Sauveterre de Guyenne Vacation Rentals

Sauveterre de Guyenne is a small bastide town located in the heart of the "Entre deux Mers" region of South West France. Although some buildings in Sauveterre date back as far as the 10th century I understand that the bastide towns in the Aquitaine (our region) were developed and reconstructed by the English, who owned the region at that time, to protect the local community of wine producers from French attacks. The "100 year War" was finally won by the French at Castillon La Bataille about 14 kms from Sauveterre and ended English supremacy in the area. This last battle is re-enacted every August at Castillon and is really impressive - starting around 10pm and ending with canons firing around midnight.
Sauveterre was developed with a grid plan around central, arcaded, square. Originally the town was surrounded by walls that have long since been demolished however the North, South, East, West gates still stand. The main arcaded square has a busy market on Tuesday morning. Around the square we have 2 restaurants,a pharmacy, two "Boulanger" with home baked bread and cakes, the newspaper shop where children can spend hours choosing sticker books and sweets, the "Tabac" which still sells tobacco but has recently increased the level of fishing and shooting material on its shelves, the Post Office where the staff spend a lot of time chatting and it can take hours to buy a stamp, The Tourist Office run by the "Mairie" (Town Hall), a flower shop, a shoe shop, an optician with shop, and of course, many banks and hairdressers. It is pleasant to wander the small streets,many still cobbled, and wind up with a beer in the square.
During the school year there is continuous activity in the town, from Theatre and Music recitals, Quines (Bingo) in the Town Hall, Brocantes (High class jumble sales) twice a year under the arcades and many other activities. Once the school holidays start at the end of June the place changes. It is well worth looking at http://www.sauveterre-de-guyenne.com/ but the main event is the "Fête des vins" which always happens on the last weekend of July. This is when you can taste wine from the entire region and eat local food while your children ride the roundabouts and dodgem cars.
Nearby, at Monsegur, there is an annual internationally renowned Jazz Festival on the first weekend of July and the town goes on the have night markets every Wednesday throughout the summer, when you can wander around tasting local food, listen to music and generally realax on a summer evening.
Sauveterre lies 55 kms SE of Bordeaux between St.Emilion and Sauternes (with the Medoc west of Bordeaux). The "Entre deux Mers" speciality is a white wine and although many local farmers have turned to production of red it is the white that really excels. Sauveterre has a cooperative on the edge of the town, as do most towns in the area, where you can take your plastic "bidon" and fill up by the litre, at very reasonable prices, using a system a bit like a petrol pump!
I understand that the name "Entre deux Mers" (translating as "Between Two Seas") originates from the middle ages when the pilgrims heading to St Jaques de la Compostelle in northern spain had to cross the two enormous rivers,the Dordorgne (north of Sauveterre) and the Garonne (south). The many abbeys, churches and villages developed as stopping places for these pilgrims are well worth a visit. Nearby Castelmoron d'Albret is one of these villages.Built on a rock it is also the smallest commune in France. The abbey of St. Ferme has a regular programme of concerts.
The old railway line, now a dedicated bike route, runs for 55kms through the vinyards in the undulating landscape to Bordeaux - bicycle hire at the Tourist Office.
We have many sporting facilities - tennis, riding, canoeing, swimming, fishing, shooting and many golf courses including Langon with its challenging 18 holes through pine forest.