Come and experience life in the the Lot near the Dordogne River, France

Details

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  Description

  Gourdon is a fascinating lively historic town in the Lot near the Dordogne River. Rosemary and I (Alan) bought an old house in the historic centre of Gourdon in the Lot (46300) two years ago. (we also have bikes you can use to explore the region) The house is just below the church and near to cafes, shops and restaurants and there is a direct train link to Paris from the station. The house is on three levels with a garden front and back and a small swimming pool. We are in the process of making the ground floor into a Gite (holiday rental) and have created a new kitchen and bathroom. We are now renovating the main room into a bedroom and sitting room and need help moving furniture and laying tiles. We are originally from London and speak French and English.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  We are involved with the town (including the Photographic Society) and have French and English friends here. Gourdon is stone’s throw from the major tourist attractions of the Lot and the Dordogne. Here are some highlights and some lesser known places worth a visit.
  
  Rocamadour
  One of the most extraordinary sites in France, this sanctuary and famous place of pilgrimage clings to the rock face 150m above the Alzou Canyon. Henry Plantagenet, King of England from 1154 until 1189, was one of the first pilgrims to come to Rocamadour in search of a miraculous cure.
  
  Sarlat la Canéda
  Sarlat is a pretty and well preserved historic town with narrow medieval streets and handsome Gothic and Renaissance houses, mainly rebuilt between 1450 and 1500 when Charles Vll bestowed privileges upon Sarlat to thank its population for their resistance against the English.
  
  Les Arques
  In 1934 the sculptor Ossip Zadkine (1890-1967) and his artist wife Valentine Prax (1897-1981) fell in love with this charming village and bought a house there. There is now a wonderful museum, Musée Zadkine (bronzes, tapestries, wood sculptures, lithographs) to visit. In the Romanesque church there is an enormous Zadkine crucifix and a stunning pieta.
  
  Grottes Préhistorique de Cougnac
  
  Just five minutes drive from Gourdon are the exceptional Cougnac caves notable for their remarkable prehistoric paintings (mammoth, long horned deer, human figures) and their exquisite formations of stalactites and stalagmites. Guided tours.
  
  Le Gouffre de Padirac
  
  This is the largest underground natural heritage site in France and it is spectacular. Can be crowded in the season and on jours feriés so a good idea to book your tickets in advance.
  
  You take a lift or stairs to descend the vertiginous ‘well’, the impressive 103 metre chasm you will have seen from surface. Local people once believed it was connected with the devil. Towards the end of the 19th century violent flooding of the underground river opened up a passage from the bottom of the ‘well’ to the spectacular underground galleries reached by flat bottomed boat. So far 22km of tunnels and galleries have been discovered.
  
  Le Chateau de Fénelon
  Near the village of Sainte Mondane.
  14th century fortified castle (triply fortified walls). Beautiful situation and views. Privately owned but open to the public. Interior rooms furnished with Renaissance pieces.
  
  Le Moulin d’eau fortifié de Cougnaguet dans les Causses de Quercy on the River Ouyesse (Monument Historique)
  
  A 14th century mill founded by the Franciscans still in working order. In a gorge with amazing rock formations. Beautiful setting and wonderful mill.
  
  Notre Dame des Neiges (walking distance from Gourdon)
  A tiny Romanesque chapel rebuilt in 1646. In a lovely setting by a river. Pilgrims used to come to drink the water from what was considered a miraculous spring (accessed by a trap in the chapel).

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  Help

  The room we are renovating has furniture in it which we need to move - some of it is too heavy for the two of us to carry. We also need help laying floor tiles which we have never done before.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  French: Fluent
  Italian: Intermediate

  This host offers a language exchange
  I speak French but need to improve it and Rosemary is learning Italian and needs to improve that. She is fluent in French.
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  Accommodation

  We have a double and single spare bedroom and three bath/shower rooms You would eat with us.

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  What else ...

  There is a train station in the town with trains south to Toulouse and North to Paris. We have cars and frequently make trips to visit interesting local places.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  Hours expected

  Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week