Cottage in Dordogne, France

Les Bonnets details

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The front view of 'Domaine de Fumel'

The swimming pool

Les Bonnets

one of the ponds

La Tour

Les Bonnets with a Banxia rose and view

Martha's Nest courtyard

summer visitors

La Ferme

Le Sauvignon's courtyard

Home description

Our no children policy keeps the noise level to clinking of glasses and gentle after-lunch snoring. It is an ideal place for a rest, either as a couple or a group of like-minded friends taking a house apiece. Set in the heart of its own 53 acres of vines and farmland it is a very peaceful and private place to stay, with panoramic views over open countryside. Set back from a minor road by its own long driveway, Domaine de Fumel provides an oasis of calm and tranquillity for the discerning holidaymaker.

The cottages "Les Bonnets", "Le Chai",  "Les Demoiselles", "La Ferme", "Martha's Nest", "Le Sauvignon" and "La Tour" have been carefully restored and a lot of time and effort has been spent selecting the right contents for each beautifully furnished home. Each with it's own character, all kitchens are very well equipped and have dishwashers and washing machines, The pretty bedrooms all have beds larger than standard - some are 1.60 and others are 1.85 metres and will be made ready for your arrival. Outside each cottage is a private seating area with table, chairs, sun beds and a gas barbecue.

We have a newly created independent cloakroom and kitchenette facility for air travellers arriving early or departing late. Lounge by the pool, keeping lunch and white wine cool in the fridge,  make yourself a cuppa in the kitchen and wash etc., change and dry off your hair in the cloakroom before leaving, all with no time hassle.

A word on the exterior

The 14m x 7m swimming pool has a deep end of 2.2M and a shallow end of 0.9m with roman steps. It is near the edge of a gentle grass slope and benefits from pastoral views and inspiring sunsets. Plenty of sun beds are provided around the pool.

The surrounding gardens are mostly laid to lawn with several trees for shade. Some are cherries which you can help yourselves to in June, also we have figs and grapes which are ready in September. We also have three ponds, stocked with goldfish greedy for your stale bread. A word of warning - from April until June the frogs croak happily, they can be quite noisy!

Each property has its own private courtyard area with a table and chairs provided for four people so you can share a barbecue, apertifs  or a meal with your neighbours. Also for each house is a gas BBQ, sun beds and a set of boules for those of you with a competitive edge (or the energy).

 Our land is designated a "Reserve de repeuplement" by the local Chasse which means there is no hunting allowed on it and it has therefore become a refuge for all the local wildlife. Golden Oriels and nightingales enchant us in spring and early summer, buzzards, owls, bats and hawks entertain us all summer and autumn. Because of a careful policy on pesticides with farming and vines, our land benefits from wild orchids and fritillaries in early summer.

A word on the interiors

A lot of time, care and effort has been spent with selecting the right contents for each beautifully furnished home. They all have pine kitchens fully equipped with pretty china, plenty of glasses (very essential!), pots and pans etc., a large fridge with separate freeze compartment, gas fired oven and 4 burner hob, washing machine, dish-washer, microwave, coffee maker, toaster, iron and cold box for food shopping and picnics. A hand towel and tea cloths are provided for the kitchen, along with a cleaning sponge, washing up liquid, washing powder and dishwasher tablets.

The pretty bedrooms will be made for your arrival with bed linen, pillows and duvets or blankets provided. The linen is changed weekly, hairdryers, soap and toilet paper supplied. Towels for personal & pool use can be rented, these are the only extra that we charge.

The furnishings are of good quality with some country antique pieces.

Accommodation detail

lounge, dining & kitchen

extra large bed, beautiful beams

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Sleeps 2, converted in 1998, was an extension to the medieval building in 1772!

One end of the original farmhouse, this house has lovely long views over an ancient pond stocked with goldfish and rolling farmland. The entrance and patio area faces west and benefits from cool breezes and good shade. There is also a seating area on the south side for those of you who prefer to boil…

• The bedroom has a 6ft zipped king-size bed of excellent quality, set in the roof slopes, with beautiful exposed beams. (Some are low!) Windows look south over the pool and north over open countryside.
• The en-suite bathroom has a hand-basin, w.c. and bath with hand shower attachment for hair washing

Downstairs

• The well-equipped kitchen area
• Heavily beamed lounge and dining room has exposed stone walls and a restored fireplace. The dining chairs and table are local country antiques.

Named after the previous owners, Dennis & Olga Bonnet.

About the location

4km from beautiful medieval Issigeac, the nearest village with shopping, good restaurants and bars and a great Sunday market. Near enough to walk to if you have stamina but walking back afterwards.........

20 mins drive from Bergerac, our nearest large(ish) town with compreshensive shopping, large supermarkets, lots of choice of restaurants and the river Dordogne.

Nearest entertainment - vineyards all around.

See Local guide and map for information on nearby towns and facilities.

Activities near by

Ballooning, Bird Watching, Canoeing, Cycling, Fishing, Golf, Gourmet dining, Horse riding, Rambling, Shopping, Sightseeing, Swimming, Tennis, Walking, Wind Surfing, Wine tasting, Wine touring

See Activities and attractions for more information on nearby activities and places of interest.

How to get here

By air: We are 15 minutes south of Bergerac Airport with direct flights from Stanstead, Liverpool and Nottingham/Leeds by Ryanair and Southampton, Gatwick, Exeter and Birmingham by Flybe.

By car: If you are driving down (so that you can take back a boot full of wine) then from Calais will take about 12 hours, Caen about 10 hours and St Malo about 9 hours driving, including pit stops.

See Local guide and map for information on nearby towns and airports.