Pech Grisou - 1 Bedroom (Sleeps 2) Farmhouse in Le Bougayrou

Description

Pech Grisou comprises an ancient farmhouse with a small courtyard enclosed by a barn and smaller outbuildings and is let as a whole. It occupies a very private and peaceful setting on a spur between two side valleys looking across the dramatic Valley of the Dordogne and is within the Natural Park of the Causses du Quercy, a Unesco Global Geopark. There are many medieval villages, chateaux and towns scattered throughout the region. The spectacular pilgrim cité of Rocamadour, built into a near-vertical cliff face is only 15 minutes away by car.

The house (now used only occasionally by the owner) has an open plan lounge, dining room and kitchen area on the ground floor with a good 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 covered terrace. Fly screens are available for the front door and all the windows in the house.

Altogether, the garden has four terraces: one roofed, one for morning sun, one suitable for sun-loungers and one facing across the main valley, with views over walnut orchards to the cliffs beyond the river Dordogne. Ample shade is provided by a horse-chestnut and a lime tree at the top of the driveway. The grounds are enclosed and very private and are at the end of a no through road with only farm tracks beyond. A selection of outside tables and chairs including two sun loungers and two parasols plus a portable BBQ are available for your use. Inside, in addition to WIFI, there are nature guide books, detailed maps, novels and non-fiction, a DVD player with a selection of films and HiFi connections for your own music.

The countryside is excellent for walking or biking. Countless tracks cross the limestone plateaux or follow the smaller river valleys. The limestone hills are largely wooded but also have open sheep-grazed grassland areas which are very rich in butterflies and wildflowers, including many species of orchid. Birds such as Cuckoo, Hoopoe, Golden Oriole and Nightingale are common.

The area is also outstanding for the variety of interesting sites to visit – from the extremely attractive villages of Collonges la Rouge, Carrenac, Autoire, Lubressac, to the historic towns of Martel, Sarlat and Gourdon to the forts and chateaux lining the river. Belcastel is five minutes down the road.

The river Dordogne is also perfect for canoeing, with local hiring points at Creysse, St Sozy and Pinsac. The swimming pool in the campsite by the river at St. Sozy (10 mins) can be used simply with the purchase of drinks.

Prehistory features strongly throughout the region with famous painted caves within easy reach (Pech Merle, Cougnac and Lascaux further west). The spectacular caves at Padirac and Lacave (4km) contain stunning natural features, sculpted over millennia in the calcareous rock.

Pech Grisou has an interesting history, probably starting as a shelter using the rock ledge as a back wall and then developed in the seventeenth century, incorporating a stone arch recuperated either from the ruined church or from a local priory. It was used by the resistance during the war, with the neighboring farmer's son providing warning if soldiers were approaching. It is now all that remains of a hamlet across the valley from the village of le Bougayrou. Much of the original character remains: the large fireplace, the stone sink and the small, tapered windows. Most of the furnishings are as they would have been in the nineteenth century.

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. If used, this lower access will require reversing when leaving.

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.

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 (30 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 Friday mornings.

All prices are per week and include bed linen, towels, gas, electricity and logs. 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. 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 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. Pascale also offers advice on local walks and is willing to act as a guide for anyone wishing to explore the surrounding countryside.

Pech Grisou - its character, history, location, natural surroundings and dramatic setting - is an ideal retreat for couples looking for a peaceful holiday, away from the hectic pace of today’s world.

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