Exclusive use of pool at this beautifully restored villa

Home description

Where is it

• Location:  South West France  >  Aquitaine  >  Dordogne
• Closest town/village: St Paul De Serre (Dordogne) (2 minutes on foot)
• Closest airport: Bergerac Airport (45 minutes by car along the N 21)
• Access: Car Essential, Taxi from airport Car hire
• Property highlights: Barbecue, Garden, Scenic views, Swimming pool (exclusive use)

 

The villa consists of 2 separate houses linked by a wonderful old barn, all built entirely of the local stone and surrounding a completely private walled courtyard with a pergola supporting an old wisteria, a beautiful old sundial surrounded by fragrant thyme, sage and rosemary.  A beautifully situated walled in 5x10 metre swimming pool is surrounded by roses and shrubs. Plenty of secure parking!

It is a large property housing a restored Pisé-floor in the form of a Maltese Cross dating back to the French Renaissance. The property has been beautifully restored using oak, chestnut, cut stone and old fashioned terracotta tiles and with wonderful 6 acres of sloping grounds. There are 7 bedrooms, 3 bathroom/shower rooms, 3 WCs. Dining areas include the barn (seats 12) and  the kitchen/dining room (seats 10 +). The main sitting room with magnificent open fire place, has plenty of sofas and easy chairs for 15 guests, French and British satellite TV (all news channels BBC, CNN etc) , DVD, video, Hi Fi and a full size Willy Holt snooker table. Our guests are asked to bring their own cues, thanks.

If our guests wish to use the MULTIGYM they are requested to contact the owner for a special agreement!

The whole complex is centrally heated (oil), the capacious oil-tank being housed in the garage and the central heating can be used from November to February. There is a traditional open fireplace in the living room area as well as 2 wood-burning stoves: one in the ground floor bedroom of the 'Old House' and one in the kitchen.

Accommodation detail

Take a tour of 'Le Pré':

Having parked your cars, you may enter by crossing the terrace, but you may prefer to go to the main gate, into the inner courtyard and thence into the "Old House". You will find yourself in a wood-beamed room with a double bed and seating area,  with an ancient fireplace (now with a wood-burning stove), the authentic 18th century stone sink and the dressed stone window and door surrounds creating a lovely, homely atmosphere.  A small bedroom with a double bed and its own ancient window to the courtyard is accessed from this room. A chestnut staircase leads to the 2 carpeted double bedrooms with Queen size beds on the 1st floor, on each side of a modern, white full bathroom, with bath, shower, bidet, sink and WC.

Moving out into the spacious and completely private courtyard you will find the main kitchen of the property to your left, adjacent to the old bread oven. In the kitchen you will find every modern convenience: an oversized cooker with gas hob (5 gas rings) and very large electric oven with roasting-spit and electric grill, microwave oven, a fridge, a freezer, a large dishwasher, plenty of working space, a large table and chairs plus a beautiful wood-burning stove. On leaving the kitchen you may wish to ascend five stone steps to enter the beautifully restored large barn, the 2 levels of which combine sitting room and dining area (table for 12), linked by dressed stone steps. On entering, the visitors are struck by the 2 arches of dressed stone, magnificent wood-beamed ceiling, beautiful perigordian fire-place and terracotta tiles.

An outstanding feature of the barn is the French Renaissance pisé originating from the Post Relay Station of the nearby Chateau de Grignols, which was built in the XIth century for the Comte de Talleyrand-Périgord. The village of Grignols used to lie on one of the principal historic routes of the pilgrims making their way to Santiago de Compostela, in Spain and the motif of the pisé is the Maltese Cross.

Connecting this living area with the old house is a truly unusual double bedroom with a Queen size bed, terracotta and pisé floor, exposed old stone and beautiful oak-beamed ceiling with an electric, shuttered skylight! The windows, the French window – through which you may access a sheltered part of the large terrace – and the exquisite furnishings unite in creating a warm, peaceful and refined atmosphere. There is a shower room with WC next to this bedroom. 

On returning to the courtyard and having ascended 2 stone steps you are now entering the "Small House", the ground floor of which consists of a hallway with wooden staircase, a separate, fully-equipped Studio with a small kitchen, dining area and a double sofa bed. The washing machine is located in this kitchen. Next door there is a bedroom with 2 old, French single beds and a MULTIGYM. (See special note concerning the use of this piece of equipment).  If required, a third bed can be added to the 2 single beds. There is access to the terrace from both the Studio and the room with the MULTIGYM. On the first floor of this part of the complex you will find a beautiful double bedroom with a bed 1.80 m wide  as well as a spacious, modern shower-room with WC and mirrored bathroom cabinet. There are 2 cots and 1 extra sofa bed on the open landing. We also provide 2 high chairs and a playpen.

