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Direct booking, independent holiday breaks throughout France, in privately owned self catering country houses, cottages, gites and apartments, villas and traditional farmhouses, or in a choice of delightful Bed and Breakfast Chambres d'Hôtes. | |
Holiday Homes In France 1998-2008 |
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Country Cottage With Large Heated Pool in Southwest France
Monbazillac, 10 minutes from Bergerac, in the Dordogne
1 bedroom, sleeps 2/4 people
Les Croux
The stone built cottage consists of one large living room with a kitchen and dining area, one bedroom and a bathroom. It is attached to our traditional Perigordine farmhouse, but quite independent, quiet and secluded, set in spacious grounds leading to organic vines and unspoilt woodland. Situated on a plateau at the edge of the village of Monbazillac, it is an idyllic spot to sample the pleasures that the Dordogne has to offer and is conveniently located just 7 minutes from Bergerac airport, so your holiday begins immediately!
It has a lovely heated swimming pool (13 metres x 6 metres) with a changing room, fridge, table, chairs and sunloungers, shared only with the owners, set below a rockery and not overlooked by the main house. With just over ten hectares to call our own, one can walk through vines and woodland without leaving the property and enjoy the wildlife and variety of birds, who also call it home. The village of Monbazillac is quiet, dominated by its 16th century chateau and famous vineyards. It is 300 feet above the valley and benefits from a light, cooling breeze, which prevents the heat from becoming too stifling in the height of summer. Ten minutes away by car, is the town of Bergerac, full of shops, supermarkets, cafes and restaurants (nearly all with tables outside), nightclubs and of course, its beautiful old town (complete with Cyrano statues) and riverside port.
The accommodation is on one floor, consisting of a large living room with high oak-beamed ceiling, a double bedroom and bathroom, all finished to a high standard. The main room includes a pleasant carpeted sitting room, in which there is a comfortable sofa bed, a wood-burning stove, satellite TV, DVD/CD player (including a lead to connect your iPod/mp3 player), a dining area with a wood country table which seats four and a kitchen, which is well-equipped with a 4-ring gas hob, full size electric oven, microwave, fridge-freezer and dishwasher amongst other things. The bedroom has a comfortable double bed, fitted carpet, double fitted wardrobes, and traditional French furniture. The splendid Italian bathroom has a shower, basin with grand mirror and cabinet beneath, bidet, wc and heated towel rail. There is a travel cot, high chair, pushchair, car seat and booster seat available (included in price), as well as some toddler toys around the property. One can eat al-fresco poolside, or next to the cottage, where there is also a table, chairs, parasol and a small barbeque. As well as the pool, we have table tennis, a basketball hoop, and bikes for adults and children at the house. The washing machine in the main house can be used on request, and an extra double room with an en-suite bathroom is also available in the main house, which can be combined with the cottage if needed. Price on request.
The Area
For wine enthusiasts, there are various wine routes for discovering a multitude of vineyards making dry and sweet white wine, rosé, and a variety of reds. St Emilion is only a 45 minute drive! There are markets nearby on most days. We go to the small but vibrant Friday market near the old bridge in Bergerac, where along with the normal mouth watering local produce, there is a travelling fish van that comes up from the Atlantic coast with excellent super fresh fish and shellfish at affordable prices (try the oysters at 5 euros a dozen!). We are in easy striking distance of the bastide towns of Eymet (Thursday market), Issigeac (Sunday market), Monpazier, and Beaumont to name a few, as well as the Châteaux of Lanquais, Biron, Beynac, Castelnaud and Les Milandes (Josephine Baker). Slightly further afield are the towns of Bordeaux, Sarlat and Cahors, and then there is the Walabi theme park for the kids (all about 90 minutes). Drive through opulent landscapes to discover just how historically rich this area is, from pre-historic caves (Lascaux, Proumeyssac and many more), to Roman ruins and medieval towns and villages. For lovers of the sea, the Atlantic beaches on the coast are 2 hours drive, and 3 hours will take you to the Basque coast of Biarritz, St Jean de Luz and to San Sebastian in Spain. For sports people, there is karting (age 7 upwards), 10 minutes away and the Aquaparc, (also 10 minutes), has three pools with slides for the children, and bowling and mini golf next door. Also, 10 minutes down the hill, is a practice golf centre, if you want to loosen up before tackling the first class championship golf course at Château des Vigiers, which is 20 km away, close to Ste Foy la Grande, or Château des Merles, an excellent 9-hole golf course, 20 minutes by car. The Dordogne and Vezere rivers offer either tranquil, or exciting canoeing and fishing as well. There is a riding stable very close to us, near the Chateau de Bridoire and plenty of country lanes and tracks to walk. For motocross fans, Easter weekend sees the "Grappe Lazer" come to Monbazillac, an international enduro. For eating out, our personal favourites are the Tour des Vents restaurant with a marvellous view over the Dordogne landscape, and L'Imparfait in Bergerac tops the culinary bill. With children it's hard to beat the elegant but informal Pizzeria in Eymet. Many villages now host a 'marche nocturne' during the summer, a night market, where one buys local food cooked in the square. Grab a place at one of the trestle tables and with a few bottles of the local wine (also on sale), before you know it you'll be speaking French! Monbazillac has its own night market every Sunday. Bergerac prides itself as a cultural tourist centre and they lay on free jazz concerts on Wednesdays in the summer, as well as a succession of exhibitions, arts and crafts, informative river boat trips in a "gabarre" (traditional boat) on the Dordogne and not forgetting the spectacular July 14th firework display over the river. Travel Information
Availability Check
Prices and booking information
All prices are per week, Saturday to Saturday preferred, but we can be flexible, arriving at 4pm departing at 10.30am We are 7 minutes from Bergerac airport and can pick up and drop off, for those who want a car free holiday Children and babies are most welcome Sorry, but no pets Baby sitting possible on request We supply bathroom towels, but please bring pool towels A deposit of 30% is requested on booking, receipt of which will act as confirmation. The remainder to be paid 4 weeks before arrival. A returnable damage deposit of 100 euros is also requested on arrival.
Telephone: 05 53 61 26 75 (International + 33 5 53 61 26 75) Mobile: 06 87 21 58 25 (International + 33 6 87 21 58 25) Please mention Vacation France when contacting the owner
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