Property Overview
- Sleeps: 12
- Bedrooms: 3 doubles, 2 doubles/twins, 1 family room (double/twin + single)
- Bath/Shower Rooms: 2 bathrooms, 3 shower rooms
- Rent per week: £3,000- £7,000
- Key features: 13th century water mill
25 acres of grounds
11 x 4.5 metre pool
Grass tennis court
River swimming & canoeing
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Le Moulin de St Sulpice
Le Moulin de St Sulpice 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, Tower and Cottage, 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 de St Sulpice' 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 the Moulin de St Sulpice 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 "Moulin de St Sulpice" - 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 de St Sulpice is a dream come true. The property is centred around a 13th 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), and a charming, self-contained Cottage, 250 metres away.
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 when fully extended. 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 – off the dining area and well equipped, with a cooker, 1 electric and 3 gas hobs, an electric oven, a fridge, a dishwasher, etc. French doors on the west side open onto a dining terrace with a table for 8 and French doors on the north side leading to the croquet lawn and grass tennis court.
- Utility Room - with 2 washing machines, a dryer, fridge/freezer, small separate deep freeze, a Belling food heater and ironing equipment.
- Bedroom 1 - with a 6 ft double bed and windows on 3 sides. An en-suite (Shower Room 1) has a walk-in shower and a separate W.C.
- Interconnecting terrace – linking the Miller's House with the Tower and providing a second outdoor dining area with a table seating 12.
First Floor
- Bedroom 2 - with two 3' 6" beds which can be joined together and windows on 2 sides.
- Dressing Room/Bathroom 1 - with a bath and a W.C.
- Bedroom 3 - with a 5' 6" double bed.
- Bathroom 2 - with a bath, and a W.C.
- There's a day bed on the Landing which can be used if necessary.
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, a bridge table, wide-screen satellite T.V., fax machine, CD/DVD player and a collection of CDs and DVDs, plus board games and cards.
- First Floor Bedroom 4 - 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.
The Cottage
The Cottage is located opposite the entrance to the Moulin, on the other side of a quiet road and part-way up a hill, with 180-degree views of the surrounding valley. There are small terraces on 2 sides of the Cottage, with tables and chairs. A small building below the Cottage houses the property's wine-making equipment.
- Open-Plan Living Room – located on the ground floor. With a comfortable sofa and an armchair, a dining table seating 4, a fireplace with a small wood burner, and a kitchenette with a 4-ring gas/electric hob, an oven, fridge, sink etc. There are windows on all 4 sides and a French door opening onto a small terrace with a table, 4 chairs and a sun umbrella.
- Bedroom 6 – located on the first floor. With two 3 ft beds which can be linked together and windows on 3 sides.
- Shower and a separate W.C., also on the first floor.
Garden & Grounds
Le Moulin de St Sulpice is set in 10 hectares (25 acres) of glorious secluded gardens and grounds on the banks of the Célé river. It provides an idyllic pastoral setting, complete with a small flock of sheep.
The owner is a keen gardener and prides herself on her roses, 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 swimming pool measures 11 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 also 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 being 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 de St Sulpice is set amongst the dramatic hills of the Lot 'département' and stands on the banks of the Célé River.
The surrounding countryside in 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 super-fast train, the TGV, stops at Agen (75 minutes away). There is also a small station at Assier (15 minutes away) 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
- Lillian Bell is the manager/caretaker. Monika, the cleaner, is employed by the owner on 6 days per week for 2 hours per day. She should be paid by tenants at the going rate for any agreed additional work. Maryse also looks after the pool.
- Given sufficient notice, a cook can probably be found for as many dinners and/or lunches as may be required. A baby-sitter can also probably be found.
- 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.
- 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 the small flock of sheep and property maintenance.
- Lillian Bell is the Estate Manager, and can be contacted re: problems/questions of any kind. Her contact details are in the information book.
- There is ample parking space on the south side of the Tower.
- Bed linen, bath and pool towels are provided free of charge and will be changed on a weekly basis.
- 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, plus an iPod dock.
- 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's a piano.
- There are some children's toys.
- There are English-language books throughout the house.
- There is a House Manual in which are important telephone numbers (doctor, dentist, plumber, electrician etc).
Things to See & Do near Le Moulin de St Sulpice
- The 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.
- Le Moulin's 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.
- 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 appears to cascade 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
2020 Rents and Terms
|
May, June & September |
£4,900 per week |
|
July & August |
£7,000 per week |
|
All other months |
£3,000 per week |
|
Christmas 2019/2020 |
Negotiable |
|
Easter & Christmas 2020/2021 |
Negotiable |
Except by prior arrangement, 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 6 weeks prior to the commencement of the tenancy.
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 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.
The owners' insurance policy requires that all windows are closed and outside doors are locked whenever tenants are away from the property.
Please close all sun umbrellas at night and on windy days - gusts of wind can blow them over and break them.
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.
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