Perigord Vacance

Metal detecting holiday France

Jan 21, 2013

How would you like to spend your days in beautiful peaceful French countryside detecting for lost coins and other artefacts?

We have 20 acres of currently virgin un-searched land, bordering on a major pilgrim route from Spain to France. There is also evidence of Roman activity within half-a-mile of our property.

There are two ways you can enjoy a metal detecting holiday with us:

Come with your family during the normal holiday season (book here) and use the pool, enjoy the peace, quiet and rural tranquillity of this special corner of France.

Come out of the holiday season, on your own or with fellow enthusiasts.

You'll have complete freedom to search anywhere on our land (some areas may be out of bounds depending on the what stage of development and growth the crops are). I also have permission from our neighbour on adjacent.

Conditions of searching

Access to our land is included as part of your rental. No extra fees will be payable except in the case of firewood or extra heating costs should it be required, depending on the time of year.

All guest detectorists will leave the land as they find it. Charges may be made if reparations are necessary after your visit.

Keeping within the law

There is still much debate about the legalities of using a metal detecting in France. As we understand it it is fully legal providing it's with the land owners permission and no search activity takes place within the vicinity of or on sites of archaeological importance.

Under French law it is an offence to search sites without the landowner's permission.

It is an offence to disturb sites of archaeological importance and no one shall search for objects older than 300 years of age. If during your visit any important archaeological artefacts are discovered you will be requested to stop detecting and your find will be reported to our Mayor and also, possibly, the regional Prefecture.

No refunds will be given should you be requested to cease searching due to any major find of archaeological interest.

However, should any archaeological artefacts be found that is deemed to be state property you will be kept informed and if it is declared at a later date that you are entitled to a reward then you will receive 50% of its value. The remaining 50% will be payable to us.

In the case of finds made on neighbouring land, any rewards will be split three ways (this is subject to change).

Please do see our Chez Nous page for details on booking the Pigeonnaire or email [email protected] if you have any questions.

Saturday 20 July 2013

Rob Wheatman, was on holiday near Sarlat with his wife Di and and daughter Mel.

Both Rob and Mel are enthusiasts and came to detect here at Jean Blanc.

Ground a little hard

(image: Rob has just stumbled upon a 1960 one franc coin)

With the temperatures topping 30C for the last ten days the soil was understandably hard to dig. However, unperturbed, Rob ventured out for a couple of hours.

It didn't take too long before Rob had found a few objects. Nothing of value but of interest to me as I try to conjure up a view of what went on on and around our land in previous years.

I'd already found a 1853 Napoleon III 2 centime piece but today Rob doubled the coin count by finding a 1960 One Franc piece. Interestingly in a spot I'd already detected at least twice. It goes to show there's always something that's likely missed, just waiting to be found.

Some of the finds so far....

(1 Franc found by Rob)