Le Buzard
47410 Segalas, Lot-et-Garonne
Sleeps 11
The Location
"Le Buzard" lies in the region bordered by the Dordogne, the Garonne and the Lot rivers, and is at the very heart of a beautiful, unspoilt, rolling landscape of fields, woods and orchards. This is superb soft fruit country, the plum and its many sister products being a particular speciality. (Think of plum brandy, and of prunes pickled in armagnac for instance!). Although not at the centre of a wine-making region, "Le Buzard" is surrounded by the vineyards of Bergerac, Monbazillac, Cahors, Duras and Marmande. Bastides (12th-14th century fortified hill-top towns and villages), medieval churches and picturesque châteaux dot the hills and valleys, lending enchantment to every view
"Le Buzard" is near the village of Ségalas, about 7 kms from Monbahus which has reasonable shopping facilities, and a similar distance from Lauzun which has a 'traiteur' (delicatessen/caterer) with an excellent range of cold 'starters' and ready-to-heat main courses. It is 14 kms south west of the small bastide town of Castillonnès which also has a 'traiteur' plus a good market, whilst Villeréal (20 kms) has a 'traiteur' which may be prepared to deliver pre-ordered meals. "Le Buzard" is 30 kms north west of Villeneuve-sur-lot and 40 kms south of Bergerac. The nearest large supermarket is at Eymet (15 kms).
It is approximately 35 kms north east of the Marmande junction (exit 5) on the Autoroute des Deux Mers, about 50 kms south of Bergerac airport (called Roumanière, and which has some international flights), 140 kms east of Bordeaux International Airport (called Mérignac), and about 40 kms north of Agen where the super-fast train, the TGV, stops frequently. Drivers can put their cars aboard a train at Bordeaux, and travel with them to several European towns and cities.
The Dining Room
The Property
This elegant house is set on a gently sloping hill. There are splendid views and walks in all directions.
"Le Buzard" contains everything necessary to ensure a comfortable and relaxing holiday. It is owned by a family who live abroad, but who use it at various times throughout the year.
A longish, straight drive off a quiet country road leads to the west-facing house itself.
The Accommodation
The majority of rooms are large, bright, and airy with high ceilings.
Ground Floor
Opening off the Entrance Hall and the corridor which runs the full width of the house are:
The Drawing Room
- Drawing Room with windows on 2 sides, comfortable sofas and armchairs, and a fireplace.
- Sitting Room with windows on 2 sides, a sofa and armchairs, a DVD player with a 21" screen, a CD/tape player/radio, and a fireplace.
- Dining Room seating 10 in comfort. Windows on 2 sides, and a fireplace.
NB. Fires cannot be lit in any of the fireplaces, however, as all 3 chimneys are blocked. - Well-equipped farmhouse Kitchen with a cooker, an oven, a dishwasher, a fridge/freezer and a microwave. The breakfast/dining table seats 8.
- Bedroom 6 with a single bed and windows on 2 sides.
- Bathroom 1 with a bath and a W.C. The washing machine is located in this room.
Bedroom 6
First Floor
At each end of the First Floor corridor is a charming tower bedroom (bedrooms 1 & 2). Both these Bedrooms have a 4-poster double bed and windows on 2 sides.
Also opening off this corridor are:
- Bedroom 3 (the Master Bedroom) with a double bed and windows on 2 sides.
- Bedroom 4 with twin beds and windows on 2 sides.
- Bedroom 5 with twin beds and a window on one side.
- Bathroom 2 with a bath and a W.C.
- Shower Room with a W.C.
One of the 2 Tower Bedrooms
The Grounds
The garden is quite large, and is well maintained. The paved terrace at the rear, east-facing side of the house is near the kitchen, and provides a perfect setting for outdoor meals.
The floodlit, filtered Swimming Pool (with a diving board at the deep end) measures 11 x 5.5 metres, with a depth of 1 metre at one end, shelving to 2.25 metres at the other. It is sheltered from any breezes by the POOL HOUSE (see below) and by low walls and lavender bushes. The pool also has an electrically operated cover which should be closed at night for safety's sake and to retain the water temperature. The area surrounding the pool is paved, and is partly shaded on one side by the eaves of the POOL HOUSE roof, whilst the short flight of steps leading to the Pool from the garden is gated. There is a good range of pool furniture.
The Swimming Pool and the Pool House
NB Please switch off the pool as well as other outside lights before going to bed. Please also close the sun umbrella at night and on windy days. Strong winds may otherwise blow it over and damage it.
Please do not remove the pool sweep from the water - doing so is likely to damage it.
Should rain look likely, tenants are requested to place in the Pool House those chairs with canvas backs/seats. They will otherwise quickly deteriorate.
The Pool House stands on one side of the swimming pool.
It comprises:
Ground Floor
- A large Sitting Room/Dining Area with high ceilings, a substantial fireplace, and a CD/tape player/radio.
