The Secrets of September

A Day in September

September is one of our favourite months at the Dordogne. The season is changing, and the strong heat of the summer sun has mellowed slightly. The air is fresher and crisper. Mornings are misty and cool and lend themselves to coffee or breakfast on the kitchen terrace. By lunchtime the sun has warmed and it’s still a perfect time for a midday swim in the heated pool. A BBQ in the bar beside the river, which will be flowing with a little more pace and creating a peaceful background burble, is the perfect setting to relax and enjoy your evening meal. End the evening indoors as the light fades with the log fire lit, chatting with friends and family, sipping a glass of wine, playing games.

Fontalbe’s September Secrets

The grounds at Fontalbe hold so many secrets that are only visible to those who visit in September. The apple tree is laden; the figs are ripe and delicious. Nothing is better than picking a few ripe figs to add to your cheese board – the perfect accompaniment. Or baking a few stuffed apples for dessert. Please help yourselves. Take a walk up to the walnut orchard where you’ll find the nuts are falling on the ground.

The trees start to show signs that Autumn is on its way as leaves slowly changing to a rusty brown. The winter daffodils add stunning shots of yellow to the garden and the hydrangeas are still a lovely warm pink. Its this time of year when the roses often produce a second bloom of the season, adding a stunning array of colours and fragrances.

Beautiful orange Chinese Lantern husks in the Fontalbe grounds

Harvest Time at the Markets and Vineyards

Local markets feel more intimate in September. Stallholders have time to chat, and the produce is luscious: juicy tomatoes, plump grapes, orange pumpkins, late summer strawberries, not to mention the usual stalls selling regional cheeses, duck confit, walnuts and wines. It’s the start of the season of preserving and pickling, and our kitchen often smells of chutney or jam in progress. (If you’re lucky and we’ve had a good crop, you’ll find a few home-made jars of fig jam or apple and walnut chutney in your welcome pack!).

September is harvest time. The vines are bursting with plump ripe grapes ready for picking. Bergerac is surrounded by vineyards producing reds, whites, and dessert wines. You can visit estates nearby for tastings or head to the Maison des Vins in Bergerac to learn about the different appellations. Some of the vineyards in the region welcome volunteers to help with the vendanges (grape harvest). It’s a hands-on, rewarding experience that often comes with perks like lunch, wine tastings, and a chance to meet the winemakers.

A Slower Pace of Life

It’s also a brilliant time for walking. The trails are dry but not dusty, and the woods are full of mushrooms and rustling wildlife. We’ve had guests spot deer at dawn and hear owls at night. The bats are still active too—our favourite natural pest controllers, flitting silently above the garden.

The busyness of the high summer has passed, and with fewer people about, it’s the perfect time to visit some of the chateaux and gardens and even mess about on the river. It’s a little cooler and a lot quieter. A recent group of friends canoed on the river Dordogne at the end of September and had the river totally to themselves. It certainly reduced the chances of a collision with another canoe!

Stunning chateau on a hill in the Dordogne

September – The perfect Time to Visit Fontalbe

The sun is still shining, and the evenings stretch out gently. This month we’ve hosted everything from family holidays, friends get togethers and wellbeing retreats to lively birthday dinners and each one has felt special in its own way.

If you’re thinking of visiting, September is a time to slow down, to savour, and to see the Dordogne in a softer light. And at Fontalbe, we’re ready to welcome you.