Emergency numbers, the nearest hospital and pharmacy, the GHIC card, the pool, the river, ticks, heat and the 2026 border rules for UK visitors. Checked in September 2026.
Checked 11 September 2026. Hours and prices change, so follow the links to the official sites before you set off. Distances are from Sol du Mazel.
If someone is ill or hurt
- Emergency: call 112 from any phone. It works without a French SIM and the operators speak English. 15 is the medical emergency line (SAMU), 18 the fire service, 17 the police. 114 by text for the deaf.
- Hospital with an emergency department: Centre Hospitalier Jean Leclaire, Le Pouget, Sarlat, open 24 hours, +33 5 53 31 75 75. About 25 minutes. Bergerac (Centre Hospitalier Samuel Pozzi) is the alternative, about an hour.
- Doctors: the Centre de Santé at Cénac, allée des Pommiers, +33 5 53 28 37 84, has GPs, physiotherapists and nurses, about 15 minutes away. Daglan has a nurses' cabinet by the Mairie, +33 5 53 28 40 67, but no GP.
- Pharmacies: Pharmacie Delage in Saint-Pompon itself, +33 5 53 28 44 09, and Pharmacie du Capiol in Cénac, +33 5 53 28 30 01. Domme, Daglan and Saint-Cybranet also have pharmacies. French pharmacists give advice and treat minor problems; the duty pharmacy rota is posted on every pharmacy door.
The pool
French law since 2003 requires every private pool to have an approved safety device. Ours is a fence with a self-closing gate to the NF P90-306 standard, which is the passive option consumer bodies recommend. A fence is not a substitute for a parent. Nobody under twelve in the pool enclosure without an adult, gate closed behind you, no diving in the shallow end, no running on the surround, and no glass by the pool.
The river
The Dordogne is lovely and it is a river. Hire canoes require buoyancy aids, bar children under six and require every paddler to swim 25 metres. Swim only at the supervised beaches at Groléjac and Cazals, in season and in the afternoons when the lifeguards are on. Never swim near the weirs or after heavy rain.
Sun and heat
The Dordogne had orange heatwave alerts in early July and mid August 2026, with temperatures near 40 degrees. Check vigilance.meteofrance.fr: yellow, orange and red are the levels. On hot days keep the shutters closed until evening, do the outing early, swim after four, and drink far more water than feels necessary. Small children and grandparents feel the heat first.
Ticks, caterpillars and hornets
- Ticks live in the long grass and woods all season and can carry Lyme disease. Long trousers for walks, a tick check at bath time, and remove any tick promptly with a tick card or fine tweezers, pulling straight out. A spreading red ring in the following weeks needs a doctor. Santé publique France.
- Processionary caterpillars nest in pines and oaks and march in lines in spring. Their hairs cause rashes and eye irritation and are dangerous to dogs. Do not let children touch hairy caterpillars or the silky nests.
- Asian hornets are common in the Dordogne. The sting hurts like a wasp's and is no more dangerous unless someone is allergic. Swelling of the lips, tongue or throat is an emergency: call 15 or 112.
Everyday things
- Tap water is safe to drink. Dordogne test results run at over 98 per cent compliant.
- The septic tank takes toilet paper only. Wipes and sanitary products block it.
- The wood stoves get hot enough to burn. Keep small children away when they are lit.
- Fire risk is real in a dry summer. No barbecues on the grass, no fires in the meadow, cigarette ends in water.
Travel rules for UK visitors in 2026
- Passport: issued less than ten years before the day you arrive, and valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area.
- Entry/Exit System (EES): fully in operation across the Schengen area since 10 April 2026. On your first entry your fingerprints and photo are taken at the border instead of a passport stamp. Allow extra time at Dover, the Eurotunnel terminal and airports.
- ETIAS: not in force. The EU dropped its late-2026 start date in July 2026 and 2027 is now expected. There is nothing to buy for a 2026 trip. Beware of websites selling "ETIAS" now. Official information: travel-europe.europa.eu/etias.
- Driving: a UK sticker unless your number plate already shows UK, headlamp beam deflectors, a warning triangle and a high-visibility vest for each occupant within reach of the driver's seat. Fines run to 135 euros per missing item. A Crit'Air sticker is only needed in city low-emission zones such as Paris, where only the cleanest classes may enter the ring road in 2026.
- Mobile roaming: no longer guaranteed free. Some UK networks charge around £2 a day in the EU, others still include it with a data cap. Check your own tariff before you leave.
- Official advice: gov.uk foreign travel advice for France.
Questions we are asked
- What is the emergency number in France?
- 112 for any emergency, from any phone, with English-speaking operators. 15 is the medical emergency line, 18 the fire service and 17 the police.
- Where is the nearest hospital to Sol du Mazel?
- The Centre Hospitalier Jean Leclaire at Le Pouget, Sarlat, about 25 minutes away. Its emergency department is open 24 hours a day. Telephone +33 5 53 31 75 75.
- Do UK visitors need an ETIAS to visit France in 2026?
- No. ETIAS is not yet in force; the EU removed its late-2026 start date in July 2026 and 2027 is now expected. The Entry/Exit System, which takes fingerprints and a photo at the border, has been fully operational since 10 April 2026.
- Is the pool at Sol du Mazel fenced?
- Yes. It has a fence with a self-closing gate to the French NF P90-306 standard. Children must still be supervised by an adult at all times in the pool enclosure.