Sorry - no pets allowed Suitable for children No smoking at this property Self-catering
Home description
This fantastic holiday home sleeps up to 8 people and is situated in the south-west of France, right in the heart of the Dordogne and within the famous ‘vallée des cinq châteaux’ (‘valley of the five castles’). The house enjoys beautiful views of the surrounding valley, the river, lush greenery and the golden castle of Castelnaud.
The House has many features including 3 double bedrooms and 1 twin room, a spacious living room with prime view of the castle, dining room, a large modern extremely well equipped kitchen, balcony, garden, driveway and own private outdoor swimming pool – perfect for a holiday in the Dordogne. It is located on the side of the hill of Castelnaud with the petite village within walking distance below, offering amenities such as a bakery/patisserie, butcher, general store/newsagent, post office/cash machine, café bar and riverside restaurant as well as access to the river where you can picnic, swim or hire canoes. A 2-minute walk up to the top of the hill takes you to the castle entrance, a few snack bars, an ice cream hut and offers you the chance to look out across the Dordogne valley.
Ideal French Getaway.
Private swimming pool, with stunning views.
La Crouzette.
Large and spacious double bedroom.
To see more photos please visit http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/38131
The Aquitaine / Dordogne / Dordogne region
Castelnaud la Chapelle (or simply Castelnaud) is situated in the Dordogne valley, in the region known as the Périgord Noir (part of Aquitaine), south-west France. It is an area that is incredibly beautiful – with its gentle, meandering rivers, lush greenery and golden stone – and is also steeped in a fascinating history that stretches back to prehistoric times.
Regional specialities include duck and goose such as confits de canard and foie gras; truffles, wine and walnuts (used to make all kinds of delights: ‘nothing is lost of the walnut except for the sound of its shell being cracked’).
Castelnaud la Chapelle area
Castelnaud is a petite village within walking distance offering amenities such as a bakery/patisserie, butcher, general store/newsagent, post office/cash machine, café bar and riverside restaurant as well as access to the river where you can picnic, swim or hire canoes. A 2-minute walk up to the top of the hill takes you to the castle entrance, a few snack bars, an ice cream hut and offers you the chance to look out across the Dordogne valley.
Close by there are hot air balloon rides, a supermarket and other shops, golf courses, a trout farm (great for the bbq), pottery shop and the clifftop hanging gardens of Marqueyssac, wine tasting, bicycle hire, various walking and jogging routes and of course grand landscapes and architecture.
The Château de Castelnaud – one of the five castles of the vallée des cinq châteaux – dates back to at least the 13th century. It boasts a long and chequered history, from the early Cathars, the Hundred Years War (when the castle changed hands between French and English forces), through a more stable period of prosperity, to later become abandoned, until its renaissance in the 1960s. Today the picturesquely restored château houses a much-visited museum of medieval warfare, featuring reconstructions of siege engines, mangonneaux and trebuchets. The castle is listed as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture.
Beynac castle and its riverside village, both having featured in the 2000 film Chocolat, is also very close, visible across the river from the battlements of Castelnaud.
Only a short drive away (10 km) is the picturesque medieval town of Sarlat with its restaurants, cafés, cultural events and of course famous markets. With its castles, prehistoric caves and bastide towns, this is an area rich in things to see and do and is the perfect place for friends and families to enjoy a relaxing but stimulating holiday.
Weekly markets (mornings) – Mondays: Les Eyzies (Easter to 1 November); Tuesdays: Cénac, Le Bugue; Wednesdays: Cadouin, Sarlat; Thursdays: Meyrals (during holiday seaon), Domme; Fridays: Le Buisson (July, August), St Cybranet (7 July to 25 August); Saturdays: Sarlat (all day), Belvès; Sundays: St Cyprien, Marquay (2 July to 27 August).
How to get there
Several budget airlines (Ryanair, Flybe, Easyjet and bmi baby) are now offering cheap flights to nearby airports such as Bergerac (72km, 1hr 15mins drive), Limoges (183km, 2hr 15mins), Bordeaux (207km, 2hr 30mins) and in 2008 Brive-Souillac Airport (52km, 1hr). These airports also offer on-site car hire.
