Farmhouse in Dordogne, France

Le Pré details

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St Paul de Serre village - Le Pre on the right

Walled court yard seen from the kitchen

Barn sitting /dining area

Pool and grounds (sun shades not shown)

Barn door opening onto the terrace and grounds

Courtyard showing entrance to barn

St Paul Church viewed from Le Pre grounds

Elevated view of the courtyard

Barn terrace (south side) seen from the pool path

Barn sitting area, window to courtyard on the left

Home description

The farm 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 15) and  the kitchen/dining room (seats 8). 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.

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 October to March. 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

Master Bedroom

View from courtyard towards the village

Original bread oven and herb garden - courtyard

Walled and secure pool

Elevated view of grounds looking south

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Take a tour of 'Le Pré':

After parking in the private garage, you may enter by crossing the terrace, but you may prefer to go to the main gate, into the inner courtyard and the "Old House". You will then find yourself in a wood-beamed room with 2 separate beds, the 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 chestnut staircase leads to the 2 carpeted double bedrooms 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, washing machine, 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 bedroom with two old French single beds and a double sofa bed, with 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 and sink adjacent 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 small kitchen adjacent to a bed/sitting room ("The Studio"). There is a bedroom with 3 single beds and a MULTIGYM. (See special note concerning the use of this piece of equipment). There is access to the terrace from both the Studio and the room with 3 beds. On the first floor of this part of the complex you will find a beautiful double bedroom  as well as a spacious, modern shower-room with WC and sink. There are also 2 cots and 1 sofa bed on the open landing. We also provide 2 high chairs and a playpen.

The superb new 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.

'Le Pré' has been equipped with TV, DVD and video players, CD and cassette player as well as WLAN Internet access and plenty of power points. 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.

Summary of Accommodation

• 7 bedrooms (6 double or twin, one with 3 single beds, 2 extra beds available).
• 3 WCs, 3 showers, 1 full bathroom with bathtub and bidet.
• Fully equipped kitchen with oversized stove, microwave, dishwasher , fridge/freezer and washing machine.
• Separate small Studio consisting of small but fully equipped kitchen adjacent to bed/sitting room with access to terrace. (In the "Small House").
• Dining areas: One table for 12 people in the barn, 1 table for max. 8 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 October to March).
• 2 wood-burning stoves, one in dining area of the kitchen, the other one on the ground floor of the "Old House".
• Large garage with plenty of extra parking space.
• 2 cots with bedding, 2 high chairs, 1 off-the-ground playpen, paddling pool available
• WLAN internet access available.
• British and French satellite television, DVD player, Video, Hi Fi.
• MULTIGYM use available, please see SPECIAL NOTE.
• Also a superb full size Willie Holt snooker table, table tennis table, boules etc.

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.

Activities near by

Billiards, Bird Watching, Canoeing, Cycling, Hiking, Horse riding, Rambling, Sightseeing, Swimming, Table tennis, Walking

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

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.