Shopping
Bread
There are two good bakers in Monpazier. One in rue Notre-Dame through the first archway just before the church and another through the other archway into rue St. Jacques. Both are excellent and worth trying to establish your preference.
Be sure to try the local walnut bread and tarts. Walnuts are a local speciality and taste wonderfully fresh.
Groceries
There is now just one supermarket in Monpazier, a Spar in rue St. Jacques. It has a good selection of cheeses, fruit and veg… and fresh milk.
Hardware
The ovens run on bottled gas. If you need to buy additional gas bottles they are available at the garage at Marsales on the road out of Monpazier towards Beaumont and at most petrol stations and larger supermarkets. A wide range of hardware materials can be bought at the excellent store in Beaumont (on the narrow road leading from the square).
Markets
Most of the surrounding villages and towns have a weekly market where you can buy local produce. The Monpazier market, held on Thursdays, generally has a very good fish stall.
Market Day
- Tuesday: Beaumont, Le Bugue & Trémolat
- Wednesday: Bergerac, Cadouin & Sarlat
- Thursday: Monpazier, Domme & Monflanquin
- Friday: Le Buisson de Cadouin
- Saturday: Belvès, Sarlat, Beaumont & Villereal
- Sunday: Daglan, Issigeac & St. Cyprien
From time to time in the summer there are antique fairs know as ‘brocantes’. These are often attended by dealers and genuine bargains can be hard to find. You may have better luck at a ‘vide greniers’ – literally an ‘attic clearance’ more akin to our car boot sales. Check the regional website at www.pays-de-bergerac.com
Petrol
The nearest garage is just outside Monpazier on the road to Beaumont. Alternatively there are petrol stations at most supermarkets.
Supermarkets
The closest, larger supermarkets are found in Villereal, Beaumont and Siorac. All except the largest supermarkets are closed during lunch. Bergerac, Villeneuve sur Lot and Sarlat have the much larger hypermarkets. The best is probably the big new Intermarche at Creysse, just outside Bergerac to the east or the Leclerc on the road to Bordeaux on the west.
Wine
All the local supermarkets stock a reasonable range of regional wine and David Roche at Vino Veritas in rue Notre-Dame stocks a good selection. There is also an excellent wine merchant called Julien de Savignac (0553.07.10.31), just south of Le Bugue. As you approach Le Bugue from the north, it is on the main road on the left hand side. Please see the Food & Wine section for some suggestions regarding vineyards we recommend visiting.
Larger stores with a wider range of goods are found in the regional towns of Bergerac, Villeneuve sur Lot and Sarlat. Sarlat is the most attractive town (see the Towns & Villages section) but is it touristy. Bordeaux and Toulouse are both two hours drive away. They obviously have the best range of shops.