Hello Fodors folks

We are thinking of spending part of our holiday this summer visiting some friends who have a gite in the Dordogne valley (Saussignac). The idea is to fly into Bordeaux, rent a car, and spend one week in Saussignac and one by the coast. (I'll be back at a later date for suggestions for the coastal location!).

The big question at the moment is about swimming pools, the place we would be staying has no pool and for us access to an outdoor pool is a dealbreaker for our summer holiday (sad irish people i know but this is our one chance to see some real sun each year!). What I'm trying to figure out is are there municipal outdoor pools in Saussignac or within easy reach that we could drive to and sunbathe for a little while each day.

Any info gratefully received, thanks

jane

I am a bit purplexed - why do you need a pool for sunbathing?

I know in Ireland you have liquid sunlight (just about every day, too) but to sunbathe you really don't need the a pool, just the big yellow thng in the sky and a place that isn't shaded...

Not sure about where you are in Saussignac, but if you are near the Dordgone, normally you can swim there - even sunbathe.

Other than that municipal pools are not great. We have one in Sarlat, but it's surrounded by concrete, and not at all the place where I would want to sunbathe.

NB you have to wear speedos (budgie hiders as we call them) in public pools

I saw a lot of people sunbathing, swimming and having a picnic along the Dordogne River....great scenery surrounds you. I think it's much better than an outdoor pool.

Yes remember that - public pools in France require men to wear speedos as a "hygiene" measure.
I agree that isn't a public pool region - the river is lovely.

There are beaches all along the Dordogne river. There's no need for a public pool. They exist, but they're hideous. If it absolutely has to be a pool, I'd suggest heading for La Rivière, a four-star campground across the Vézère River from Les Eyzies. If you go there for lunch (or to use their laundry facilities) and talk to the owners, they'll let you use their pool, which is quite lovely. You can do the same thing at Le Brin d'Amour campground in St-Cirq. But really, just swim and sunbathe in/on the Dordogne.

Oh perfect - thanks everyone. The river sounds exactly like what we wanted - yes I was not looking necessarily for a pool but rather somewhere to swim (and assumed, incorrectly, that would be a pool, did not realise the river would be a good swimming venue). I'll check out the geographical location of where we are versus the river bathing areas.

ha ha bilboburgler - yes we are just back from biarritz where hubby was banned from the pool for want of "decent" swimwear. he will be delighted to know i have found a river where presumably he won't have to procure speedos!

FYI wizard, we need the pool because we are fry up and need to cool down with a swim every few minutes, sunbathing without cold water to immerse yourself in is an unknown concept to us paddys. i know it's daft, but there you are.

thanks all! as ever, great info here on fodors

jane

Just remember to have really good sunblock. I know the sun seems to be your friend - but it's really not - and the incidence of malignant melanoma (often very rapidly fatal) is definitely on the rise - even among young people. And you (fair skinned northern europeans) are the prime candidates. (Here we have strong regulations on tanning spas due to the risks.)