Montpon-Ménestérol – A Sad Farewell

9th April 2023

It seems only yesterday when we decided to buy a plot of land in France and have a house built in a not-so-touristy part of the Dordogne. In fact, this was in 2005 and now the time has come to close this chapter of our lives and sell-up. Our trip this time was to clear the house, ready for the new occupiers to move in.

We have been mulling over this decision for while now. Brexit has helped tip the balance; the house was going to be a base for our motorhome adventures and exploring more of the continent, but with the restriction on time spent within the Schengen area, we have to watch our days. Additionally, our motor-homing friends Jeeves and Michelle, who also had a house nearby, have recently sold-up.

The process of buying a plot and having a house built, involved a steep learning curve and the laying down of many memories. Our friends, Gwen and Jimmy who had a house nearby, were a great source of support and our immediate French neighbours, Josette, Christine and Alain have always been on hand to help, despite the fact that our grasp of the French language is poor, even now 17 years later. More recently, our bezzie mates, Jeeves and Michelle have been partners in crime for major projects and repairs.

Given the temperatures in this area in the high summer, we thought a pool would be a good idea, so once the house was completed, work commenced.

We soon discovered that managing a pool can be problematic, with a tendency for it to turn itself into a pond from time to time.

Although the house is not built on a large plot (by French standards), half an acre means that every “holiday” spent there has involved a lot of hard work gardening, maintenance, and dealing with the swimming pool. Warm work in the heat of the summer.

Despite the house not being in the “heart” of the Dordogne, the surrounding, mainly rural area is beautiful, with many picturesque medieval villages. We will greatly miss this all being on our doorstep.

In July, many villages hold evening social events termed “night markets” where food and drink may be bought and consumed. Many also have live entertainment.

Near to Villefranche-de-Lonchat, the remains of the Chateau de Gurson sit above the Lac de Gurson, a recreation area with an artificial beach. Fortified in the 11th century, it was ordered to be destroyed by Henry III of England in 1254.

We have visited many weekend Brocantes with Jeeves and Michelle in recent years. They are the French equivalent of a car boot sale, but quite often with very rusty and ancient farming-related items for sale.

Montpon

If an Englishman’s home is his castle (at least metaphorically), then a Frenchman’s home really can be:

So, with the trailer and car both stuffed-full of our belongings, we said a fond farewell to our home in France and to our neighbours, Josette, Alain and Christine.