A riverside house in Bellac by a park with lovely views of the medieval town.

We retired in 2001 from our retail sports business in the west country of England. We had always loved visiting different countries on holiday and so we bought a motorhome and spent several months at a time exploring Europe. Our interests then were involved with anything to do with water and snow and for many years we indulged our passion for subaqua diving and ski-ing. Although we no longer dive, we still enjoy our annual ski-ing trip. We have 3 grown up children and 6 grandchildren in England and we love having them on holiday with us in Bellac. There are so many lovely places to take them plus of course the fun times we have on our local river or the nearby lakes.We are now permanently resident in France and live next to the gite.

It was in 2003 while we were en route back to England from Italy when an untypical day of torrential rain prompted us to stop overnight in Bellac during the annual National Musical Festival. Late evening when the rain had stopped and it was warm and humid, we went for a stroll in the town and felt a charm that was difficult to analyse. The following day we explored the mediaeval quarters and then discovered the town was actually perched above a tranquil river that winds its way through the valley below. We were hooked and the following year we returned and bought our riverside properties. 9 years later we have no regrets and simply love this stunning region of France and the warmth of the people.Tourists haven't really discovered it yet which makes it extra special!

This perfect location combines semi-rural life with the convenience of a town within walking distance. Step out of the door into a pretty landscaped park which extends over both sides of the river. There are picnic benches and fishing platforms as well as a small play area for children. The 13th century bridge spans the river and downstream there is a charming walk through the small gorge. We are very close to open countryside too and marked walks are literally on our doorstep. Bellac is in the very heart of France and situated halfway between the Channel ports and the Mediterranean.This makes an ideal spot to spend a short break. Driving here is a real pleasure on excellent, quiet roads.