Le Moulin de St Sulpice
46160 St Sulpice, Lot
SLEEPS 12
Please click here to view the 2010 rental rates, or see below for further information
"Le Moulin de St Sulpice"
The Mill is on the left, the Tower in the centre, and the Miller's House on the right.
The Location And Setting
"Le Moulin de St Sulpice" is a dream come true, created by its present owners over the past decade. It's a 13th century Mill set in 10 hectares (25 acres) on the banks of the Célé river, and secluded by the dramatic hills of the Lot 'département' in south west France.
The countryside in which this property lies is very beautiful, and is within what is known as the "triangle noir", in reference to its black, star-studded night skies, and visible proof of its utter peace and tranquillity. Unsurprisingly perhaps, the region is also reputed to have some of the purest air in France.
This wonderful property comprises the original Mill (now a Boathouse), the Miller's House, and the adjacent Tower. 250 metres from these 3 buildings (and part-way up a hill at the far end of the drive) is the charming, entirely self-contained Cottage.
The Cottage.
"Le Moulin" is 2 kms from the medieval riverside village of Marcilhac-sur-Célé, with its basic shopping facilities and its ancient abbey. It's 10 kms from the small town of Cajarc which has a good range of shops including a supermarket, and 25 kms from the charming, historic town of Figeac. The nearest main railway stations are at Cahors (1 hour's drive), and Brive-la-Gaillarde (also 1 hour away, and served by the super-fast TGV as well as by regular trains). There is also a small station at Assier (15 minutes away) with connections to Paris. The closest airport is Rodez (75 minutes) which has some international flights, including Ryanair. Toulouse international airport (Blagnac) is 2 hours' away.
The MILLER'S HOUSE and the TOWER stand approximately 10 metres above the river bank, and are linked by a Terrace of about the same length.
The Family Room in the Miller's House. The Kitchen area is to the right of the dining table.
The Miller's House
Ground Floor
A large Kitchen/Dining/Family Room with an impressive working fireplace, a comfortable sofa and armchairs, satellite TV, Broadband/WiFi internet access, and a dining table which, when extended to its full length, seats 12.
The well-equipped Kitchen area has a cooker with one electric and 3 gas hobs, an electric oven, a fridge, a dishwasher, etc.
French windows on the north side descend to the Croquet Lawn and the adjoining grass Tennis Court, whilst those on the west side open onto a small Dining Terrace whose table seats 8.
The Family Room in the Miller's House showing the dining table and the Kitchen area.
Utility Room with 2 washing machines, a dryer, a fridge/freezer, a separate (small) deep freeze, a Belling food heater, and ironing equipment.
The front door opens onto the raised Terrace linking the Miller's House with the Tower, and provides a second outdoor Dining Area (the table seats 12).
Bedroom 1 with a 6 ft double bed, and windows on 3 sides.
Shower Room with a walk-in shower, and a separate W.C.
The Tower, with the Mill in the foreground.
First Floor
Bedroom 2 with two 3' 6" beds which can be joined together, and windows on 2 sides.
Dressing Room/Bathroom with a bath, and a W.C.
Bedroom 3 with a 5' 6" double bed.
Bathroom with a bath, and a W.C.
The Sitting Room in The Tower.
THE TOWER
Ground Floor
The elegant Sitting Room with a large working fireplace. Comfortable sofas and armchairs, a bridge table, a wide-screen satellite T.V., a fax machine, a CD/DVD player, and a collection of CDs.
First Floor
Bedroom 4 with two 3' beds which can be joined together, plus a third 2' 6" bed. Windows on 3 sides.A Shower, and a separate W.C.
Second Floor
Bedroom 5 with a 6 ft double bed. Windows on 3 sides.A Bath, and a separate W.C.
The open-plan Living Room in the Cottage.
THE COTTAGE
Part-way up the hill on the east side of the Célé Valley, with 180¡ views up, down and across the valley.
