Villereal, in Lot et Garonne, a bastide town in France

Villereal, Places in Lot-et-Garonne / Dordogne, France

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Visit Villereal

Villereal is located in the northern part of the Lot-et-Garonne department, near the border with the Dordogne department. The most remarkable feature of Villereal is undoubtedly its intact 14th century market hall dominating almost all of the central square - and still used for its lively Saturday market today. A wonderful lively small town, with a myriad of back streets to explore. Certainly one of the least commercialised town among those listed here, and probably the most lively outside the May - September holiday season.

Villereal was founded in 1269 by Alphonse de Poitiers, in an effort to keep the English at bay. This didn't work and the English occupied the town during the Hundred Years War.

Villereal, Lot and Garonne, France

Pick up the leaflet "A guided walk through the bastide" from the Villereal tourist office. There are a wide range of things to see such as the Leper House with its elaborate sculpted door, the old station, old stone sinks whose outflow pipes can still be seen sticking out from some buildings and you can work out where the old moats used to be.

Another useful leaflet is the touristic Itineraries leaflet. This outlines three routes to take in your car to see the places of interest around Villereal. Using these it is possible to find the local "Maisons à empilage" which are houses made of wood in log cabin style and these are the oldest houses in the area, thought to date back to the 16th century.

If you are a keen fisherman the leaflet "La Peche en Villerealais" describes what fish can be fished, with a map to help you choose a suitable spot and details of the licences you can buy .

Villereal has various bars, restaurants, two supermarkets, doctors, pharmacies, a cake shop, Damien Blanchard, selling fantastic cakes, various bakers, butchers, hairdressers (much cheaper than England and so worth a visit whilst on holiday) , newsagents and a good local pottery shop.

If you are looking for holiday rentals near Villereal take a look at our Villereal gites!

Villereal Photo Gallery (click any photo to expand)

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Ann makes this comment

Tuesday, 14 June 2011

As a regular visitor to Villereal over the last decade, I would agree that it is one of the most 'real' small market towns in the area. If you're staying there, you don't need to go too far away - everything is on your doorstep - with a good selection of restaurants, one small and one larger supermarket, and both excellent, a newsagent, a couple of pharmacies and several boulangeries - what more can you ask? Although Villereal is lively and a lovely place to spend your holiday, the surrounding countryside is stunning and many of the local towns and villages well worth visiting. Issigeac and Monpazier are always on our must-see list, the former for its colourful Sunday market - howver busy it gets, it's always worth a visit. Monpazier too is beautiful - its streets full of wonderful old houses, and in the Summer at least, its numerous shops and restaurants are busy with tourists. However, compared to Villereal, it does seem to resemble a film set and not be entirely part of the 21st century!
Admin makes this comment

Tuesday, 14 June 2011

Hi Ann, glad you like it - I'm a big fan but I might be biased, since I have lived very close to Villereal for 10 years!
Paul makes this comment

Saturday, 25 June 2011

Stayed there last year and will be back for a few weeks in late August this year with my family, one of the most beautiful places ive ever visited and lots to see and do.

Lot-et-Garonne & South Dordogne