Domaine de Pradelle

The house is approached by its own drive from the quiet country road between Limeuil on the Dordogne River and Ste Alvere which follows the valley of The Pradelle to The Dordogne.

The house can be approached by a drive into the lower side of the buildings or from a parking area through a gated archway above the Maison d’Amis.

Main House

Ground Floor  

The original main front door of the house leads into a small hallway off which are:

Kitchen - A traditional kitchen with windows facing East and French doors leading to a patio and gardens on the Southern side where breakfast can be enjoyed in the morning sun. The kitchen is well equipped with traditional cobbled floor and a large stone open wood burning fireplace with comfortable armchairs to each side. Fitted units frame the working side of the kitchen with an excellent de Dietrich cooker with double oven and six ring gas stove. Also a full height fridge/freezer, two smaller fridges, coffee making facilities, microwave oven and dishwasher.

Main Sitting Room - A large, comfortable and traditionally furnished and decorated family sitting room filled with natural light. Generous French windows lead out onto a terrace, enjoying superb views across the valley, and running the full length of the South Western side of the house. A single French door opens to the patio and garden on the Southern side. Bookshelves contain a nice selection of holiday reading and reference books.

From the sitting room double doors lead through to an elegant Dining Room with south westerly facing windows over the terrace and valley. The dining table seats 12.

A small office room adjoins the dining room with a computer and printer.

A downstairs WC is accessible from the hallway and the sitting room and a small Laundry room.

Stairs from the hallway lead to the:

First Floor

There is partial air conditioning in the main house.

A spacious and characterful landing area leads to:

Bedroom 1 - The Master Bedroom with a large double bed (6’ x 6 ½ ‘). Windows with wonderful views to the South and South West.

Adjoining is Bathroom 1 with bath (with shower hose), separate walk in shower, WC and washbasin.

Bedroom 2 - Double bed (6’ x 7’) with windows to the South and ensuite. Air conditioning. Ensuite Bathroom 2 with bath (with shower hise), WC and washbasin.

Bedroom 3 - Twin beds (3’ x 6’3”) and windows to the South West with its own ensuite Bathroom 3 with walk in shower, WC and washbasin. (Twin beds can be made up together as a double)

Easily accessible to both the main house and to the Maison d’Amis is a delightful and very well equipped cuisine d’été with built in barbecue, comfortable seating around a large table for all occupants and enjoying superb views over the valley.

The Maison d’Amis

A short walk across the yard is the Maison d’Amis, with a terrace shaded by a most attractive vine clad pagoda on its South, inner facing side. It has its own self contained kitchenete, a secondary sitting/cinema room, a double bedroom on the ground floor with ensuite bathroom, 2 further bedrooms and a bathroom on the first floor.

Ground Floor

A door from the courtyard leads straight into the Kitchen and eating area.

The kitchen is simple with double sink, toaster, coffee making facilities and a fridge. There is a round breakfast table in one corner and a large traditional stone fireplace. In normal summer weather breakfast can be enjoyed outside in the shade of the pagoda

A door from the kitchen leads to Bedroom 4 with a double bed (5’ x 6’6”). It is air conditioned.

It also has an ensuite Bathroom 4 with bath (with shower hose), WC and washbasin.

A door at the Northern end of The Maison D’Amis leads into a second Sitting Room with its own cinema screen. This is often popular with the younger members of a group.

Stairs from the kitchenette lead to the First floor and to:

Bedroom 5 - A double bedroom with bed measuring 6’6”x 6’6”, windows facing South West and with an ensuite Bathroom 5 with bath (with shower hose), WC and wash basin.

Bedroom 6 -  A single children’s bedroom with bed measuring 3’ x 6’. Shared access to Bathroom 5.

Less tha a mile as the crow flies from the charming village of Paunat Domaine de Pradelle is on the Eastern valley side of the small River Pradelle which flows into the Dordogne a mile downstream.

Following the Northern bank of the Dordogne to the east, (which offer spectacular views to the floodplains on the southern side), the village of Limeuil marks the confluence of the Vazere river with the Dordogne, at one time giving it immense strategic and commercial importance. It changed hands many times between French and English during The Hundred Years War.

Here it is possible to sit on the terrace of the restaurant ‘L’Ancre Salut’ and admire the rivers and the two mighty bridges that span The Dordogne and the Vazere.

There are basic shopping facilities at Ste Alvere (10 mins/4  miles), including a minimarket, boulangerie and café.  At Le Bugue (11 mins/5 miles) there is a wider range of shops including a pharmacy, boulangerie, market and supermarket.

