Located in the stunning Dordogne countryside, La Valade is a gorgeous renovated farmhouse set in extensive, lovingly tended gardens and grounds. The House is luxurious and stylish throughout, with 5 bedrooms and a full-size swimming pool overlooked by a huge, well equipped pool house which provides one of three charming settings for eating al fresco.
La Valade
St Saud Lacoussière, Dordogne
Overview
Bedrooms & Bathrooms
4 doubles that can also be made into twins
1 children’s room sleeping 4
3 bathrooms with showers
Rent per week
£3800 to £5500 per week depending on the season. Saturday to Saturday.
Detailed break down of price per week
Key features
Fabulous farmhouse
4 acres of grounds
12 x 6 metre pool
Pool house
A state of the art hot tub for all seasons
Perigord vert countryside
Testimonials
The House and Accommodation
Dining Room – very spacious and open-plan, with a table at one end and an island unit, drinks fridge and dishwasher at the other.
Kitchen – up a short flight of steps and very well equipped, with a breakfast table, a stainless-steel gas cooker with 6 hobs and 2 electric ovens, a second dishwasher, a large fridge/freezer/ice-maker, a microwave, blenders, toaster etc. Next door is a larder.
Sitting Room – large yet cosy, with an imposing wood-burning fireplace and large comfortable sofas.
Study/Libary – with Wi-Fi internet access, a printer and a range of English language books. (There are numerous other books in various rooms throughout the house).
Gallery which forms a second sitting room – on the first floor beneath the magnificent raftered ceiling and overlooking the hall, with a wood-burning fireplace, comfortable sofas and armchairs, a large-screen satellite TV (receiving both English and French language programmes) and a DVD player.
Bedrooms & Bathrooms
Bedroom 1
With a 6ft (1.8 metre) bed which can be split into 2 singles. French windows and a juliet balcony open to the gardens . An en suite bathroom has a bath with an overhead shower and a W.C.
Bedroom 2
With a 6ft (1.8 metre) bed which can be split into 2 singles, an armchair and French windows opening onto a juliet balcony and the gardens. A large en suite bathroom has a bath with an overhead shower, and a W.C.
Bedroom 4
With a 5’6″ (1.65 metre) bed which can be split to form two singles and with windows facing North and East. This bedroom uses a bathroom which is situated between Bedroom 3 and Bedroom 4, with a bath, walk in shower and a WC.
Bedroom 5
A childrens bedroom with 4 single beds. This bedroom also uses a bathroom which is situated between Bedroom 3 and Bedroom 4, with a bath, walk in shower and a WC.
Bedroom 3
With a 5’6″ (1.65 metre) bed which can be split to form two singles and windows facing South and East. This bedroom uses a bathroom which is situated between Bedroom 3 and Bedroom 4, with a bath, walk in shower and a WC.
NB: There are hair-dryers in every bedroom.
Garden and Grounds
La Valade stands in four acres of lovely gardens and grounds with a sweeping crescent drive to the south-facing front of the House, where there is ample parking space.
The owners are keen gardeners and the garden is full of interest and charm. Expansive lawns are planted with a variety of trees, whilst all around are shrubs, flower beds and roses. On the south side is an orchard planted with quince, pear, plum, apple and crab apple trees.
There is a table tennis table with nets, bats and balls.
Additional buildings, terraces and eating areas
French doors at the west end of the hall lead to a dining terrace with a table which seat 12, shaded by a large sun umbrella.
Overlooking the swimming pool, there is also a superb, roomy pool house which is open on 2 sides and has a table which seats 10, a charcoal-fired barbecue, a fridge, sink (plus pool side plates, glasses and cutlery). Off the pool house is a changing room with a walk-in shower, wash basin and W.C.
Swimming Pool
A wide flight of steps lead to the swimming pool which measures 12 × 6 metres. Roman steps provide access to the shallow end (1 metre) which slopes to 2 metres at the deep end. The pool has an electric, retractable cover which should be closed at night for safety’s sake and to retain the water temperature. The pool is also slightly saline which keeps the water crystal-clear without the need for chlorine.
Around the pool there are lots of sun beds and a hammock. Overlooking the swimming pool, there is also a superb, roomy pool house which is open on 2 sides and has a table which seats 10, a charcoal-fired barbecue, a fridge, sink (plus pool side plates, glasses and cutlery). Off the pool house is a changing room with a walk-in shower, wash basin and W.C.
A superb state of the art hot tub has recently been installed to provide refreshment and relaxation in all seasons of the year.
Location
La Valade is situated 10 kms inside the border of the Dordogne and the Haute-Vienne départment of South West France, equidistant from Périgueux and Limoges.
The House is set in the tranquil, rolling countryside of the Périgord Vert, with marvellous views of woods and fields.
There are 4 nearby villages, all between 5 to 12 minutes’ drive, providing some handy shops for provisions and several simple-to-very-good restaurants and pavement cafés.
The closest towns are Thiviers (15 minutes’ drive) which has an excellent Saturday market, and Nontron (20 minutes) with 3 supermarkets. Stunning Brantôme, known as the Venice of the Dordogne, is 35 minutes, whilst the beautiful, pedestrianised, medieval city of Périguex is 45 minutes away. Limoges, one of the china-making capitals of the world, is roughly the same distance.
How to get there
Bergerac airport (also called Roumanière) is approximately 80 kms (1½ hours)
Limoges airport is about 45 kms (45 minutes)
Bordeaux (Mérignac) is 120 kms.
