Home description

Villefranche du Périgord is an old 'bastide' town of quiet charm dating from the middle ages and situated at the southern extremity of the Dordogne, bordering on the Lot region. It is situated approximately midway between the rivers of those names. 

It is really little more than a large village, with a population of about two thousand, but it bustles with rural French activity and it possesses a lovely mediaeval covered market on one side of an attractive square. There is a market each week, as with many of the surrounding towns and villages, and there are several restaurants in the area as well as tennis courts, a fishing lake, and a number of village shops.

The countryside around is lightly wooded, rolling and unspoilt. The house is situated on high ground a mile from the town and faces south with lovely panoramic views.

Accommodation detail

The house is a farmhouse built of local stone at the turn of the century, with outbuildings, and has been fully renovated and modernised by a local architect of repute. 

Ground Floor

• The spacious kitchen/dining room is L-shaped with a large refectory table to seat up to eight and the kitchen itself is fully fitted with wall and floor units of chestnut, and contains a fitted dishwasher, fridge-freezer, microwave, and standard fan oven. French windows open south onto a terrace on the garden side of the house.
• The sitting room is of generous proportions furnished with two comfortable sofas either side of a large traditional fireplace. The thick stone walls make this a cool place to take refuge in the heat. 
• A combined utility room and shower room with hand basin and fitted automatic washing machine.
• A separate WC and a telephone.

First Floor

• Two spacious bedrooms; one containing a new five-foot double bed and, the other, three single beds.
• A second separate WC
• A fully equipped bathroom

All the rooms have been carefully furnished, as this is our second home and not simply a holiday let. There are attractive paintings, rugs, and furniture and all the accessories that might be needed, including a varied selection of books.

Outside

The garden is large and private and mainly laid down to grass and shrubs, and hedged with laurels. It contains a 10m x 5m swimming pool next to its own large sheltered terrace, with tiled floor, in which to find shade or eat out at another refectory table. There is a nearby stone-built barbecue. There are the usual garden chairs and sun beds.

In accordance with recent French law the pool is surrounded by a security fence for the protection of young children.

About the location

The surrounding area contains numerous attractive small villages and spacious open country. Shopping can easily be done just in Villefranche but there are markets everywhere, and certainly one somewhere each day of the week. The local specialities are plums of every kind, chestnuts, walnuts, foie gras, magret de canard, confits, and tiny excellent fresh goats cheeses; cabecous. 

Much of the wine is local, from the Cahors or Bergerac regions, and can be bought from the shops, or direct from the vineyards. There are a number of restaurants ranging from the pleasant and modest to the unsurpassable.

The long hot summer days can be enjoyed in the garden or pool but the Dordogne river is close enough to enjoy its attractions, such as canoeing or visiting prehistoric sites, and far enough to avoid the summer crowds. Many of the villages have their fêtes at this time of year, which often provides an enjoyable evening diversion. 

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

How to get here

• Air - Bergerac 1 hour, Bordeaux and Toulouse - 2 hours
• Road - Channel ports - 10/11 hours
• Rail - Motorail to Brive or Toulouse. Cahors via Paris. TGV to Bordeaux via Paris. Sleeper to Agen from Paris which, incredibly, stops at Villefranche, an unmanned station.

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

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Facilities

Facility	Details
Type	Farmhouse (Self-catering)
Bedrooms	1 double, 1 triple
Bathrooms	2 bathroom(s)
Separate toilets	2
Capacity	5
Linen	Linen and towels available by special arrangement
Changeover day	Saturday

Facility	Details
Internal facilities	CD player, Electric heaters, Fans in rooms, Radio, Telephone, Wood burning fire or stove
Kitchen facilities	Cooker, Dishwasher, Freezer, Fridge, Microwave, Washing machine
External features on site	Fishing lake, Swimming pool (exclusive use), Scenic views, Garden, Barbecue

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Additional price information

Not available from January to April

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