EXCIDEUIL, connected by a bus service from Périgueux, is about 15km from Hautefort on the other side of the D704 Limoges road. In addition to its busy Thursday market and the tight streets of the old town, its real interest is the Château, splendidly impressive on its ridge overlooking the valley of the Loue and dominated by its skyscraping medieval keeps; you can enter the precinct but not the privately owned castle itself. An additional bonus is the typically French Hostellerie du Fin Chapon, just below the castle at 3 place du Château (tel 05.53.62.42.38, fax 05.53.52.39.60; €30–40), with simple but agreeable rooms and a good restaurant where a meal costs between €7 and €30. The tourist office (Jan & Feb Tues & Thurs 10am–noon & 3–5pm, Sat 10am–noon; March Tues, Thurs & Fri 10am–12.30pm & 3–5pm, Sat 10am–12.30pm; April & Sept–Dec Mon 2.30–5.30pm, Tues, Thurs & Fri 10am–12.30pm & 2.30–5.30pm, Sat 10am–12.30pm; May Mon 2.30–5.30pm, Tues–Fri 10am–12.30pm & 2.30–6.30pm, Sat 10am–12.30pm; June–Aug Mon 2.30–5.30pm, Tues–Fri 9.30am–12.30pm & 2.30–6.30pm, Sat 9.30am–12.30pm tel 05.53.62.95.56, www.tourisme-vert.net) occupies a booth just in front of the hotel, and there's a simple but prettily sited campsite (tel 05.53.62.43.72; July & Aug) by the river on the Limoges side of town.
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