Property Overview
- Sleeps: 10 (+1)
- Bedrooms: 5 double ensuite rooms including 1 family room (double/twin + single)
- Bath/Shower Rooms: 5 bathrooms
- Rent per week: €4,450 - €8,550
- Short breaks: €650/night. Min 3 nights. Low season only.
- Key features:14th century water mill
15 acres of grounds
12 x 4.5 metre pool
Grass tennis court
River swimming
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Le Moulin sur Célé
Le Moulin sur Célé is a magical property which captures the essence of idyllic rural France from times gone by, with all the comfort and luxury of the present day. Formerly a water mill, set in the heart of the stunning Lot region of South West France, the accommodation comprises the Miller’s House and Tower, all in beautiful grounds, with a swimming pool, a grass tennis court and croquet lawn, plus swimming, canoeing and fishing in the Célé river which runs through the grounds.
"A Dream In The Lot: 'Le Moulin sue Célé' is a ridiculously joli property in 25 acres of the Lot countryside, comprising mill, miller’s house, tower and cottage. It’s the most pinch-me perfect piece of la France profonde we’ve seen all year – ancient stone walls, beams, big fireplaces, bags of character – and it has a pool, a grass tennis court, a croquet lawn, canoes in the boathouse (there’s a stream, naturally), and an on-site cleaner. All in all, it’s almost embarrassingly idyllic”.
Number 7 in The Sunday Times’ annual travel guide to the 100 greatest holidays on the planet, dated January 20th, 2013.
"My time at Le Moulin sur Célé made my heart sing. I found a peace in the quiet river and glorious unspoilt countryside that I have not known since childhood. There is a spiritual tranquillity about the place that is the perfect antidote to a hectic urban life, but there is much more. The ancient Moulin buildings have been converted into a beautiful and comfortable home - room for guests to be apart, or together for long lunches in the sun on the grassy island, cosy suppers by the fire, or on the terrace under the stars. Extremely civilised. So much to do at the Moulin. Swimming in the sheltered pool, tennis and croquet on the lawns, fishing and canoeing on the Célé river, adventures to pretty local towns and villages with their markets, restaurants and bustling street life. All very French and utterly charming. I will never forget my times at the Moulin."
John Cunningham-Reid, London, England
"We had a wonderful time at the beautiful Moulin and enjoyed some lovely weather as well. The house is a tribute to the imaginative and loving work of the owners who have created the most aesthetically pleasing environment for withdrawal from the frenetic world in which we live. Having said this, and in sharp contrast, internet access allowed us to download the Times every morning! The whole family was so sad to leave - we had some serious tennis matches and some enchanting canoeing. Apart from fishing rods (a couple of which we bought locally, and left behind for future tenants), we found everything we could possibly want. We definitely intend to book again. Please thank the owner."
Kate Buckett, Hampshire, England
We had a FABULOUS time at "Doamine de Tamasea" and "Le Moulin sur Célé" - as ever, your recommendations were spot on. I did want to reiterate how grateful we are to you, to your team and to your owners for having arranged things so well, and for sharing their beautiful houses with us. We would love to go back to both properties.
Nick Roberts, London, England
Accommodation
Le Moulin sur Célé is a dream come true. The property is centred around a 14th century water mill on the banks of the Célé river, with accommodation divided between the Miller’s House and an adjacent Tower linked by a walled terrace (10 metres above the river bank). There are four double ensuite bedrooms with a fifth ensuite bedroom that can be made up as a double or 3 singles providing accommodation for up to 11 guests. Ideal for two or three families, a group of friends or larger family gatherings.
The Miller's House:
Ground Floor
Family Room/Dining Room – large and comfortable, with an impressive working fireplace, sofa and armchairs, satellite TV, Broadband/WiFi internet access and a dining table which seats 12. There are "sonos" (a great music system) in this room with large speakers which cover the terraces. There's also a chargeable speaker on wheels which can be moved to the river bank or to anywhere else in the grounds.
Farmhouse-style kitchen – with La Cornue cooker, two electric ovens, kitchen island with ample refrigeration, dishwasher, coffee making facilities etc French doors on the west side open onto a dining terrace overlooking th river. Additional all weather new dining room woth lovely views of the garden.
Utility Room - with washing machine and dryer, fridge/freezer, ice maker and ironing equipment.
Dining Areas -There are three main dining areas, inside and outside.
Interconnecting terrace attractively adorned with colourful potted plants and flowers, links the Miller's House with the Tower and provides a second outdoor dining area with a table seating 12. The perfect site for evening dinner or early drinks with views down the river and along the valley.
