Description
Pech Grisou was a peasant farmstead, built by peasants themselves. It was built into a rock ledge and is all that remains of a hamlet across the valley from the village. It is at the end of a narrow road which divides into two tracks. One track climbs to a magnificent view from the top of the cliff. Much of the original character remains: the large fireplace, the small, tapered windows, the stone sink, the small, stone outbuilding used to collect rainwater. As per tradition, there is a large Lime tree at one end of the yard affording much needed shade in the summer. A Horse Chestnut shades part of the terrace overlooking the valley.
The house, used by the owner in spring and autumn, has an open plan lounge, dining room and kitchen area on the ground floor with a medium sized bedroom and ensuite shower room in the converted attic (please note – there is a single step down from the bed end to the bathroom). Four steps up from the corner of the lounge is another large room, formerly a barn, with double doors opening onto a small, covered terrace. Fly screens are available for the front door and all the windows in the house.
Although situated in the Lot Department, the river Dordogne is only a quarter of a mile away, winding its way through walnut orchards. The area is within the Parc Naturel Régional des Causses du Quercy and is designated a Unesco Geoparc Mondial. The limestone hills are largely wooded but also have open sheep-grazed grassland areas which are very rich in wildflowers and butterflies. Birds such as Hoopoe, Golden Oriole and Nightingale are common.
The whole area is excellent for walking or mountain biking (bikes can be hired locally). Countless tracks cross the limestone plateaux or follow the smaller river valleys. Detailed maps are available in the house and Pascale (see below), who leads group walks can act as a guide or make recommendations. The river Dordogne is perfect for canoeing, with local hiring points at Creysse, St Sozy and Pinsac.
There are a wealth of medieval villages and towns scattered throughout the region. Rocamadour, built into a near-vertical cliff face is only 15 minutes away by car. Martel, with its seven towers and large, covered marketplace is less than thirty minutes away. Collonges la Rouge, Carrenac, Autoire, Lubressac are all extremely attractive villages. The historic towns of Gourdon and Sarlat are only a little further off. Forts and chateaux line the river (the boundary between the French on the north side and the English on the south during the Hundred Years’ War). Belcastel is just down the road.
Prehistory features strongly throughout the region with famous painted caves within easy reach (Pech Merle, Cougnac, and Lascaux further west). The spectacular caves at Lacave and Padirac contain marvellous natural features, sculpted over millennia in the calcareous rock.
The area boasts a variety of restaurants, bistros, cafés and pizzerias. The Pont de l’Ouysse, under Belcastel offers high quality cuisine and features in the Michelin Guide. The pretty village of Creysse has a restaurant and bistro or you can wind up the narrow road to Cales – to mention just a few.
When preferring to stay within the seclusion of Pech Grisou, there is a range of outside tables and chairs including two sun loungers and two parasols. A portable BBQ can be set up on the main terrace. Inside there are nature guide books, fiction and non-fiction, a HiFi and a selection of DVDs.
A sloping driveway leads up to the buildings, offering shaded parking adjacent to the house. Alternatively, at the lower level, a longer, flat driveway leads to a garage lean-to below the barn. Both access points require reversing when leaving.
A car is essential for visitors, whether driving from the UK or hiring in France. The autoroute A20 has an exit at Souillac (20mins). The nearest airport is Brive Vallée de la Dordogne (40 mins.). Further afield are Bergerac, Toulouse, Limoges and Rodez. Local shops, including a small supermarket can be found in St Sozy (10 mins). Souillac, the nearest town, has a wide selection of shops and supermarkets, including a Bio Coop and an extensive street market on Fridays.
All prices are per week and include bed linen, towels, gas and electricity. Bookings are chargeable in periods of 7, 14 or 21 nights, and run from 4pm on Saturday (with checkout by 10am). A 25% non-refundable deposit is payable at the time of booking with the balance to be paid 6 weeks prior to arrival. For late bookings, the full fee is payable in one go. Dogs cannot be catered for as there are sheep and lambs in the surrounding fields and woods. There are also no facilities for children and there is a no smoking policy inside the house.
Pascale, the caretaker/cleaner will be there to greet you if arriving during the normal change-over period or by prior arrangement. No security deposit is required, however, please settle with Pascale on departure should any breakage have occurred.
Comments from guests staying at Pech Grisou when it was last let 11 years ago were very encouraging. Two couples returned every year.
“What a delightful place – we had a super time. The whole area is so beautiful, it was just magic. We had a very successful and enjoyable holiday.” Mr & Mrs James, Surrey.
“We had a thoroughly enjoyable time and really felt so comfortable in your farmhouse. We had a wonderful holiday and intend to return – there is so much to see and do there.” Mr & Mrs Hopper, Devon.