Description
Sleeps up to 12 people, with secure 12m x 6m swimming pool and 1 acre mature garden in a rural setting. There are numerous outdoor activities on site, including Boules Court, Table Tennis, Pool Table, Dartboard, and plenty of space for impromptu ball games. Meals can be served on the covered terrace with seating for 12 +, and guests can enjoy a shaded and comfortable seating area for anything from a quiet reading spot, to early evening cocktail area. Dogs are welcome by arrangement.
The accommodation comprises a very private one acre enclosed plot, with no immediate neighbours, with the Main House with 4 bedrooms, made up of:
- 2 large double rooms (one en-suite) with king-sized beds, one with an additional single, and the other with an additional cot.
- 1 twin-bedded room (adjacent to the bathroom)
- 1 further room which opens on to the the terrace, which can be presented as either a twin-bedded room, or as an additional double as required.
In addition to the en-suite with Bedroom 1, there is a family bathroom and toilet, and a separate toilet.
The separate Summer House, 25m away next to the swimming pool, has 2 additional bedrooms, and its own independent shower room with sink and toilet:
- the first bedroom has a double bed, wardrobe and chest of drawers, and bedside tables
- the other a three-bedded room has a pair of bunk beds and a single bed, plus a chest of drawers.
- there is also an open area with additional spare double bed, with chest of drawers.
Outside the Summer House there is direct access to the swimming pool (with lockable gate) via a covered terrace, which also has the pool table under cover.
All bed linen, bathroom towels, and swimming towels are provided free of charge, and there are two washing machines available for guests to use during their stay. Laundry and cleaning costs upon departure are included in the rental price. There are no additional charges (except for accidental breakages). To assist guests upon arrival, there will be a complimentary "Welcome Pack" including cold drinks, bread, butter, milk, cheese etc.
The kitchen in the Main House is extensively equipped for catering for large groups, and the covered terrace seats 12 in comfort.
The kitchen is equipped with a large fridge-freezer with internal ice-maker, separate drinks fridge, range cooker with double oven, grill, and 7 gas hobs, and dishwasher. The kitchen has its own six-person table and chairs. There is also a full range of electric utility machines, such as Nespresso coffee machine, microwave, juicer & smoothie-maker, chip-fryer, kettle, as well as general kitchen equipment. There are three charcoal barbecues of different sizes for guests’ use, with a range of appropriate utensils.
Apart from the swimming pool, there are plenty of on-site activities, including a table tennis table and dart board on the terrace, and a boules court behind the main house. Under cover outside the summer house is a 6’x3’ pool table. In the garden there is a Tree House for the children to play in, and a well-maintained mature garden. The house has been fully and sensitively refurbished in recent years, and the covered and shaded terrace area is ideal for evening sundowners as well as relaxing meals. Temperatures can rise into the mid 30’s in July and August, hence there are plenty of options provided to offer shade when required.
The larger-than-usual swimming pool (12m x 6m) has gentle steps at the shallow end, and is 2m at the deep end. There is a large tiled patio area with many sun-loungers, and several parasols for shade as required. The pool benefits from direct sunshine all day. Complimentary swimming towels are provided for guests to save on luggage. These just need to be washed and put out to dry on the last night.
There are numerous local activities including kayaking, paddle-boarding, canoeing and swimming on the Dordogne, golf at Chateau des Vigiers (which also boasts a first class putting area) zip wire, paint-ball, cycle hire, go-karting, tree-top walking, riding and so on. A number of brochures are to be found at the house, but all of these can be discovered and booked online.
The property is about 7km (6 mins) from the nearest large market town at Ste-Foy-La-Grande, therefore a car is essential (enter "Allez des Vigiers" for exact location if using SatNav). There is ample parking for several cars at the end of a 50m driveway. For those choosing to fly/drive, the nearest airports are Bergerac (25mins) and Bordeaux (90mins). Le Petit Vigier is located on the D18 Route du Seignal road between St-Phillippe-du-Seignal and Couture, The plot is adjacent to Chateau des Vigiers, a Golf Spa Hotel complex, with three 9-hole golf courses (which are available to visitors), forming one of the boundaries. This relative isolation means that parties can make as much noise as they like without fear of causing offence, or alternatively can enjoy a quiet holiday without disruption.
Shopping: There is a first class LeClerc Hypermarket on the outskirts of Ste-Foy which caters for all needs under one roof, as well as other supermarkets in and around the town. There are terrific outdoor markets to be enjoyed on most days of the week offering fantastic fresh fruit and vegetables, fish and shellfish, and fresh and cured meats. The Saturday morning Market at Ste-Foy is in the top 100 in France, and the Thursday morning Market at Eymet is a delight. Both offer a great variety of food and local wines, as well as clothing, and various local crafts.
The area is renowned for its food and wines, and is internationally recognised as a gourmet centre within France. Perigord is famous for its foie-gras, walnuts, and the elusive black truffle, Arcachon for oysters, Atlantic ports for fresh fish, and some form of duck is available on every menu. The property is surrounded by vineyards large and small, many of which are little more than smallholdings, though this does nothing to curb their enthusiasm for their wine or their pride in the product. Very pleasant wines can be bought from them during wine tastings at around 6-8 euros a bottle, and they welcome visitors. The larger Chateaux are major suppliers to the London and UK markets, and boast some very fine wines which will benefit from laying down for several years. Details of local bars and restaurants (4km, 5 minutes away) can be found in a comprehensive guide to the area provided at the house, along with contact details for local sports and leisure facilities, including bicycle hire, kayaking and paddle-boarding, zip-wire, go-karting etc.
The area between Bergerac and Perigueux boasts many ancient sites of historical interest, the pinnacle of which are the prehistoric caves at Lascaux, and the also the cliff-face prehistoric dwellings above the River Vezere. There are many medieval castles in strategic positions along the Dordogne, an outstanding example being the stronghold of English King Richard the Lionheart at Beynac. The world famous and beautiful medieval town of St-Emilion is a 40 minute drive away, and offers a memorable day out.
The River Dordogne itself is fascinating, as are the many towns on it as it meanders down from the gorges of the higher eastern source, with Rocamadour, Domme, and Beynac, to the relatively wide and flat valley west of Lalinde and Bergerac to Ste-Foy-La-Grande, and Libourne, before joining the Garonne on its way to the sea north of Bordeaux. Each part of this river has a different tale to tell, from prehistoric time to the modern era, through the battles won and lost, and finally won once more, to expel the English from the region which they had ruled for many years, to the growth and decline of the tobacco industry, and the prosperity of the wine trade, and its inextricable connection to protected English markets. The area south and east of the property takes in the Dropt and Lot valleys, and includes some of the finest medieval Bastide towns, such as Eymet, Beaumont, Monpazier, Castillones, and Issigeac, where an excellent market can be found on Sunday mornings.
World famous Atlantic surf beaches run south from Arcachon, and are two hours away, including the amazing spectacle of the Dune de Pilat, with resorts stretching south through Biscarosse and Mimizan, and numerous unspoilt and accessible sandy beaches flanked by pine forest, all the way to the Spanish border.
The beautiful old city of Bordeaux is itself is a World Heritage site, and well worth a visit. A visit to the recently opened €50m Wine Museum is recommended. Bordeaux is best reached by train from Ste-Foy, and a simple tram service around the city operates from Bordeaux’s St. Jean railway station. The beautiful medieval town of Sarlat is at the other end of the same railway line.