There are express trains from Limoges to Paris and elsewhere.
Stops at Angoulème (c 60 kms).
Things to see and do nearby
Tennis
There’s an outdoor tennis court in Miallet (10 minutes’ drive), and 2 in St Saud Lacoussière (12 minutes). Booking details are in the information folder.
Golf
There’s an 18-hole golf course near Périgueux (Golf de Périgueux) and another near Ecuras (Golf International de la Prèze), both about 40 kms.
Riding
This is fabulous riding country and there are livery stables near Beynac called Les Ecuries de Milhac de Nontron (10 minutes away), as well as at Brantôme.
Bicycling
Bicycles can be hired at St Saud Lacoussière. There’s a 2-hour bike ride nearby on a track which was once a railway line.
Walking
The information folder provides details of the many marvellous walks in all directions. Close to La Valade, for instance, are signposts marking one of the ancient pilgrim routes to Santiago de Compostela in north west Spain.
Canoeing
The nearby river Dronne offers canoeing through the magical town of Brantôme and then on to Bourdeilles with its Chateau and its beautiful 14th century abbeys.
Caves
The caves called Les Grottes de Villars are worth a visit as are the truly remarkable prehistoric caves of Lascaud near Périgueux.
Go karting
There’s a very professional go-karting circuit just north of Nontron.
Paintballing
There’s also a paintballing centre in the vicinity.
Hot air ballooning
There are 2 locations nearby for hot air ballooning.
Additional Information
Arrival welcome and departure: Tenants will be met on arrival and will be shown how everything works, both inside and out.
Wifi and Broadband: Internet/broadband is good all round the house and pool area.
Housebook: La Valade has a very useful House/Guest Information Folder which, apart from important telephone numbers including a doctor, dentist, plumber, electrician etc., provides details of when and where local markets take place, local supermarkets and shops and restaurants in various price brackets etc. It also lists many interesting churches and other ecclesiastical buildings, a number of chateaux and gardens that are open to the public, plus many fascinating towns and villages in the immediate area.
Additional entertainment: There is a table tennis table with nets, bats and balls. There is a selection of English-language books, CDs and DVDs, plus Netflix and a variety of board games and packs of playing cards.
Music and TV: There are 3 separate sound systems – one in the main part of the House, a second in the kitchen and the third by the pool. All 3 have an iPod socket or blue tooth system.
Services included: A cleaner is employed by the owners for 2 hours per day on 4 days per week. Her tasks include making beds and cleaning the bathrooms and kitchen.
Optional / additional services available: Provided sufficient notice is given, a part-time cook andor chef can probably be found. His/her/their wage will be the tenants’ responsibility, and can be ascertained in advance should tenants so wish.
Utilities: with a washing machine, dryer, an ironing board and an iron etc. There is also a boiler/drying room.
Air conditioning and heating: La Valade is very much an all year-round House with under-floor central heating throughout the ground floor, radiators in all the rooms on the first floor, plus wood burning fireplaces in the sitting room and gallery.
Children: there is a travel cot and a high chair.
Car Parking: There is plenty of parking next to the house.
Rents
2024
Period | Rent per week |
11th – 25th May | £3,800 per week |
25th May – 8th June | £4,800 per week |
8th June – 15th June | £4,600 per week |
15th June – 29th June | £4,700 per week |
29th June – 31st August | £5,500 per week |
31st August – 21st September | £4,600 per week |
21st September – 28th September | £4,300 per week |
28th September – 5th October | £4,000 per week |
11th – 25th May | £3,800 per week |
1st October – 5th October | £3,800 per week |
All other weeks | Please enquire |
Terms & conditions and the booking process
The Booking Process – 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 8 weeks prior to the commencement of the tenancy.
Security Deposit – A Booking and Security Deposit will also be payable to Anglo French Properties Ltd on signing this Rental Agreement. This will secure the booking, and will cover the cost of: (a) telephone calls made on the house telephone during the tenancy, (b) replacing/making good any losses, breakages and/or damages incurred during the rental, and (c) any exceptional cleaning work which may be required at the end of the tenancy. It will be refunded (less any deductions as outlined above) within 4 weeks of the tenancy’s conclusion.
Minimum stay: Unless otherwise agreed, all rentals will be for a minimum of one week and will begin and end on a Saturday.
Arrival Time & Departure times: Tenants should arrive between 4pm and 5pm on the commencement day. They will be welcomed on arrival, given a tour of the property and shown how everything works. Tenants should leave by 10am on the agreed day of departure.
Number of People: Unless otherwise agreed, there should not be more than 12 people staying in the property at any one time.
Security: The owners’ insurance policy requires that all doors are locked, and that all windows and shutters are closed when tenants are away from the property.
Energy costs are included: The energy costs are included in the rental price.
Heating costs are included: The heating costs are included in the rental price.
Linen and towels: Bed linen, bath and pool towels are provided free of charge and will be changed on a weekly basis.
Pets: allowed subject to agreement by the owner.
Smoking allowed: No smoking allowed inside the property. Caution should be taken when smoking outside during the summer months as the risk of fire can be extremely high.
Internet access: yes, included in the rental price.
Optional / additional services available: any additional services, if available, (eg extra cleaning or cooking) will be agreed in advance at a pre-agreed rate per hour. These costs will be the sole responsibility of the tenant.