Ground FloorThe Open-Plan Living Room. This is immediately above the basement (not in use), and is accessed via the front door on the east side.
Bedroom 5 in the Tower.
With a comfortable sofa and an armchair, a Dining Table seating 4, a Kitchenette with a 4-ring gas/electric cooker and oven, a fridge, a sink etc.
Doors and windows on all 4 sides, the French door opening onto a small Terrace, with a table, 4 chairs and a sun umbrella.
First Floor
Bedroom 6 with two 3 ft beds which can be linked together, and windows on 3 sides.A Shower, and a separate W.C.
A small building below the Cottage houses the property's wine-making equipment.
Bedroom 4 in the Tower.
The Garden
The owners are keen gardeners, and a wide variety of climbing and standard roses are a particular feature. There are masses of other climbers, shrubs, pot plants and herbs, and, amongst many other trees, an orchard of peach, pear, apple, quince, greengage and plum, plus raspberry canes, many walnut trees and a vineyard - "Le Moulin" makes its own, very drinkable, house red wine.
The most attractive walled-and-gated, heated, filtered Swimming Pool measures 11 metres × 4.5 metres, with steps descending into the shallow end (1.1 metres), shelving to 1.7 metres at the deep end.
There are comfortable sun beds, and number of sun umbrellas.
The Pool can be heated at a cost of £120 per week (see "The Booking and Security Deposit" below.
N.B. Please close all sun umbrellas at night and on windy days - gusts of wind can blow them over and break them.
The Terrace linking the Tower to the Miller's House. The Tower is in the background.
On the north side is the Croquet Lawn (with a children's football net at its far end). Mallets, hoops and balls are stored in the Miller's House, together with tennis racquets and balls, and badminton racquets and shuttlecocks.
Adjoining Croquet Lawn is the superb grass Tennis Court - there can't be many grass courts in France, and even fewer of such a high quality!
A small flock of sheep adds to the pastoral nature of this enchanting property.
The Célé river flows along the west side of the property. The small-ish mill "race" (running under the Mill via a tunnel, and usually dry in summer) separates the river from the garden, creating what is known as "The Island". This comprises a well-kept, shady lawn sloping gently to the river, on which are positioned a number of sun beds, a large table and 10 chairs, plus the charcoal-burning barbecue.
The Mill is now a Boathouse, housing two 2-man canoes and their paddles and life-vests - the Célé river, meandering through stunning scenery, is navigable for some miles downstream, eventually joining the wide and imposing Lot. In addition, the owners and their guests enjoy river bathing, wading into the Célé from "The Island".
The Pool, with The Miller's House in the background.
Other Facilities And Information
- "Le Moulin de St Sulpice" sleeps 12 in great comfort.
- Bed linen, bath and pool towels are provided free of charge, and will be changed on a weekly basis.
- Maryse Forest, the Caretaker and Cleaner, also looks after the Pool, and is employed by the owner on 6 days per week for 3 hours per day. She should be paid by tenants at Euros 12 per hour for any agreed additional hours of work.
- She is a good cook, and is very willing to prepare at home - and deliver - as many dishes as are requested. (If required, these can then be heated before serving). She should be paid at the above rate for any hours spent food shopping and preparing such meals.
- As long as sufficient notice is given, a baby sitter can probably also be found. His/her wage would be the tenants' responsibility.
- The garden and the surrounding land are the responsibility of Patrick Velu (Maryse's partner), as are wine-making, shepherding, and maintenance of the buildings and the property as a whole.
- There is ample parking space on the south side of the Tower.
- All rooms (including those in the Cottage) have electric radiators.
- There are fans in all the bedrooms except Bedroom 1 which is on the Ground Floor, and is therefore cool even in the hottest weather.
- There is a telephone/fax system both in the Miller's House and in the Tower. (Mobile reception is generally only "fair" - although reasonable not far from the entrance to the property).
