This charming family house to the south of Bergerac is surrounded by its own vines and has exceptional views over the quiet, rolling countryside. The origins of the property date from a 14th-century farm; the restoration embraces four barns and an additional new wing. It is just 1.5 km from the nearest village, which has a small shop and ‘dépôt de pain’ selling fresh bread, as well as a historic château. Bergerac is only 15 minutes away, and offers a good choice of shops, a twice-weekly market, plenty of excellent restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets, and all sorts of entertainment, such as jazz evenings each week in the summer. All around lie the famous medieval villages of the Dordogne, with their châteaux, churches and prehistoric caves.
The garden includes a 6 x 12m swimming pool – walled, fenced, gated and electronically alarmed for security, to provide reassurance for clients with small children. There are numerous loungers on the large tiled pool area, plus a multitude of pool toys. The garden also contains an all-weather tennis court (with plenty of rackets), plus an all-weather ping-pong table, and a boules court. A dozen assorted bicycles are available for use.
The main hub of the house was originally the cow barn, and has been converted into a huge open-plan kitchen and dining area, seating 14, and living room, with two sofas and armchairs grouped around a fireplace at one end. This south-facing room has a vaulted ceiling so is in effect two storeys high, and has impressive exposed beams. The stone walls and terracotta floor keep it beautifully cool in summer. The overall style of the furnishings throughout suggests sympathetic rustic simplicity – welcoming and comfortable. The kitchen is well equipped, with generous work-surface areas, a gas-fired five-burner range cooker, microwave, dishwasher, two fridges (one with freezer and icecube dispenser), electric beaters, washing machine and drying machine. French doors lead south onto the garden, while a second set of doors on the east side adjoins the covered outdoor dining area and barbecue, with the pool area beyond. A stone archway leads to the sunny south-facing library/TV room, with book-filled walls, three sofas, a DVD player, a CD player and broadband internet access. The main bedroom is on the first floor; other double or twin bedrooms are on the ground floor. There is also a children’s bedroom (sleeping four in two bunk beds), with plenty of space to play in, plus toys and games, and a dressing-up box. A drop-sided cot and a travel cot are also available. On request, the house manager can organize activities and excursions, such as complimentary private wine tours and tastings, trips to St Emilion with an eminent wine professor, riding for adults and children, painting classes for children, hot-air ballooning, canoeing, even fencing lessons.
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Living rooms
Large, double-storey, open-plan kitchen/dining area/sitting room. Separate library/sitting room.
Bedrooms
Main bedroom (‘Mathilde’) on first floor, accessed from the kitchen: double bed; en-suite bathroom with bath, separate shower, twin basins and WC.
Bedroom 2 (‘Louis’): large children’s room, below the main bedroom, with 2 bunk beds (sleeping 4).
Bedroom 3 (‘Henri’): small double bed.
Bedroom 4 (‘Claudine’): twin beds (can be made up as a 180cm super-kingsize)
Bedroom 5 (‘Camille’): twin beds (can be made up as a 180cm super-kingsize)
Bedroom 6 (‘Collette’): twin beds (can be made up as a 180cm super-kingsize); french doors leading out to the garden; en-suite bathroom. This room would be suitable for guests with reduced mobility.
The bedrooms without en-suite bathrooms share one simple shower room with shower, basin and WC, and another simple bathroom with bath, basin, bidet and WC.
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