All bedrooms and shared indoor areas are equipped with air conditioning in the summer and heating in winter. All bedrooms have ceiling fans.
Bedroom 1 (Madame's Room) - a spacious master bedroom with a 6 ft double bed and windows overlooking the gardens on 3 sides. It has a large en-suite
Bathroom 1 with a large powerful walk-in shower and a separate W.C.
First Floor
Bedroom 2 (The River Room) - with two 3' 6" beds which can be joined together to form a large double and windows on 2 sides. It has a large ensuite
Dressing Room/Bathroom 2 - with a deep bath and a W.C.
Bedroom 3 (The Garden Room) - with a 5' 6" double bed with views onto the garden and towards the tower.
Bathroom 3 - with a deep bath, and a W.C.
The Landing area has a comfortable chair with table and light next to it.
The Tower:
Ground floor Sitting Room – large and full of character, with creamy stone walls and exposed beamed ceiling, a huge working fireplace, comfortable sofas and armchairs, wide-screen satellite T.V., VOD (Netflix, Disney +) plus board games and cards. There is a new private bar.
First Floor Bedroom 4 - 'The Tower Family Room' with two 3' beds which can be joined together, plus a third 2' 6" bed (also full-length) and windows on 3 sides. An en-suite (Shower Room 2) has a shower and separate W.C.
Second Floor Bedroom 5 – tucked under the eaves, with exposed rafters, a 6 ft double bed and windows on 3 sides. There is also a bath and separate W.C.
Garden & Grounds
Le Moulin sur Célé is set in 15 acres of glorious secluded gardens and grounds on the banks of the Célé river. It provides an idyllic pastoral setting.
There are two terraces, the biggest running from the main house to the tower. This is the perfect place to read and survey the day. Patrick keeps it full of potted plants and flowers. It’s the perfect place for evening dinner or early drinks with views down the valley one side and the river on the other.
The second terrace is through the French doors of the kitchen and covered with a vine to give protection from the sun on particularly hot days. The best place to have breakfast or dinner.
The garden is filled with roses and flowers, along with masses of other climbers, shrubs, pot plants and herbs. There is also a wide variety of trees, including walnuts, and an orchard of peach, pear, apple, quince, greengage and plum, plus raspberry canes and other soft fruits.
A filtered heated swimming pool measures 12 metres × 4.5 metres, with steps descending into the shallow end (1.1 metres) and shelving to 1.7 metres at the deep end. The pool is fenced and gated, with comfortable sun beds and sun umbrellas. It can be heated at tenants' request prior to arrival.
The grounds also include a croquet lawn with hoops, balls and mallets and a superb grass tennis court with net, racquets and balls provided. There is also a children’s football net and badminton racquets and shuttlecocks.
From its days as a working mill, the ‘race’ remains to create ‘the island’ between the river and garden, although it is usually dry in summer. This is an enchanting corner of the garden for a refreshing dip in the Célé and comprises a shady lawn which gently slopes to the river, a number of sun beds, a large table and 10 chairs, plus the charcoal barbecue and a table tennis table (the net, bats and balls are kept indoors).
The Mill itself is now a boathouse which houses three, 2-man canoes with paddles and life-vests, plus 2 lilos. The Célé river is navigable for some miles and meanders downstream through stunning scenery to eventually join the wide and imposing Lot. Guests and canoes can be collected from their eventual destination, thus saving a paddle back upstream. There are also 2 fishing rods and a tackle box. Brown trout are caught quite frequently.
Location
Le Moulin sur Célé is set amongst the dramatic hills and cliffs of the Lot 'département' and stands on the banks of the Célé River.
The surrounding countryside is renowned for its beauty and tranquillity and is known as the ‘triangle noir’ in reference to its black, star-studded night skies. The region is also reputed to have some of the purest and most unpolluted air in France.
Le Moulin is 2 kms from the medieval riverside village of Marcilhac-sur-Célé, with basic shopping facilities, 2 small restaurants and an ancient abbey. It’s 10 kms from the small town of Cajarc which has a good range of shops including a supermarket. The charming historic town of Figeac is 25 kms, on the outskirts of which (at Capdenac) is a giant E.Leclerc supermarket, and a very good open-air market each Saturday.
The nearest main railway stations are at Cahors and Brive-la-Gaillarde (both 1 hour's drive), whilst the TGV stops at Agen (75 minutes). There is also a small station at Assier (15 minutes) with connections to Paris.
The closest airports are Brive-la-Gaillade (1 hour) and Rodez (75 minutes), both of which have some international flights. Toulouse (Blagnac) and Bergerac (Roumanière) international airports are 2 hours' away.
