Set amongst the undulating landscapes of the Lot-et-Garonne, with stunning views of the surrounding orchards, cedar trees and wild woods, Cottage Des Cèdres is a charming holiday cottage in this picturesque region.
The owners have lovingly restored this former barn with sensitivity and style, retaining so many traditional features such as exposed stonework and wood beamed ceilings with contemporary décor and design. Every comfort has been considered from 100% Egyptian cotton linen in all three bedrooms to a sound system and plenty to entertain the family from boules to board games.
Outside you can admire the amazing vistas from the exquisite swimming pool or simply enjoy a glass of local wine on your balcony as kids play in the enclosed garden. The gardens are vast and include a 400-year-old Cedar tree dating back to when the main house, the Manoir, was also first built. You’ll also find an old watermill by the stream that leads to the River Lot. Prepare a barbecue with goods from the local market as you gather in the evening for wonderful meals on your decked terrace under the starry sky.
Alongside the converted barn, just across from the drive, is the larger Manoir des Cèdres, sleeping a further fourteen guests with its own private pool, which can be booked independently or together with the Cottage. The owners also live on site with their friendly dog and tend to their surrounding fruit orchards and beautiful grounds. They can cook you amazing meals if you wish, sampling some the most local and delicious produce around.
You can wander through the plum and kiwi orchards to the local village where you will find a couple of boulangeries for your morning pastries, a little supermarket and a café serving lunch in July and August plus a glorious beach on the banks of the River Lot where you can swim and hire boats in the summer months. Explore further afield to idyllic hilltop villages which come alive in the summer evenings with night markets serving amazing food and drinks. This area is well known not only for the delicious fruit but also some of France’s most famous vineyards where you can sample the fine wines of the region.
Hire bikes in the local village, play golf or go horse-riding through the magnificent countryside or simply explore some of France’s Plus Beaux Villages such as Pujols and Monflanquin or cross the border to Dordogne to discover some gems such as Monpazier, Issigeac and beautiful Bergerac, all within an hour.
That said, with such glorious views (you may even spot deer or falcons from your terrace), you don’t have to travel far from the cottage to be amazed by this captivating area.
Features:
Cottage Interior
- Living area with sofas, wood-burning stove, TV and DVD player and sliding doors leading to large decked area
– Kitchen-diner, well equipped including gas cooker and hob, microwave, coffee machine, kettle, dishwasher, breakfast bar, two fridges, dining table and reading area. French doors out to small balcony/terrace with table and chairs for 2
- Bedroom with super-king bed (can be made up as a twin), ceiling fan and hairdryer
- Bedroom with king-size bed and ceiling fan (this room has a ‘Velux’ window)
- Twin bedroom with single beds and ceiling fan and ceiling fan
- Shower room with walk-in shower and WC
- Separate WC
Outside Grounds
- Swimming pool (8mx4m) with security alarm, open approx. April to mid-October
- Pool terrace with six sun-beds
- Balcony/terrace (from dining area) with table and chairs for 2
- Decked terrace with al-fresco dining table for up to 6/8 guests and sun-shade
- Weber charcoal BBQ
- Private enclosed garden with lawned area and gazebo
- Boules
- Table tennis (shared with Manoir des Cèdres guests)
- Laundry room (shared with Manoir des Cèdres guests) with washing machine and hanging facilities
- Covered parking space
Facilities
- Heating up to 20C
- TV with some English channels
- DVD player and DVDs
- Sound system
- Board games
- Boules
- Shared washing machine
- Baby-pack (includes three higchairs and two cots) – please request at the time of booking
Location:
Located in the Lot-et-Garonne region, you are surrounded by fruit orchards, fields, sunflowers and wild woods. Local wildlife on the vast estate and beyond include deer, wild boar, rabbits, hares, eagles and other birds of prey.
You can wander down the nearby road or through the valley via the kiwi and plum orchards to the local village where you will find two boulangeries where you can pick up your breakfast croissants and bread, a small supermarket, delicatessen, two boulangeries and a café for your morning coffee and they also serve lunches in July and August. You can also find some wonderful local produce at the weekly market on a Wednesday morning.
There is also a village beach on the River Lot where you can hire canoes, pedalos and motorboats in the summer months (late June to early September) and a sandy area from which you can swim, sectioned off from the boats.
There are further facilities in the town of Sainte-Livrade-sur-Lot (10km) such as a large supermarket. Follow the river further east towards the ancient bastide town of Villeneuve-sur-Lot (20km) and keen hikers can then follow the hilly route south to the picturesque hilltop village of Pujols (20km), noted as one of France’s most Plus Beaux Villages. Penne D’Agenais (31km) with its impressive architecture is also worthy of a visit in this beautiful region and it’s worth visiting Agen (34km), an interesting French town which is the most important in this region.
As well as summer boats and bike hire in the nearby village, there are plenty of activities on offer in this area. Golf lovers can tee up at Golf Barthe (12km), just ten minutes by car whilst there is an excellent horse-riding centre a little further near Saint-Pierre-Sur-Dropt (42km). Kids will love visiting the local farm just a ten minute drive away or head further south to Parc Walibi amusement park (43km) near Agen.
In the summer you can explore the night markets in charming local villages where local food is sold and cooked for you by local artisans with live music and plenty of drinks. This area is of course wonderful for some of France’s most famous vineyards where you can sample and buy some excellent wines. Not forgetting the amazing fruit that is grown in the region (as well as on the estate); the local plums, Pruneaux D’Agen, are particularly delicious, especially when steeped in the local Armagnac.
Other noteworthy places to visit include Monflanquin (34km), another of France’s Plus Beaux Villages, a beautifully preserved bastide town full of medieval character with a great market on a Thursday or cross the border into the magical Dordogne department to Monpazier (55km), one of France’s most impressive and stunning villages. The beautiful city of Bergerac (64km) with its famous Maison des Vins can also be visited in a day, possibly combining the visit with the lovely village of Issigeac (50km) with its fantastic weekly market.
Terms & Conditions:
Security deposit?
£350.00 to be paid by bank transfer to the owner one month before arrival, refunded 2 weeks after departure subject to a full inspection.
Arrival time?
5.00 p.m.
Departure time?
10.00 a.m.
Energy costs included?
Yes.
Heating costs included?
Yes, up to 20C, plus one basket of logs for the wood-burner (the house is generally heated from October to March).
Linen & towels included?
Yes, including pool towels.
Smoking Allowed?
Outside only (ashtrays provided).
Changeover day?
Saturday between end-May and end-August. Flexible all other periods.
Minimum stay?
7 nights between end-May and end-August. 5 nights all other periods.
End of stay cleaning included?
Yes. However, guests are required to leave the accommodation clean, tidy and in the same condition as on their arrival. Any extra cleaning, laundry, maintenance and/or garbage disposal required will be charged against the security deposit.
Other Ts and Cs?
The estate is also shared with the owners’ house and their friendly and lively dog who has run of the Manoir’s grounds when the owners are at home.
