Duras holiday cottage rental, Pardaillan with private pool, walking, beach/lake nearby, log fire, disabled access, balcony/terrace, rural

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Colombine (cottage)

Home description

Near the historic market town of Duras, Colombine is a suitable centre for visits to the Dordogne valley with its world famous prehistoric cave paintings, cliff dwellings, and romantic mediaeval chateaux, as well as the wine chateaux of St. Emilion/Bordeaux and Entre Deux Mers. There are vineyards and orchards in abundance, the latter often devoted to producing the famous pruneaux d’Agen while everywhere you are reminded of the historical importance of a region that provided the backcloth to much of the 100 Years War which left as its legacy many fine mediaeval chateaux and the ‘bastides’ or fortified market towns several of which, for example, Eymet and Monpazier, remaining largely as they were created 600 years ago.

Colombine	Dining-room
Sittingroom	Swimming Pool

To see more photos please visit http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/40692

The Aquitaine / Dordogne / Lot et Garonne region

"This entire valley is so full of vineyards, flowered meadows, cultivated fields, fruit tree plantations deliciously shaded by hedges, watered by springs, crossed by streams, rich in harvests, that their owners seem to have had a vision of paradise".
So wrote Sidoine Apollinaire, the Latin poet some 1500 years ago about the valley of the river Dropt. These words could have been written about the area today, so little has changed. It is now as then, a peaceful retreat from the rigours of life.


Enjoy strolling round the many village MARKETS available almost every morning of the week, soak up the atmosphere of several evening markets and the many village fêtes and concerts.

As you might expect in this part of France, where local people expect to eat well, there is an abundance of excellent, well-priced RESTAURANTS.

MEMORABLE DAY TRIPS would include a visit to the Vezere valley to see the cave paintings at Lascaux as well as the other caverns and prehistoric cliff dwellings and the historic and romantic mediaeval chateaux of the Dordogne.

Duras / Pardaillan area

COLOMBINE is situated near the village of Pardaillan (the childhood home of author Marguerite Duras) in the heart of the Guyenne, the ancient name for a region which now comprises parts of the departments of Gironde, Dordogne and Lot et Garonne. We are also in the Cotes de Duras AOC wine producing area and near the historic market town of Duras with its imposing mediaeval chateau.

THE COTES DE DURAS was one of the first wine producing areas of France to be awarded AOC status and you can sample the light but fruity reds and crisp dry whites by visiting some of the 50 or so growers. We are also close to the Cotes de Bergerac, Entre Deux Mers and Cotes de Marmandais as well as being within easy reach of St. Emilion and the other Bordeaux regions.

Within about 20 – 40 minutes drive there are two 9 hole and three 18 hole GOLF COURSES.

CYCLING is very popular as the countryside is ideal – quiet country lanes and rolling, picturesque country. There are several shops locally where you can hire bicycles.

Nearby are TENNIS courts, CANOEING along the river Dropt, and a PONY club.

How to get there

We are only a ½ hour drive from Bergerac or 1½ hours from Bordeaux.

Flights to BERGERAC are available from Stansted, East Midlands, Bristol & Liverpool (Ryanair); Gatwick, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leeds, Southampton and Exeter, (Flybe).

Flights to BORDEAUX are available from Birmingham and Manchester (Bmibaby); Gatwick (British Airways); Bristol and Luton (Easyjet) Southampton (Flybe).

Travelling here for a break is now really easy!

The nearest ferry port (apart from ones in north west Spain which are very expensive) is St. Malo which is 585km (*approx 6h15 driving time). Cherbourg is 746km (*approx 8 hours driving time) and Caen is 660km (*approx 7h15 driving time). The cheapest crossing is with Speedferries from Dover to Boulogne which is 842km (*approx 8h45 driving time).