Additional Information
- The owners will personally welcome you on arrival and are available throughout your stay if needed.
- A welcome hamper is provided on arrival with 3 bottles of local wine, chilled water, orange juice, tea, coffee, French bread, local cheese, fresh fruit, milk butter and jam.
- Given sufficient notice, a cook can probably be found for as many dinners and/or lunches as may be required.
- The small town of Cajarc (10 kms) has an excellent butcher called René Verdrune who offers all sorts of ready-prepared food; the baker called Lagarde has a varied selection of delicious sweet and savoury foods, whilst there is a delicatessen and several other food shops plus a supermarket. Cajarc has a marvellous Saturday market.
- During the summer season there is also an excellent market every Tuesday evening in nearby Marcilhac sur Célé.
- Patrick Velu is the gardener and groundsman. He is also responsible for keeping the swimming pool clean and in good working order. He loves to share his knowledge of the gardens, plants, flowers and trees.
- Given sufficient notice a cook can be available for as many dinners and/or lunches as may be required.
- As long as sufficient notice is given a babysitter can probably be found. His/her wage would be the tenants responsibility.
- There is a designated car parking area at the entrance to Le Moulin.
- Bed linen, bath and pool towels are provided free of charge and will be changed on a weekly basis.
- All bedrooms and shared indoor areas are equipped with airconditioning in the summer and heating in the winter. All bedrooms have ceiling fans.
- There is a landline telephone in The Miller's House for guest use. 4G mobile reception is generally good.
- Free WiFi is available throughout the house, pool area and gardens.
- There are 2 baby's cots both with a mattress and one with a sheet. There is also a high chair.
- All the beds in the Miller's House and the Tower have mosquito nets, although 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 extensive Guest House Manual in which are important telephone numbers (doctor, dentist, plumber, electrician etc) and a comprehensive reference of local information.
Things to See & Do near Le Moulin sur Célé
- The extensive house manual comprises maps and guides, plus details regarding 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.
- The House Manual has details re: the hire of bicycles (they can de delivered to Le Moulin if required). This is great cycling country!
- 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 national park of the Causses du Quercy surrounds the property.
- Hiking in the National Park. The parc naturel regional des Causses du Quercy surrounds le Moulin. It has many well marked foot paths throughout the ‘blue path’ system. There are many ordinance survey maps of the local area showing the foot paths in the sitting room. These take you from Le Moulin around the Valley or further afield. A slightly longer two hour walk for instance starts at Marcilhac-sur-Cele (the next village west down the Valley) and follows the valley ridge towards Le Moulin before dropping down onto the river and finally back to Le Moulin (this is a blue-path route).
- For the more intrepid walkers go online and you can pick up the well-trodden, ancient pilgrim routes to Santiago de Compostela in north west Spain.
- Canoeing -The Lot and Célé rivers are renowned for the most beautiful canoe trips. This activity alone draws large numbers of visitors each year and The Lot department local government has a large budget and does a fine job of keeping rivers and banks clear and easy to navigate. They also maintain many weirs with safe canoe slides for many miles of uninterrupted gliding down the river. Le Moulin has two canoes taking 2 or 3 people. These should only be used after instruction from Patrick. Patrick will transport these up the valley for either a half day or full day canoeing. The end of the trip ends on Le Moulin’s river bank.
- The Croissant Run. The valley first thing in the morning and at dusk is sublime. The seven minute drive to the boulangerie in Marcilhac-sur-cele is never a chore. The road follows the river along the valley west, it’s a fantastic drive.
- The organic vegetable farm shop is a stone’s throw up the road to Brengues. It has a fantastic selection of the most wonderful, fresh local vegetables.
- Foie gras is a speciality of the region as demonstrated by the 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, which cascades 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.
- Cabrerets (half an hour's drive) is said to have some of 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, once rivalling the finest Bordeaux in terms of quality and price.
- There is a charming 9-hole golf course at St Céré, with a superb restaurant.
- There are riding stables nearby, offering everything from lessons to pony trekking in the surrounding national park.
Rents & Terms
RENTS AND TERMS 2023
July & August €8,550
May, June and September €6,550
All other months €4,450
Short Breaks €650/night. Minimum 3 nights. Low season only
Other than short breaks out of season, all tenancies will be for a minimum of 1 week, and will start and end on Friday.
Tenants should arrive as soon as possible after 5pm on the commencement day, and should leave by 10am on the agreed day of departure.
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.
A Booking and Security Deposit of €500 will 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 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. This Booking and Security Deposit will be refunded (less any deductions as outlined above) within 4 weeks of the tenancy's conclusion.
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.
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