Bergerac is the nearest town of size. Many miss out as they fly in or out of the airport without exploring the town itself. Being on the river, it grew on trade, its flat-bottomed barges (gabares) taking the wine on to Bordeaux for shipping to England, for centuries the biggest market.

Domaine de Pradelle is 40 mins (25 miles) from Bergerac Airport, 2 hours (118 miles) from Limoges Airport and 2 hrs (101 miles) from Bordeaux (Merignac) Airport.

The nearest entry to the autoroute E70 (j 16 Perigeux) is 49 mins (28 miles)      

The TGV stops at Limoges 2 hrs (100 miles) and Brive-la-Gaillarde 1 ½ hrs (50 miles).

There is a very helpful Information Folder with details of recommended local shops, restaurants, markets, cultural, sporting and recreational activities plus many other suggestions on what to do and where to go in the vicinity. The folder also includes maps, brochures and imotant/useful local contact details. 

Bicycling - This is excellent bicycling country with easy routes from the House to the local village of Paunat, into the surrounding countryside and along The Dordogne river itaelf. Bicycles can be hired through www.themountainbikehirecompany.co.uk  or call 00 33 5 53 63 08 91 or Bike hire based in Bergerac http://www.apolo-cycles.com

Walking - There are fine walks in many directions both on Domaine de Pradelle and locally. Details are available in the house and there are copies of the excellent local series blue maps.

Canoes and kayaks can be hired at various points on the magnificent Dordogne and Vezere Rivers to paddle serenely past Chateaux and negotiate some gentle rapids http://www.lesmerles.com

Riding - There are various local riding stables where everything from lessons to pony trekking can be arranged.  http://www.lajumenterie.com

Chateaux - There are numerous examples well worth visiting – Beynac, Castelnaud, Commarque, Les Milandes, Fenelon, Biron, Puymartin, Bourdeilles and Duras to name but a few

Gardens - A number of exceptional and varied gardens are open to the public. Jardin/Manoir d’eyrignac, Chateau d’Hautefort and Marqueyssac are all within reach. Gardens of the Dordogne www.northofthedordogne.com/gardens.php

The prehistoric caves of Lascaux and their fascinating paleolithic wall paintings, designated a world heritage site, are renowned and well worth a visit. Lascaux IV

Golf courses. There is a golf course (9 holes) at Golf de Rochebois at Vitrac. Also Golf de la Forge (9 holes) at Siorac-en-Perigord and the 18 hole Golf la Croix de Mortemart is near Le Bugue.

Other Golf Clubs include:

http://www.lesmerles.com
http://www.golfdeperigueux.com
http://www.vigiers.com
http://www.segolfclub.com

Useful links

Aquitaine and Dordogne area Information
http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/France/Aquitaine
http://www.northofthedordogne.com
http://www.perigorddecouverte.com/index-en.php

Fairs festivals and concerts are held in the region throughout the summer. Details are included in The House manual and are also available in the tourist office in Bergerac  http://www.bergerac-tourisme.com

Markets - There are open air markets in numerous local towns and villages, taking place on different days of the week. Details in the Guest Information Book.

Tremolat and Limeuil - The local villages are a delight to discover and too numerous to mention individually save perhaps for Tremolat and Limeuil, classified as one ‘the most beautiful villages’ of France. Tremolat occupies a wonderful hilltop position overlooking a loop of The Dordogne. It also boasts two restaurants, one of which, ‘Le Vieux Logis’ is michelin starred.

The town of Bergerac - 40 minutes (25 miles west) is a mix of very old half-timbered (colombage) houses set in the narrow streets with a more modern shopping centre around the beautiful Notre Dame Cathedral. The old town is mostly traffic free and it’s lovely to wander around the cobbled streets, through the little squares passing the statue of Cyrano de Bergerac. http://www.bergerac-tourisme.com  http://www.pays-de-bergerac.com/english/index.asp  River Cruises from Bergerac
http://www.gabarres.fr

Bordeaux - 2 hrs (97 miles west) the port city of the Garonne estuary and the centre of the famed wine-growing region. Known for its Gothic Cathédrale St-André, as well as its many fine and contemporary art museums and 18th and 19^th century mansions. Public gardens line the curving river quays, and grand Place de la Bourse opens to the water, with the Three Graces fountain at its centre. http://www.bordeaux-tourism.co.uk/What-to-see-do

Issigeac - 40 mins (23 miles south west over the Dordogne river) is a pretty medieval ecclesiastical town in the centre of the Pays des Bastides. It was built in concentric circles according to the same pattern as the “Bouyricou”, the traditional Périgord basket which you can still buy in the local markets. The church of Saint Félicien (16C) overlooks the central square with its octagonal bell tower in the late gothic style. On the other side of the square is the Bishops’ Palace (17C). It now hosts the Tourist Office and its rooms are used for exhibitions. Enjoy a glass of something cool in one of the little bars or restaurants. The regular Sunday market is a feast for the eyes (and stomach!) and in the summer the night markets here are not to be missed.