Activities near Duras

Facilities

Further details indoors:
We have renovated our old prune oven barn (we’re not sure exactly how old it is, but it features on the Plan Napoleon which makes it at least 160 years old) into a new cottage. The cottage is newly equipped and furnished and sleeps 6 in three bedrooms – one double (160x200), one twin (2 beds 90x200) and one room with 2 beds (90x200). There is one bathroom with bath, open shower, washbasin and WC; a separate WC with hand washbasin; and a shower room with washbasin and shower. The cottage is all on one level, so no stairs to negotiate, and is wheelchair accessible.

For those seeking winter accommodation or a long let, the cottage is double glazed and well insulated with electric radiators and wood-burning stove.

Where possible we have retained the old stone walls and character of the original building, which was open on two sides, except for one room which is now the sitting room. The dining room retains the openness of the original by having two large sliding windows all along one side, giving the room a light airy feel. The horseshoe shaped kitchen fits snugly into the old prune drying area.

Resident English owners with more than 15 years experience renting holiday accommodation are on hand to help you make the most of your holiday should you need any information or advice.

Further details

Included in the weekly price are sheets and towels(except beach towels), gas (for cooking) and electricity up to 56kw per week.

Rental rates

Period	From	To	Weekly	Nightly rate		Minimum  stay
				Weekday	Weekend
MID	31 May 08	28 Jun 08	550£  433	0-	0-	1 Week
HIGH	28 Jun 08	12 Jul 08	755£  594	0-	0-	1 Week
PEAK	12 Jul 08	16 Aug 08	1275£  1,004	0-	0-	1 Week
HIGH	16 Aug 08	30 Aug 08	1150£  906	0-	0-	1 Week
MID	30 Aug 08	27 Sep 08	755£  594	0-	0-	1 Week
LOW	27 Sep 08	30 May 09	450£  354	0-	0-	1 Week

NB: Prices may be subject to change at the owner's discretion.
Colombine is classified as 3 keys by Clévacances – the equivalent of 3 stars.

Guestbook

· Having previously enjoyed a stay at Colombine, we knew exactly where to stay when our house in England sold and our new home here was some way from completion. It has been our home for the last 6 months and we shall miss it. We have been so comfortable.

· My daughter has stayed in Colombine several times and raves about it. We decided to follow her. We have stayed in gites all over France for 30 years – from Picardy to the Pyrenees and from Landes to the Alps – and this is our favourite.

· Well we are back again as promised….We feel as if we never left here last year – such a warm and homely feeling you get when you arrive….after being back a second time a third visit is definitely on the agenda!

· Ce gite nous a vraiment séduits. Il a un charme fou, l’aménagement est parfait. Merci pour votre accueil.

· What a stunning property. We have stayed in many places in France and this is the best by far. Equipped to an incredible standard.

AND FROM A WHEELCHAIR USER :

Last year in September, my wife and I spent two glorious weeks in the
Lot-et-Garonne in the South-West of France. We rented a self-catering
holiday cottage on the grounds of a 15th century property. The cottage is a renovated prune-oven barn that is superbly adapted for wheelchair users.

There are no steps; all doors are 90cm wide and there is ample space to
manoeuvre throughout the house. I use an electric wheelchair that is 70cm wide and 130cm long, and I had no problems getting around whatsoever. There is a disabled toilet in the bathroom, a wheel-in shower and enough leg space under the sink. It has its own large garden and swimming pool and is completely independent of the main building.

There is a ramp leading to the swimming pool and the beautiful garden is fully accessible, though a bit bumpy in places. The English owners will do the utmost to make you feel at home. For example last year they took a piece out of the kitchen table to enable me to get my legs underneath it.

The Duras and Bergerac region is wonderful and there are plenty of nice villages and towns to stroll around and enjoy the atmosphere and gastronomy. If you are thinking about spending some time in ‘la douce France’, you should definitely consider this place.

Availability notes

To see availability please visit http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/40692

Contact owner

To contact this owner please visit: http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/40692

Contact details for home 40692 Please mention Holiday Lettings
Name:	Jane Jarvis
Tel:	+33 (0)553 202497
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Contact Notes: email
Advertiser joined: 17 Feb 2006 This property added: 5 Nov 2007

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