I wouldn't put it high on my list of things you need to see in the area, unless perhaps you're a mason. It's a 15-hectare farm, with a half dozen or more cabanes, an orchard or two, and a boatload of ducks and geese. My kids used to like to go there to see the ducklings and goslings. It falls into the category of Périgord farmers trying to make a few extra euros by starting up a small commercial endeavor. Perfectly pleasant place, but frankly there are plenty of cabanes just sitting out in the open in the area (though granted, not a big cluster of them like the one in Breuil)that you don't need to pay to see.

I don't recall there being any information in English.

If you click on the Site Flash - sous construction on the site, there's a video that shows a bit more than the main site.

Thanks for the swift response. I am intrigued by the stone structures having seen similar in west of Ireland.

Are you able to wander round the farm as well as the huts?

If we don't visit these, where would you suggest is the best place to see and photograph others? We are based In Borrèze for a week.

You can wander around the farm, although there isn't much of a farm. The geese and the chickens wander around freely. The stone buildings are larger than most of those seen isolated in the fields, and can be entered. Some, which form part of the farm courtyard cannot be entered. As the left one in this photo:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/4527346006/in/set-72157623164797649

If you're interested in the stone structures, it's probably worth a short look-see. And yes, you can wander around.

Sorry, I can't remember where all the cabanes are - I just come across them when I'm on the tiny back roads. I think there may be a couple in/near Castels, maybe another one or two in the hills around Audrix and St-Chamassy, near the habitations préhistorique de la Laugerie...really not sure.

If you're interested in stone, though, you might want to check out the lauges roofs, which are becoming rarer all the time. We also have pigeonniers and a few dolmens and menhirs.

Sarlat, St. Geniès and St. Amand de Coly have a good collection of lauze roofs.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/7738084100/in/set-72157623164797649

yes, lauze. The buildings that comprise the Grotte du Sorcier were outfitted with brand new lauze roofs about 10 years ago. The cost was astronomical and it took forever. They look lovely though.

We're looking forward to seeing the lauze roofs. Sarlat, St. Geniès and St. Amand de Coly are all on the list of places to visit.

As someone who lives in the area (my neighbour's son married into the family who owns the cabanes) I found the structures quite interesting. We've been in many such structures, and have a bake oven covered in lauze - luckily in good shape as even that small space would be expensive to redo.

But as a tourist one doesn't ofen get the chance to see inside this type of cabane, or to see the lauze roof so close - at eye level. If this is what interests you, sure, go ahead. It's a great example of what it is.

I can't say whether there is any info in English. There may be a sheet of paper, but it's very likely there isn't anything.

Thank you for such a positive response. It's definitely on the list now.

Do you still use your oven?

We have every intention of using our oven, but it's very big - would have been at one time a 'four banal' or communal oven. It has been many years since it was used, and needs at least a week of gentle fires to dry it all out. So every time we think about it we get involved in something else and give up. But someday soon we will have a big pizza party for all the neighbours .

If you want to have a look, check out http://cettesemaineacarlux.blogspot.com/2009_11_01_archive.html

We had the whole 'fournil' or bakehouse re-roofed in 2009. If you check the entry for Nov. 13 you will see the four (oven) and its lauze roof.