- There is Broadband/WiFi internet access.
- There are 2 baby's cots both with a mattress, and one with a sheet. There is also a high chair.
- Tenants should advise Anglo French Properties at the end of each rental of any losses, breakages and/or damages. This is in lieu of an inventory.
- The owners' insurance policy requires that all windows are closed and outside doors are locked whenever tenants are away from the property.
- When open, windows should be secured against the wall - gusts of wind can otherwise cause broken panes. Equally, French windows should be kept closed on windy days and nights.
- Although all the beds in the Miller's House and the Tower have mosquito nets, this is a precaution rather than a problem!
- The Sitting Room in the Tower has a card table, plus packs of playing cards, jigsaw puzzles and board games.
- There are some children's toys.
- There are English-language books throughout the house.
- There is an Information Book in which are important telephone numbers (doctor, dentist, plumber, electrician etc).
- There are maps and guides, plus details re: the local restaurants (in various price ranges), shops, markets, antique/bric-à-brac emporia, fairs and festivals, museums, medieval villages, towns and castles, as well as cultural and sporting activities of all kinds in the surrounding area.
- Foie gras is a speciality of the region - there are many local producers and shops.
- There is an extraordinary underground river near "Le Moulin" which can be explored by serious divers - apparently its furthest point has yet to be discovered!
- Arguably France's most beautiful village is only 10 kms away - St. Cirque-la-Popie, seemingly cascading down a steep hill into the river Lot.
- This is a splendid region for wild flowers and wild life in general - red squirrels, deer, butterflies and nightingales to name just a few.
- At Cabrerets (half an hour's drive) are, it's claimed, the country's finest pre-historic painted caves that are still open to the public.
- The ancient city of Cahors is within an hour's drive - its 14th century fortified bridge is of particular interest. The region around Cahors is widely known for its red wine - it's said that it once rivalled the finest Bordeauxs in terms of both price and quality).
- The nearest supermarket is in Cajarc - there is a bigger one in Figeac itself, and a gigantic one ("E.Leclerc") on Figeac's far side.
- There is a charming 9-hole golf course at St Céré, with a superb restaurant.
- "Le Moulin" has 5 bicycles - this is great cycling country.
- There are riding stables nearby, offering everything from lessons to pony trekking.
- There is some fishing from the banks of the Célé - a rod is kept in the Miller's House.
- There are wonderful walks in all directions, very much including the well-trodden, ancient pilgrim routes to Santiago de Compostela in north west Spain.
The grass Tennis Court.
The Croquet Lawn, with a children's football net at its far end.
Looking south from the Cottage's Living Room.
The Miller's House stands at the end of the drive in the background.
The Rents In 2010
| Month | Price |
|---|---|
| May, June, September & October | £2,940 per week |
| July & August | £4,410 per week |
- Except by prior arrangement, all tenancies will be for a minimum of 1 week, and will begin and end on a Saturday.
- Tenants should arrive as soon as possible after 5pm on the commencement day, and should leave by 10am on the agreed day of departure.
If so, please click the flags to go to our Enquiry/Booking Form
"The Island" beside the Célé river. The Mill is just out of sight to the left.
Deposit
A Deposit of 25% of the rent will be payable to Anglo French Properties Ltd on signing the Rental Agreement, with the 75% balance to be paid 6 weeks prior to the commencement of the tenancy.
The Booking And Security Deposit
A Booking and Security Deposit of £500 will also be payable to Anglo French Properties Ltd on signing the Rental Agreement. This will secure the booking, and will cover the cost of (a) telephone and fax calls made during the tenancy, (b) replacing/making good any losses, breakages and/or damages incurred during the rental, (c) pool heating if required (see above), and (d) any exceptional cleaning work which may be required at the end of the tenancy. This Booking and Security Deposit will be refunded (less any deductions as outlined above) within 8 weeks of the tenancy's conclusion.
