Le Patio Chambres d'hôtes

19/06/2026

🎭 Shakespeare under a warm evening sky… just 25 minutes from Le Patio.

The Bassinaud Players are bringing The Tempest to life at Bassinaud, Juignac — three evenings of open-air theatre, with a picnic on the grass before the magic begins.

18th, 19th & 20th June. And as you can see from last night, it’s every bit as magical as it sounds.

Whether you’re a Shakespeare devotee or simply looking for something a little different, this is one of those rare local gems that makes staying in our corner of France feel very special indeed.

🧺 Pack your picnic. Find your spot. Let the drama unfold. Two nights still to go!

🌊

16/06/2026

The kind of evening you don’t want to end. ✨

Our little courtyard holds the warmth of the day long after the sun goes down — fairy lights, clear skies, and that particular Dordogne stillness that makes everything feel unhurried.

This is summer at Le Patio.

Rooms available this July & August — link in bio to book.

✨

14/06/2026

Only 30 minutes from Le Patio and a favourite with our guests 🩷

Aubeterre sur Dronne has just over 300 residents, steep stone lanes, a bakery near the church and one of the most surprising sights in France hidden beneath its streets. Officially listed among Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, this little village in southern Charente attracts visitors from around the world for a church that was not built stone by stone. It was carved directly into the rock.

The underground Church of Saint Jean dates back to the 12th century and sits beneath the site of the old castle. Walking inside feels less like entering a church and more like stepping into the heart of the hillside itself. The vast nave, towering stone walls and carved reliquary were all created by removing thousands of tons of rock. When you stand inside, it is hard not to wonder how medieval builders achieved something on this scale with the tools available at the time.

But Aubeterre is much more than a single monument. The village unfolds through narrow streets that climb in every direction, opening onto small squares, old houses and quiet corners that invite you to slow down. At the top sits the Romanesque Church of Saint Jacques, an important stop on the pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela. Around it are galleries, cafés and workshops that give the village a lived in feel rather than the polished atmosphere you sometimes find in famous destinations.

One of my favorite details is that Aubeterre still feels like a real village. Outside the summer season, life settles back into its normal rhythm. Locals gather in the square, neighbors stop to chat and visitors can wander without crowds. Places like La Lisière, a small bookshop and tea room tucked into the village, add to that feeling that people actually live here rather than simply work around tourism.

The underground church is the reason most people come, but the village rewards those who stay a little longer. Look at the old doorways. Wander down a side street without a plan. Stop for coffee beneath the trees in the square. Then walk toward the Dronne River and take in the view back up to the village. That is usually the moment when people understand why this small corner of Charente keeps drawing them back.

📍 Aubeterre-sur-Dronne, Charente, Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Have you ever visited a village for one famous attraction and ended up loving the village itself even more?

11/06/2026

10/06/2026

Just down the road from Le Patio, a hidden gem worth seeking out, great to combine with a visit to Riberac Market or Chateau de Fayolle.

The little Romanesque church of Saint-Médard in Saint-Méard-de-Dronne has been quietly keeping a secret for centuries — extraordinary 15th-century frescoes, hidden beneath layers of 19th-century plaster until a piece simply fell away in 1999 to reveal an angel beneath.

Careful renovation has revealed sixteen scenes now visible: a Last Judgement, a Virgin and Child with angel musicians and more still waiting to be uncovered, an exceptional rarity in the Périgord.

History, art, and quiet wonder — all within a short drive of Le Patio.

We were lucky to enjoy a visit there yesterday and we will definitely be recommending it to our future guests.

10/06/2026

Something fun for our guests to try, brunch on a boat on the river near Tocane.

We were out on the boats yesterday and it was lovely. 🚤 🥐

30/05/2026

Our recent guests went all out to enjoy the best of what our area of France had to offer and it did not disappoint 🩷

Over 8 days they visited markets, castles, churches, towns, villages, rivers and a lake. They ate at a festival, local restaurants and at our B&B and they enjoyed a free wine tasting 🍷

Here’s what they had to say on Booking .com about our B&B:-

“Fantastic hosts, very knowledgeable about the area and happy to offer recommendations for places to see. Great location for exploring the area. Fantastic guest room tastefully furnished and lots of attention to detail. Lovely breakfast room. Beautiful private courtyard garden with various seating areas to chill and eat and drink in the evening after a long day of sightseeing. There was nothing to dislike” 10/10

Here is a run down of most of the things they did:-

Village festival & meal
Bourdeilles Chateau
Brantome & the caves at Villars
Angouleme & free wine tasting in Mareuil
Périgueux market and cathedral
Libourne for lunch & St Emillion tour
Riberac market & Lac Le Jemaye
Aubeterre and the underground church
Aubeterre (again) and Chateau de Fayolle tour
Jazz evening with tapas at Chateau de Fayolle
Vide Grenier & food trucks in St Severine
Aubeterre river beach
Tour of the La Tour Blanche windmill
Dinner in the garden at Le Patio

If you like the look of any of the things on this list then why not book a stay with us and let us help you plan your experience.

☎️ book direct for the best prices
🔗 link to our website in BIO

27/05/2026

☀️ When May feels like July…

We’ve had some gloriously unexpected heat this week, so we did what any sensible person in the Dordogne does — we headed to La Jemaye.

Just a short drive from Le Patio, this beautiful lake is one of our favourite tips to share with guests on hot sunny days. I can confirm the water is absolutely worth it — I took the plunge myself! 🏊‍♀️ Cool, quiet and just what was needed.

Shady spots perfect for a picnic, a 5k walk around the lake for some exercise, plus cafés and restaurants if you’d rather sit back and be looked after — it really does have everything. If you’re planning a stay with us this summer, add this one to your list. You won’t regret it. 🧺☀️

24/05/2026

What’s for breakfast at Le Patio? - lots of lovely things 🥐 🍓 ☕️ 🧀 🍳 🥖

Breakfast at Le Patio is a relaxed affair, we aim to set you up for the day and we’ve got something for everyone 🙂

Fruit juice, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, French pastries, French bread, cheese, ham, homemade yogurt and jams, eggs, homemade muesli and granola, fresh seasonal fruit, dried fruit, nuts and local honey.

Our fabulous breakfast is always served in the guest dining room, the same level as the guest rooms, the table is laid with white china, lovely cutlery and linen napkins, after breakfast guests are welcome to enjoy a further coffee in the garden before heading out to explore.

No one leaves hungry and breakfast is included in the room price, all special dietary requirements catered for, just make sure to let us know.

Book a stay at Le Patio and enjoy this fabulous breakfast.

☎️ book direct
🔗 website link in BIO

22/05/2026

A little trip from the back of our garden through the house to the front door on this beautiful May morning ☀️

Le Patio is a lovely place to stay and many of our guests enjoy it so much that they come back 🩷

If you would like to stay at Le Patio in the Dordogne, then book a stay with us and let us look after you 🥐 🍷

☎️ book direct
🔗 go to our website in BIO