Moulin de Thimonier

Moulin de Thimonier is approached down a long single track road flanked by vineyards. Passing between two stone gate posts this eventually becomes a gravelled drive through its garden to a parking area for at least 2/3 cars.

Facing the front of the house the former windmill (now without its sails) is located on the right (Eastern end) of the house perched on the top of a prominent hillock the top of which is level with the main roof.

The very pretty front elevation of the house is orientated to the South towards the best of the views. The main house comprises the kitchen, sitting room, one double bedroom and bathroom on the ground floor with a further 2 Bedrooms and 2 bathrooms on the first floor.

The kitchen has French doors that open onto a spacious covered terrace for outside dining adjacent to the swimming pool and with views to the South.

As a separate annexe the circular windmill, a short climb up from the end of the house, comprises a single circular room with kitchenette and bathroom extension on the ground floor then a landing/tiny bedroom on the 1st floor landing and a small double room on the top floor.

The division of accommodation between main house and the windmill allows a subtle degree of independence between families, couples or generations whilst allowing full/shared use of the facilities of gardens, pool and indoor/outdoor spaces.

Main House

Ground Floor

The front door opens into an Entrance Hallway off which lead the kitchen and the sitting room to left and right.

Kitchen. One half of this large room is a well equipped traditional kitchen with units on two sides incorporating an electric oven, surface/induction electric cooker,fridge, Belfast sink, toaster, coffee making facilities etc and a working marble top kitchen table which divides the room from the dining side.An extendable kitchen/breakfast/dining table seats up to 10 comfortably. A fine antique dresser stands on the inner wall.An attractive wood burning stone fireplace forms a handsome feature the Western end of the room. Large French windows open on to the dining terrace shaded by an attractive loggia running the full Western end of the house and overlooking the swimming pool.

The sitting room occupies the front/Southern side of the house on the other side of the hallway. A comfortable medium sized room with generous sofas, armchairs, well populated bookcases, traditionally furnished and with a stone fireplace housing a woodburner at its eastern end. There is a TV. Windows look South to the best of the views.

A passageway leads to the rear of the house from the hallway past a downstairs WC and separate alcove with mirror and wash basin. This passage extends to the North Eastern corner of the house past various in built hanging/storage areas to:

Bedroom 1. A large double bedroom with double bed (1.8m w x 2m). French windows open out to its own terrace shaded by a pergola, protected by the hillside and open to the South. Stone steps lead up to the windmill from here.

Ensuite Bathroom 1 adjoins with walk in shower, WC and wash basin. Bedroom 1 and its ensuite Bathroom 1 are well suited if needed for an elderly couple or anyone of limited mobility.

A Utility Room is situated in the North Western corner of the house. A large room with a full height fridge/freezer and ice making machine. It also houses the table tennis table which can be set up under the adjoining loggia on the Western terrace.

A washroom/laundry adjoins the utility room and contains a washing machine, tumble dryer, ironing board and iron plus the hot water boiler.

There is also a Wineroom/cave locked and excluded from the letting.

Wooden stairs lead up from the entrance hallway to the first floor.

First Floor

Stairs lead to a large landing which also forms an office with desk and chair and connections for a computer and an Epsom printer/copier. The western wall is dominated by a large oak book case with shelves filled with books giving the landing the atmosphere of a library.

Bedroom 2 - ‘The Master Bedroom’ a large bedroom with double bed (1.8w x 2m). Windows to South and east. It has a large Samsung flat screen TV. Two steps lead down to its:

Ensuite Bathroom 2 – with bath, walk in shower, WC and washbasin.

Bedroom 3 – another large bedroom with double bed (1.8w x 2m) occupying the other front half of the house. Two steps lead down into its:

Ensuite Bathroom 3 – with bath, walk in shower, washbasin and WC.

The Windmill

A hallmark feature and interest of the property is the former windmill perched on top of its own small hill immediately adjoining the main house at its Eastern end. It has its own grass terrace area outside its ‘front door’ with spectacular southerly views. The base of the mill is level with the roof of the main house.

The circular mill tower/building consists of a ground floor room with kitchenette extension and shower room. The kitchenette comprises a simple run of base units incorporating a sink, twin gas hobs, a fridge, microwave oven, kettle and coffee making facilities. Immediately adjoining this is a small shower room with WC, wash basin and walk in shower.

Steep circular stone steps follow the curved wall to the 1st floor which constitutes a simple half landing/bedroom with a very small single bed (70cms w x 1.8m) only suitable for a teenager.

Circular stone steps lead again on to the top (2nd) floor, a small Double Bedroom 4, effectively an ‘eyrie’ with a small double bed (145cms w x 180cms) with 5 small windows giving wonderful 360 degree views.

The quality and comfort of the mill is lesser and more simple in character than in the main house.

