THE REGION
The Lot-et-Garonne is in the Aquitaine region of southwest France and has all the ingredients for a good holiday - uncluttered landscapes, empty roads, clean rivers and good regional cuisine. The village of Saint-Pardoux-du-Breuil is in the Marmandais area on the river of the Garonne, a region of gentle rolling countryside and pretty villages where weekly markets are held in the cobbled squares.
The département abounds with tree covered hills and fertile valleys of mixed prairie, farmland and woodlands which are home to a wealth of birds and other wildlife, including red squirrels. Chateaux are to be seen on hilltops and there are many castles, which are well worth visiting.
Bastide villages are still centres of local country life and their market squares offer a multitude of opportunities to taste the local food and mix with the locals. The produce 
from this region is famous throughout France. Agriculture is one of the Lot-et-Garonne's main activities. There are some sheep and cattle, but the land is mainly devoted to growing various kinds of food crops. Cereals, particularly maize, figure prominently, and fruit growing is a speciality. The immediate area is the market garden of France with many salad products grown here - you have to try the sweet Marmande tomato! The department is noted for its plums, the famous Agen pruneaux, strawberries and succulent melons.
The vineyards produce good wines in the Duras, Marmandais and Buzet areas, and the region is now one of the last tobacco-growing centres in France.
This is also an ideal place to stay and branch out from - located not far from Bordeaux. A 90 minute drive takes you to the Atlantic coast or 2 hours to the Pyrenees summits, while three hours gets you to the Mediterranean.
There's so much to see and do in Lot-et-Garonne that the choice is endless. The following is just a selection of some of the more popular leisure activities.
Food and Drink
The gourmet bounty from this area is truly world class. Local menus often start with foie gras followed by the delicious magret de canard. Duck is one of the mainstays of Lot-et-Garonne cuisine, served in rich fruit or wine sauces and washed down with ripe St. Émilion, Marmandais, Buzet or Duras wines and followed by a tot or two of Almagnac. Leafy restaurant terraces, often with great views over the surrounding countryside, offer excellent prices and generous portions.
Arts and Crafts
Many artists and craftsmen find their inspiration in this privileged area and are delighted to welcome you to their studios. Throughout the year many local associations and guilds organise lively and traditional festivals where everyone is invited to join in.
Boating and Canoeing
The Lot and the Garonne rivers provide pleasure boating and attractive walks for holidaymakers. The river rehabilitation program undertaken several years ago in Lot-et-Garonne has opened up over 200 km of navigable waterways, one of the most extensive and pleasant river networks in Southern Europe. It is possible to take one or two hour boat trips with commentary on points of interest, Villeneuve has electric boats for hire and there are various places, within a reasonable distance, which offer canoeing and kayaking for the whole family.
Wine
The wines of this region, Duras, Bergerac, Marmandais, Buzet and Cahors, although not as well known as some, are excellent and there are many other small, local producers, which are well worth a visit and offer excellent wines, which are good value. However, the famous vineyards of St Émilion are less than an hour away and the Medoc less than 90 minutes.
Walking and Cycling
The countryside in Lot-et-Garonne offers unlimited scope for walkers and cyclists and the department has local networks through the most scenic regions. Cycles can be hired in nearby Villeneuve.
Riding & Pony Trekking
Many riding stables offer rides and pony treks, and there are two within a 30 minute drive of Château Le Breuil which cater for children as well as the more advanced.
Golf
There are several excellent courses within an hour's drive of the Château. The Villeneuve Golf & Country Club, which is 10km north of Villeneuve on the N21 (only 45 minutes away), has two courses (9 and 18-hole) as well a clubhouse offering excellent meals. Other good courses can be found at Golf d'Albret, Barbaste, Golf d'Agen, Bon Encontre, Golf de Casteljaloux, Casteljaloux, Golf de Marmande, Marmande and Golf de Barthe at Tombeboeuf.
Rugby
Rugby is the national sport of the South West and the Lot-et-Garonne is home to the world-class Rugby Union club at Agen as well as France's 2002/2003 season's winning Rugby League side The Leopards of Villeneuve-sur-Lot.
Markets
The village market is the country calendar of France and you can measure the seasons by the produce to be found, each at its appointed time. Most villages will have a market day once a week; larger towns such as Marmande have two.
Close to Agen the Walibi Leisure Park set in over 30 hectares of lush greenery provides an unforgettable day out where the rides, spectacular shows and special events offer a dynamic contrast to the more serene activities of local visitors. For the very young there is the petit train, Walibiland and Baby Kangourou.
Fishing
The Lot-et-Garonne is a super place for anglers with fishing permits available from Angling stores and a number of other places such as Tourist Offices and Tabacs. The local Anglers Federation publishes a comprehensive booklet each year on the rivers, the rules for the catch and the different seasons for different species. The permit is called a Carte de Peche and comes in different forms such as the Carte Journaliere, for one day's fishing and Carte Vacances for 15 days from June 1st to September 30th.
There is so much more we could put in here - you will just have to come out and see for yourselves...