Lalinde - 21 mins (13 miles west along the Dordogne) was the first English bastide, founded in 1267 by Henry III Plantagenet. It suffered serious damage during the Hundred Years War but there are still some medieval half-timbered buildings to admire. Lalinde is on the river Dordogne but as this section was difficult to navigate a canal was built over 150 years ago between Mauzac and Tulieres, the views from locks at Mouleydier are worth a visit and the canal is a great place for walking and fishing. The chateau de Lanquais at Saint Capraise de Lalinde is unusual as half of it is Medieval and half is Renaissance allowing you to admire both architectural styles.

Périgueux - 50 minutes (29 miles north) is the ‘capital’ of the Dordogne department but is actually on the river Isle rather than the Dordogne. It has been in existence since neolithic times, and from Roman times you can still see the Vesone Tower and the remains of the amphitheatre. Chateau Barrière dates from the early middle-ages. Périgueux also contains an interesting medieval and renaissance centre, with attractive boulevards concentrated around the cathedral Saint Front, built in the Byzantine style with its cluster of domes and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was the model for the Sacré Coeur church in Montmartre, Paris. There are regular markets in the covered marketplace and some lovely places to sit with a coffee or meal and watch the world go by.  http://www.tourisme-perigueux.fr/en  

The medieval town of Sarlat (correctly Sarlat-la-Caneda) 42mins (25 miles east) is well worth a visit. It has excellent shopping facilities (including 4 supermarkets) and a wealth of restaurants from Michelin starred to more modest establishments which nonetheless pride themselves on the quality of their cuisine. Apart from hosting a renowned International film festival every November Sarlat boasts one of the very best day time Saturday markets in the region, held in the centre of the old medieval town. This centre, floodlit at night, is magical and well worth an evening/dinner visit.

Saint-Emilion - 1 ½ hrs (73 miles west along The Dordogne) is recognised by UNESCO as a world heritage cultural landscape, two thousand years of history between men and vines await you.  A remarkable example of historical vineyards that have survived the centuries and remain largely untouched by time. Meander through the cobbled streets of this lovely small town and admire the architecture, drop in to one of the many caves and enjoy a wine tasting or a chilled glass of award winning sparkling wine while sitting in the 14th century cloisters. http://www.saint-emilion-tourisme.com/uk

FOOD AND WINE

Good food and wine is taken seriously in The Dordogne:

Goose, Duck and Foie Gras - There are many farms in the area that produce high quality and delicious goose and duck meat, pâté and of course the ultimate foie gras. You will get to taste some of these products during your stay or perhaps at the local Auberge, Bistro or Restaurants.

Fresh Fruits - From Bergerac along the river plain you will see a multitude of soft fruit orchards growing peaches, nectarines, apricots & kiwi. In the area further south, around Duras and Monségur you will come across field after field of sunflowers. These are at their best during July depending on the sunshine of course. There are also acres of plum orchards, some of which go to produce the famous Agen prunes.

Autumn Harvest - From late September the grape harvest begins.  The autumn months also see the nuts beginning to appear - walnuts, hazelnuts and chestnuts then of course the mushrooms and infamous truffles.

Wine Tours - Dordogne Vineyard Tours will take you out to taste local wines at various vineyards and also a delicious French lunch amidst the vines. Full day tours, evening tours and half day tours are available to suit 00 33 6 63 40 88 05 www.dordognevineyardtours.com   for further details

Organic and Biodynamic Vineyard with a difference - Chateau Feely is 15 mins west of Bergerac and offers award winning visits and organic biodynamic, natural and no sulfite added, white, red and rosé wines. Day or half day wines school, a wine and food pairing experience created in collaboration with a Michelin starred chef or a family friendly visit with a cheese platter - all are options. Best of Wine Tourism Gold trophy winner in the greater Bordeaux and Bergerac region in 2013 and 2017. www.chateaufeely.com   for details.

Restaurants and eating out. The choice is vast. The owners make some of their favourite suggestions in The House Information Folder