If you plan to travel by car (across land or from the UK via the Eurotunnel or ferry) the A20 is within easy access. Paris to Castelnaud is approximately 330 miles of which 300 is motorway.
View maps and plan routes in Google Maps
Nearest Travel Links
Airport:
Bergerac: 72 km
Activities near Castelnaud la Chapelle
Sports: Watersports Horse Riding
Great for: Walking holidays Rural / countryside retreats Cycling holidays
Facilities
Luxuries:
Log fire, Internet access
General:
Central heating, CD player, Telephone, Wi-fi available
Single beds (2), Double beds (3), Cots (1), Sleeps maximum of 8
Other:
Linen and towels provided.
Outdoors:
Balcony / Terrace, Private outdoor pool (unheated), Private garden, BBQ
Access:
Parking space
Further details indoors: Living room: very light, airy and spacious. Open log fire and central heating for those who prefer to stay in the cooler months.
Dining room: with dining table and chairs, cupboards and bookcase. Hi-fi which also plays mp3 CDs and has an ipod/mp3 player input port (requires lead with a 3mm jack input).
Kitchen: modern, extremely well equipped, light and spacious with large breakfast table and chairs. Excellent cooker (with fan oven), dishwasher, kettle, britta filter, crockery, cutlery/utensils, fridge/freezer, large food cupboards. French windows leading onto balcony.
Bedrooms: 3 double rooms and 1 twin room – sleeps 8. There is also a travel cot, with bedding, suitable for a baby.
Bathroom 1: toilet, bath, wash-basin. Bathroom 2: power shower, modern units with wash-basin. A hairdryer is supplied. There is another toilet on the first floor.
Internet: Wi-fi broadband available on a secured network (there is a network socket available in the dining room for anyone who needs a cable to connect; own cable required).
Laundry: washing machine/tumble dryer available and a washing line in the garden. Ironing board and iron also provided. Beach-type towels are also supplied for the pool area.
Balcony: with chairs and drinks table.
Telephone: a cordless phone is available with free local calls.
Further details outdoors: The garden affords great views of the castle and surrounding valley. There are many interesting trees, including cherry, figs, lilac, cedar and mulberry. Sloping lawns and flatter ‘English garden’ area at the back with roses, ‘umbrella’ tree providing shade, and a wooden bench.
Teak garden furniture including 8 recliner chairs, a large dining table and parasol – great for family barbecues in the sun. There is also a barbecue for you to make good use of.
There are various small tables and chairs dotted around the garden so that, whatever time of the day or evening, you can always find somewhere to catch the sun.
The private pool, which is cut into the hillside, is a south-facing sun trap, with lovely views across to the wooded hillside and yet still provides privacy. It is equipped with 8 sunloungers, 4 chairs and a drinks table, and two large parasols. Fully enclosed with lockable gate and pool cover.
Rental rates
Rental prices originally quoted in: British £
Convert to:
Period
From
To
Weekly
Nightly rate
Minimum stay
Weekday
Weekend
September
1 Sep 07
1 Oct 07
800£ 800
0-
0-
1 Week
October
1 Oct 07
31 Oct 07
600£ 600
0-
0-
1 Week
April
1 Apr 08
1 May 08
550£ 550
0-
0-
1 Week
May
1 May 08
1 Jun 08
750£ 750
0-
0-
1 Week
June
1 Jun 08
1 Jul 08
900£ 900
0-
0-
1 Week
July
1 Jul 08
1 Aug 08
1200£ 1,200
0-
0-
1 Week
August
1 Aug 08
1 Sep 08
1200£ 1,200
0-
0-
1 Week
September
1 Sep 08
1 Oct 08
800£ 800
0-
0-
1 Week
October
1 Oct 08
1 Nov 08
600£ 600
0-
0-
1 Week
81
NB: Prices may be subject to change at the owner's discretion. Note: calendar weeks are from Saturday to Saturday as bookings are usually taken this way with arrival after 4pm on a Saturday and departure before 10am on any following Saturday. Arrival on any other day during off-peak season can be subject to negotiation
Stays of under a week may be possible please contact the home owner for midweek / weekend prices.
Availability notes
To see availability please visit http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/38131
Click to view availability for this property.
Contact owner
To contact this owner please visit: http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/38131