Join me for 6 days and 5 nights in the heart of the Périgord. Krys and Tim Birch, who cooked at a Michelin-starred restaurant in England, will welcome us to their Domaine de la Barde for elegant accommodations, lavish meals featuring the rich cuisine of the Périgord, and local wines. The highlight of our stay: a day in Le Bugue with Martin Walker, author of the Bruno, Chief of Police novels, ending with a long Périgord lunch at his home, served with Cuvée Bruno — and much more.

• 6 days · 5 nights
• Domaine de la Barde, Le Bugue
• From €3,555 per person
• €800 deposit to book

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival in Bergerac

Tim meets us at Bergerac train station and takes us to Château Tiregand, home of Bruno’s favorite wine. Transfer to Domaine de la Barde for an apéritif and welcome dinner.

Day 2

A day with Martin Walker

At 10 am, a five-minute walk takes us to Le Bugue, the village where Martin Walker and his wife live. Martin leads a short walking tour of the market and village, then takes us to Château de la Vitrolle, a French Resistance site; the Église Saint-Martin, built by Henry II of England as penance for the murder of Thomas à Becket; the charming village of Limeuil; and a tasting of Cuvée Bruno at Julien de Savignac.

A festive lunch follows at Martin and Julia’s home. Dinner at the Domaine.

Day 4

Château de Fayolle

Winery visit and tasting hosted by Riki and Frank Campbell, who have done a remarkable job making Fayolle a must-stop. Generous lunch on the terrace. Dinner at the Domaine.

Day 5

Château des Milandes

Visit of Château des Milandes, Josephine Baker’s home, and lunch at a lovely bistro with a view. Back to the Domaine for a festive farewell dinner with Martin Walker.

Day 6

Departure

Brunch at the Domaine, then transfer to the train station.

Where we stay

Five nights at Domaine de la Barde in Le Bugue, hosted by Krys and Tim Birch, with Tim in the kitchen and at the wheel for our outings around the Périgord Noir.

Tim Birch and his family have been doing a great job in restoring a lovely old building near my home called Domaine de la Barde.

Martin Walker

What travelers say

The Périgord trip offers unique experiences thanks to Terrance’s personal connections and attention to detail. Spending quality time lunching with author Martin Walker at his home and seeing unmarked French Resistance locations nearby surpassed my expectations. Staying at the Domaine de la Barde hosted by Tim and Krys Birch was flawless. Chef Tim’s delicious (and beautiful) cuisine and tales of renovating the 12th-century château made every meal a delight. This trip truly created lifetime memories for a seasoned traveler.

Becky Carter, Hoboken, NJ

If there were superlatives greater than outstanding and extraordinary, I would use them for Terrance’s Périgord trip. I am a great Martin Walker fan. We spent a day with him learning about Bruno and other historical sights near Le Bugue, the fictional Saint-Denis. We saw the Tuesday market, tasted wines at Hugo’s Wine Cellar (Julien de Savignac), entered a small chapel Henry II built as penance for the death of Thomas à Becket, strolled around Limeuil, one of the “plus beaux villages de France”, and were treated to a fine late lunch at Martin’s house. Martin also joined us for a final Friday night dinner.

Our accommodations at Domaine de la Barde and Tim Birch’s cooking could not have been better. Martin made Tim and Krys characters in his most recent book. They are just as nice as Martin portrays them. Tim was a great chauffeur for all our trips around the Périgord Noir.

Terrance was a great companion and raconteur. Not all of us were Bruno fans at the start, but we were all — and will be — Terrance fans.

Dan Cummings, Chicago

Price

Next tour dates

An €800 deposit secures your place. Each date has its own booking page with its deposit button.

Please note: the program may be adjusted due to unforeseen circumstances. The order of visits may change, but the spirit of the trip will stay intact — and, if anything, the experience will be enhanced.