- A small Shower Room with a W.C.
- A Kitchenette with a cooker, an oven and a fridge.
- Other rooms house the ping pong table (which is permanently set up), the portable barbeque, the filtration system, gardening equipment, etc.
Mezzanine Floor
- A wooden staircase ascends to a roomy Mezzanine which overlooks the Sitting Room/Dining Area.
The Pool House's Sitting Room as seen from the Mezzanine Floor.
The Dining Area is in the background
Other Information
- There should not be more than 11 people including children and babies staying in the house at any one time.
- "Le Buzard's" caretaker, Mme Martine d'Halluin, lives within 300 metres of the house, and can be relied upon to give whatever assistance or advice is required (her English is poor, though!). She will meet tenants on arrival at the house and lock up at the end of their stay. Tenants should advise her before departure of any losses, breakages and/or damages, this being in lieu of an inventory.
- The cleaning lady (who is likely to be Martine) will work at "Le Buzard" for two hours per day on two days per week at Euros 10 per hour, her wage to be the tenants' responsibility. Any additional hours of work should be agreed with her.
- If required, and given sufficient notice, a cook can probably be found. His/her wage would also be the tenants' responsibility, and would be established prior to the commencement of the tenancy.
- In addition, there are 'traiteurs' (delicatessens/caterers) in Lauzun, Castillonnès and Villeréal. All will prepare dishes to order (ready-to-heat or to be eaten cold) and some may also deliver.
- Garden and swimming pool maintenance are the owner's responsibility.
The Sitting Room
- Bed linen, bath and pool towels are provided free of charge, and will be changed on a weekly basis.
- There is Broadband/Wireless internet access.
- There is a baby's cot with its own mattress (but no bedding), and a high chair.
- There is a fan in each bedroom.
- In the Kitchen and the Sitting Room are useful telephone numbers (doctors, dentists, etc), instructions regarding the house and grounds, as well as lots of brochures and information re: local restaurants in various price brackets, shops (including several that sell everything from antiques to bric-a-brac), fairs, and cultural and other events of all kinds.
- The house has a good selection of board games and English-language books
- Many local villages and towns have excellent markets, and a different one could be visited on virtually every day for a fortnight.
- 25 kms to the north is the spectacular Chateau de Monbazillac, built in 1550, and which apart from its well-known eponymous wine, offers guided tours. Nearby are 2 excellent restaurants - "La Grappe d'Or" and "La Tour des Vents".
- There are a number of other good restaurants in the area in various price ranges. Specially recommended is "Chez Alain" in Issigeac.
- There are other nearby riding stables, as well as swimming, trout fishing and sailing in/on several other local lakes.
- There is a Go-Cart circuit near Bergerac airport.
Dining on the Terrace
The Dining Area in the Kitchen
- There are quite reasonable public tennis courts at Lauzun (7 kms), as well as at Castillonnès (14 kms). Arrangements to play on these courts can be made through the Syndicat d'Initiative's offices in either Lauzun or Castillonnès
- There is an excellent garden centre just outside Marmande.
- There are several 9 and 18 hole golf courses within 45 minutes' drive, including ones near Cancon (Golf de Castelnaud) and Tombeboeuf (both 20 minutes), Agen, Marmande and Casteljaloux, and a challenging 18-hole course near Villeneuve-sur-Lot. In addition, there is an 18-hole course at Château des Vigiers (12 kms north east of Duras), together with its 4-star hotel, restaurants, swimming pool, tennis courts and lake fishing.
- There is excellent canoeing for all ages on the Dordogne river between Cénac and Limeuil. There are several stages, each taking a few hours, and the canoe-hire company (there is one, for instance, at Siorac-en-Périgord) will pick you up at the end of your chosen stage/s and return you to your car.
- Bicycles can be hired at Castillonnès to explore the local countryside.
- There are wonderful walks in all directions.
The Pool House with "Le Buzard" in the background
The Rents In 2008
| Month | Price |
|---|---|
| May, June & September | £2,260 per week |
| July & August | £3,470 per week |
| October | £1,300 per week |
Unless otherwise agreed, all July and August lets will be for a minimum of 2 weeks, whilst those in June and September will be for a minimum of 1 week. They will begin and end on a Saturday.
The Deposit
A deposit of 25% of the rent will be payable to Anglo French Properties Ltd on signing the rental agreement, with the balance to be paid 6 weeks prior to the commencement of the tenancy.
The Booking and Security Deposit
A Booking and Security Deposit of £350 will be payable to Anglo French Properties Ltd on signing the rental agreement. This will secure the booking and will cover the cost of telephone calls made during the tenancy, together with the cost of replacing/making good any losses, breakages and/or damages incurred during it, plus any exceptional cleaning work which may be required at the end of the tenancy. It will be refunded (less any stipulated deductions) within 8 weeks of its conclusion.
