Surrounded by an intimate, hilly countryside of woods and hay meadows and drowsy hilltop villages, RIBÉRAC, 30km downstream from Bourdeilles, is a pleasant if unremarkable town, whose greatest claim to fame is its major Friday market, bringing in producers and wholesalers from all around. With a couple of decent hotels, it makes an agreeable base from which to explore the quiet, lush Dronne landscape. A good cheap option is the Hôtel du Commerce at 8 rue Gambetta on the corner of the wide central place de Gaulle (tel 05.53.91.28.59; under €30; closed Sun eve & Wed), with a nice restaurant from €10.50. More attractive and excellent value is the De France on the opposite side of the square at 3 rue Marc-Dufraisse (tel 05.53.90.00.61, fax 05.53.91.06.05; €40–55), with a terrace garden and a locally renowned restaurant, serving original cuisine (closed Mon & lunch Tues–Thurs & Sat; menus €22). There's also a riverside municipal campsite on the Angoulême road outside Ribérac (tel 05.53.90.50.08; closed 15 Sept–May).For further ideas about chambres d'hôte in the surrounding country, Ribérac's tourist office on place de Gaulle is the place to ask (July & Aug Mon–Sat 9am–noon & 1.30–6.30pm, Sun 10am–1pm; Sept–June Mon–Sat 9am–noon & 2–5pm; tel 05.53.90.03.10); they can also provide information about the numerous Romanesque churches in outlying villages that could provide a focus for leisurely wandering. Bikes can be rented from Cycle Cum's, 35 rue du 26-Mars (05.53.90.33.23). Alternate spellings:: France, Ribérac, Ribérac, Riberac
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