The superb Roman-style swimming pool 5 x 10 metres, with under water lighting was built on ground slightly higher than the house and is surrounded by a stone terrace with walls. Access to the pool is through an iron work gate which, considering the French laws on security for children, must be kept closed at all times.

The property has fast broadband, ADSL/WLAN connection.

'Le Pré' has been equipped with TV, DVD and video players, CD and cassette player. All external doors are lockable and have excellent wooden or electric shutters.

The inner courtyard has a lockable gate and is entirely private .

Important note concerning the use of the MULTIGYM:

If our guests wish to use this piece of equipment, they are asked to sign a Contract with the owner, declaring that all responsibility for the proper, safe use of the Multigym devolves upon the user.   Parents are responsible for their children, who are prohibited from using the Multigym without competent adult supervision!   If you wish to sign this Contract please contact us.

There are other games available, such as boules, table tennis, a genuine Willy Holt snooker table and traditional British parlour games. Please bring your own cues!

Summary of Accommodation

• 7 bedrooms (6 double, 1 twin, plus one studio with double sofa bed, plus one supplementary sofa bed).
• 3 WCs, 2 showers, 1 full bathroom with bathtub, shower and bidet.
• Fully equipped kitchen with oversized stove, microwave, fridge/freezer and dishwasher.
• The separate Studio consists of small but fully equipped kitchen, dining area and double sofa bed with its own access to terrace. (In the "Small House"). The washing machine is located in the "Small House".
• Dining areas: One table for 12 people in the barn, 1 table for 10 + people in the main kitchen.
• Large sitting room on 2 levels in barn with huge open fireplace
• Very efficient oil fired boiler for hot water and central heating throughout the property (central heating can be used from November to February).
• 2 wood-burning stoves, one in dining area of the kitchen, the other one on the ground floor of the "Old House".
• 2 cots with bedding, 2 high chairs, 1 off-the-ground playpen, paddling pool available
• Fast broadband, ADSL/WLAN.
• British and French satellite television, DVD player, CD player.
• MULTIGYM use available, please see SPECIAL NOTICE.
• Also a superb full size Willie Holt snooker table, table tennis table, boules etc. OUR GUESTS ARE ASKED TO BRING THEIR OWN SNOOKER CUES AND TABLE TENNIS GEAR.

About the location

This beautifully restored, centrally heated Perigordian farm was first built in the 18th century and was extended after the Napoleonic wars. It is situated at one end of its own 6 acres of sloping, lush grassland overlooking the hills and a tiny historic hamlet crossed by the small river Serre. The complex was restored by the well-known architect Marc Robert whose portfolio includes, among others, the restoration of the ancient church of St. Jacques in Bergerac.

Le Pré lies 15 minutes car drive south of the local capital, the gorgeous medieval city of Perigueux and 15 minutes from the famous Pécharment wine region. Bergerac is within easy reach, as are Les Eyzies and the Vézère valley.

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

How to get here

For those wishing to fly/drive, Bordeaux Airport is only 90 minutes away, whilst Bergerac Airport is only 35 minutes away. There is also an airport at Perigueux (20 min.away) offering reasonably priced flights to and from Paris.

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

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Facilities

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Additional price information

• Rentals are from Saturday 16:00 hours (4:00pm) to Saturday 10:00 hours (10:00am) and include bed linen, electricity, gas and heating oil.
• Bed linen is included in the price, packs of 2 bathroom towels and 1 pool towel per person are available for hire! There are 2 cot beds with mattresses and bed linen available, as well as 2 high chairs and 1 play pen - these are included in the price.
• £300 returnable damage deposit.
• During the off season, you may require logs for the fire place and wood-burning stove. Please let us know in advance. We will arrange for wood to be delivered to you for a small charge.
• On the day of your departure you may wish to opt for our Premium Care Service for 90 pounds, which will enable you to leave absolutely all the cleaning to our cleaners, rather than having to strip beds, clean bathrooms, wash dishes, wash towels etc., in readiness for the new occupants.

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