As the stairs are steep, narrow and circular in the mill it is not accommodation suitable for elderly, infirm or very young children.

Moulin de Thimonier enjoys a peaceful rural location in the St Emilion region of the Gironde department just South of The River Dordogne and midway between the cities of Bordeaux and Bergerac.

Its nearest village is St Pey de Castets with a population of 650. This has a conveniently located boulangerie for morning croissants and French bread and a friendly auberge (Auberge Gascon).

There are good shopping facilities at the market town of Castillon-la-Bataille (5 miles/12 minutes), including a pharmacy, baker, butcher, supermarket and an excellent gourmet épicerie.

There is a fabulous weekly market on a Saturday morning at Ste-Foy-La-Grande (18 miles/30 minutes) and an excellent weekly market on Mondays in the town centre of Castillon-la-Bataille.

There are supermarkets at Sauveterre de Guyenne (Super U), Castillon la Battaille (LeClerc), Branne (Carrefour Contact) and Libourne (Carrefour).

Cities and towns of note and interest within easy reach are Bordeaux (55mins/36 miles), Libourne (33 mins/15 miles), Bergerac (52 minutes/33miles), St Emilion (18 mins/10 miles), Marmande (50 mins/31 miles), Duras (30 mins/19 miles), Sauveterre de Guyenne (18 mins/11 miles), Issegeac (1 hr/40 miles) and on the Atlantic coast Arcachon (2hrs/75 miles) and Cap Ferret (2hrs 40 mins/80 miles).

Moulin de Thimonier is 1 hr/32 miles from Bordeaux airport (Merignac) and 1 hr/34miles from Bergerac airport.

The nearest entry to the autoroute (N89) is Junction 8 between Bordeaux and Libourne.

The TGV stops at Bordeaux (2hrs 14 mins Paris to Bordeaux and c 20 trains a day!)

There is a very helpful House Manual 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 manual also includes maps, brochures and contact details of local doctors, dentists, plumbers, electricians, pool maintenance etc.

Bicycling: It is a great pleasure cycling from Chateau de Chateau around the vineyards of St Emilion. Bicycles can be hired from Les Bicyclettes de Saint-Emilion

Walking: There are several walks from the house and locally. Details are available in the house manual and there are copies of the excellent local series blue maps.

Fairs festivals and concerts: held in the region throughout the summer. Details are included in The House Manual and are also available in the tourist office in Saint-Emilion

Markets: There are open air markets in numerous local towns and villages, taking place on different days of the week. Details can be found in The House Manual.

Saint-Emilion: (25 minutes/12 miles) is recognised by UNESCO as a world heritage cultural landscape. Two thousand years of history between men and vines have evolved here. 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.

Bordeaux: (1 hr/37 miles) the great port city of the Garonne estuary and centre of the famed wine-growing region. It’s known for its Gothic Cathédrale St-André, as well as its many fine and contemporary art museums and 18th and 19th century mansions. Public gardens line the curving river quays, and the 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

Bergerac: (56 minutes/34 miles), located on the Dordogne. Historically, like Bordeaux, it grew on trade. Flat-bottomed barges (gabares) took the wine on to Bordeaux for shipping to England, for centuries the biggest market. There is a mix of very old half-timbered (colombage) houses set in the narrow streets and a more modern shopping centre around the beautiful Notre Dame cathedral. The old town is mostly traffic free.

Issigeac: (1hr/40 miles east along 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 in the summer the night markets here are not to be missed.

Lalinde: (1¼ hr/46 miles east) 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 magnificent 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 so here you can admire both architectural styles.

Périgueux: (1¼ hr/58 miles North East) is the ‘capital’ of the Dordogne department but is actually on the river Isle rather than the Dordogne. 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. 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

Local Tourist Office: there is a tourist office in Castillon-la-Bataille

Food and Wine

Goose, Duck and Foie Gras: Farms in the area 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: Along the Dordogne 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 (vendage) 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: Day Tours - French Wine Adventures | French Wine Adventures

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 rose 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. Best of Wine Tourism Gold trophy winner in the greater Bordeaux and Bergerac region in 2013 and 2017. www.chateaufeely.com for details.

Sauternes: (50 minutes/31 miles south west) synonymous with the French sweet wine from the Sauternais region of the Graves section of Bordeaux is also well worth a visit

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

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

Chateaux: There are numerous examples well worth visiting. Chateau Yquem and the next door Chateau Guiraud are super. The latter has a restaurant which makes the visit all the more enjoyable!

Golf courses: There is a golf course at Golf de Rochebois at Vitrac (9 hole). Also The Grand Saint-Emilion Golf Club (18 hole), Golf de la Forge (9 holes) at Siorac-en-Perigord, and the 18 hole Golf la Croix de Mortemart near Le Bugue to name a selection.