Norpech

We stayed for a week in Gite La Tonnelle at Norpech in late July / early August 2013 in the Norpech consists of a complex of old Farm buildings converted into well appointed gites & guest rooms on a farm over looking Penne-d'Agenais. The French owners are very welcoming and organised, once introductions and rental formalities are out of the way they give you a tour of the property before taking you to your accommodation. I was fully reliant on my wife's French language skills when conversing with the owners, she did okay but I struggled and only have my self to blame. La Tonnelle is traditional French in terms of its decoration and fittings, maybe the interior was a bit too traditional for us but it was homely and very spacious for a family of four. It has a large downstairs room which is an open plan kitchen, dining & lounge room leading onto a large hallway which houses the laundry facilities and leads to the downstairs toilet and staircase to the upper level. The upstairs has 2 bedrooms, one with a double bed, the other with 2 single beds, there is a large hallway with chairs and another bed, off the hallway is the upstairs toilet and separate bathroom. There is no air-conditioning, the downstairs can be cooled in the early morning and late evening by opening up the doors and large shuttered windows, the upstairs has velux windows in the bathroom and the second bedroom. The main bedroom has a single opening window and another sealed porthole window. Due to the age & rustic style of the building the ventilation upstairs is lacking and the nights were hot as were the days (30C to 40C maximums), we had a few problems with mosquitos which entered through the open windows. The building has thick stone walls and tiled floors, the hall opens up into a shared courtyard with the other gites. The kitchen diner opens out onto the gites outdoor area with its small garden area with a rotunda and outdoor table and chairs. The outdoor area faces onto the car park and owners home which includes guest rooms. In between the Gites and the owners home is the swimming pool, which was very welcome during the hot weather. The majority of the other guests were Dutch, Belgian and French, everyone one seemed very friendly and the owners organised an evening meal and drinks for the guests on the deck outside their house. Unfortunately we arrived back late from a long day trip and had to decline as the children were too tired. The owners also organised another evening meal out at a local auberge. Penne is an interesting Bastide (walled) town and well worth a visit, Tournon another walled town along the pretty rural valley in the direction of Cahor is also worth visiting. West of Penne the countryside is less attractive and dominated by large agribusinesses. Most of our day trips were east, the amazing Chateau De Bonaguil a few km's north of Fumel, canoeing on the Lot from the Puy-l'Eveque was a highlight as were the leisurely country drives along the Lot past the many wineries and river scenery. Villages of Grezels, Belaye, Albas, Castelfranc, Crayssac and Prayssac. We did the 1.5 hour drive to the stunning village of Saint-Cirq Lapopie, then onto the Grotte Pech Merle and the 10,000 to 25,000 year old cave paintings in spectacular cave environment (booking is advisable) and back through Cahors with the World Heritage Ponte Valentre.... a very long day but worth it. Overall we had a good stay, Norpech was a little too far west for the sights but made a reasonable base none the less. Areas for improvement would include improving the ventilation upstairs (especially in the summer heat), updating the lounge furniture and replacing some of the kitchen utensils. You can choose to clean the gite or the elect to pay the cleaning charge on departure, all bedding is supplied and laundered by the owners, you need to bring your own towels.