insideKENT Magazine Issue 96 - March 2020 | Page 125

Awakening to sunshine for our last day, it was
time to head to the final destination of Brive. The
country drive is actually quite relaxing and out of
nowhere you come across a town, lke Terrasson-
Lavilledieu which is perched high above the banks
of the Vézère River. A stroll across the old bridge,
dating from the 12th, Century over the Vézère leads
up to the ancient Abbey ramparts. So peaceful and
idyllic it's hard to leave.
With the sun blazing it was time to visit Collonges-
la-Rouge, a tiny village tourist hotspot with
restaurants and shops. Its properties, which are not
lived in by the locals and are empty over the height
of season, are entirely built with red sandstone. The
Priory, which dates back to the 8th century, is at the
centre of the village, which is a member of the most
beautiful villages in France.
A quick bite to eat in Le Cantou, where we enjoyed
real authentic french cuisine prepared with the
family’s special recipes, served under the vines in a
packed outdoor area with a glass of red, was the
perfect experience of the French way of life.
One part of the journey I was most looking forward
to was the Denoix distillery in Brive. The artisanal
and ancestral know-how guarantees the quality of
liqueurs and aperitif drinks based on walnuts and
other fruit, all guaranteed to be free from colouring
and preservatives, and packed with flavour. It was
also amazing to see the family still work in the same
way as they did in the 19th century.
With the last night upon us there was no doubt that
we saved the best to last. The bustling En Cuisine
restaurant serves traditional dishes, revisited in a
bistro-style, in a chic and warm atmosphere. We are
immediately seduced by the place and the chef,
Nicolas Eche. He wanted to make a cuisine in his
image, faithful to the culinary traditions he loves,
working with seasonal produce.
With three days of eating, drinking, walking, and
yet more eating and drinking, in some of the finest
French establishments of the Dordogne Valley, it
was nice to have a 5 minute walk to hotel Miel des
Muses, a charming and trendy 3-star hotel in the
heart of Brive to rest before a trip back home laden
with local produce - walnut oil included of course!
www.sarlat-tourisme.com
www.brive-tourisme.com
www.visit-dordogne-valley.co.uk
www.aeroport-brive-vallee-dordogne.com
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