A89 exit 13 dog walk near Mussidan, France
Photo © Driving with Dogs 
Photo © Driving with Dogs 
Photo © Driving with Dogs 
Photo © Driving with Dogs
Description
A relaxing stop in a small French town that lies well off the usual tourist routes, and a walk in the grounds of an ancient chateau with links to modern Montreal.
Details
In Mussidan: Free parking in the main square. Restaurants, a number of shops for picnic supplies.
Vet: Cabinet Veterinaire, 18 Avenue Clemenceau, Mussidan. Tel: 05 53 81 08 17
How to get there
Leave the A89 at junction 13 and, after the péage, take the 1st exit at the roundabout, signed Mussidan, D709. Continue ahead for 1.5 km and take the sharp right turn, signed Bourgnac. Immediately turn left signed La Forge. Carry straight on to the T-junction and turn right. Drive under the motorway and enter Bourgnac. After several kilometres, turn right when signed for Chateau de Montréal. Follow the narrow lane around to the right, and continue winding uphill to park as signed on the grass outside the chateau.
Walk
This is a short stroll on a footpath close to the Château Montreal. There aren't any facilities, and the main attraction here is the commanding view over the fertile lands of the Dordogne.
The original chateau here was built in the 1300s, although most of this version was destroyed after the 100 years war when the residents backed the wrong side (the English). Since then some of the remaining walls and features have been restored over the years, and new bits added to make the chateau a lovely private residence. Tours of the interior buildings are possible in summer, with English speaking guides - but dogs are not permitted inside the buildings.
The most interesting historical snippet is that one Claude de Pontbriant, a member of the family who built the original castle, went exploring to the 'New World'. On his travels he renamed a small Indian settlement 'Montreal' after the family estate. And that's how the Canadian city got its name!
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Add a reviewEdited: 1st February 2022. The details of this listing may have changed, and though the Driving with Dogs team do our best to confirm the accuracy of every listing, we cannot guarantee that the details are fully up to date and accurate. If you know that any aspect of this listing is incorrect, please suggest an edit to let us know.
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