, or just relaxing. The river provides swimming for all the family, or for those who prefer to stay dry, canoeing and fishing, are practically on the doorstep.

There is also a lido, with flumes, in nearby Figeac, an outdoor public pool in Decazeville and an indoor pool at Cap de Nac.
Figeac, a wealthy trading town during the Middle Ages, is renowned for its exceptional heritage, and is on the pilgrimage route running from La Puy-en-Velay in eastern France through Conques and Cahors and on to Santiago de Compostela in Spain . The town council is pursuing a policy of renovating its superb sandstone façades and sumptuous houses and their decorative sculptures. Anthony Peregrine wrote an excellent article on Figeac and the Lot Valley in the The Daily Telegraph Travel Supplement on the 14 January 2006. Please click here to take a look. 

There are a number of English people living and working in the area, and the locals do speak and understand English, but the villagers will give you an ample opportunity to practice your French!

Children's play area and chateau              Les Berges du Lot Bar & Restaurant         ......  is 150 m from the house 

Days Out

Aveyron, known as “the gateway to Southern France”, benefits from a near Mediterranean climate, but without the crowds. With wide open spaces, mountains, lakes, rivers and streams in abundance, there are a wealth of outdoor activities on offer in the region including walking, cycling, swimming, predatory, carp or course fishing, golf and all manner of water sports. For more information please visit www.tourisme-aveyron.com . This is an excellent and most informative site.

The River Lot is one of the loveliest in France, Its valley snakes between white cliffs, in fertile green meanders. Nearly every valley in the region has a medieval chateau, prehistoric caves, hilltop villages or pilgrimage towns. Aveyron boasts 10 of “les plus beaux villages de France” (the most beautiful villages in France), more than any other départment and including Brousse le Chateau, Saint-Cômme d’Olt and Peyre. The Medieval bastide towns of Sauverre Rouergue, Villefranche de Rouergue, Conques, Belcastel and the spectacular fortress of Najac are fascinating to explore, as are the profusion of local markets and brocantes.

There are more stunning towns in the départment of the Lot including Rocamador and St-Cirq-Lapopie which simply ooze atmosphere.

There are a number of animal parks in the area including the Medieval “Parc du Colombier 15 minutes from Rodez, Le Jardin des Betes near Montrozier and the Parc animalier de Pradinas to keep all the family entertained.

You can lie on the beach at the Lévézou Lakes, enjoy a picnic, swim, or hire pedal boats or canoes.

There are prehistoric cave paintings at Perche Merle, or underground caves at Padirac. 

You could spend a day out in the remote Auvergne with its lunar landscape appearance, or admire the awesome grandeur of the Tarn Gorge and the Millau viaduct. 

The region is widely regarded as a gastronomic paradise. Its cuisine is famous throughout France and beyond, including dishes based on truffles, duck, goose, foie gras, cepes and other varieties of mushrooms, plums, peaches, apricots, sweet chestnuts, walnuts, and walnut oil. There are world-class restaurants within easy reach at Belcastel, Languiole and Sauveterre de Rouergue as well as many delightful, unpretentious small restaurants and cafes scattered throughout the area.

Festivals and concerts are widespread in the summer. Every day there is a market in one or other of the surrounding villages.

For the winter visitor, the Aubrac Mountains have excellent cross-country ski trails and affordable family downhill runs. There are excellent facilities for children. 

             Aerial View of Najac                                                                        Rocamadour

 Millau Viaduct