Le Moulin de Madame

Enlarge

1 of 20

loading photos

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Watermill |6 bedrooms |Sleeps 10

Thiviers in Perigueux

From £230 per week |  From £35 per night

1 night minimum stay

Changeover Saturday

4 out of 5

1 review | Write a review

Key info  Beach or lakeside relaxation, balcony/terrace, car advised, private garden, may take pets - please enquire

About the home

An idyllically former 18th Century mill now restored into a charming 3-storey country house, straddling a mill race and island on the river L'Isle in 2 acres of meadow land surrounded by open grass areas and skirted with woodland in a gentle valley. The dwelling overlooks the river, weir and mill pond which is reasonable for swimming.

Accommodation: Rectangular in shape, the lounge/dining room (33' x 24') has a majestic timber and brick fireplace which combined with furnishings create a charming atmosphere. To one side is a well equipped kitchen with gas cooker, 2 fridges, washing machine, micro-wave oven and many cupboards stocked with utensils and crockery for up to ten guests.

Facilities

Further details indoors:
On the first floor are 3 double bedrooms (1 en suite with WHB, toilet, bidet and shower). The second bathroom has a bath/shower 2 wash-hand basins and bidet. There is a separate WC as well. On the second floor are 3 single open plan bedrooms suitable for young people with dormer windows overlooking the lake and river.

In winter electric heating is a useful background source of heat should one not feel inclined to be dealing with a log fire. There is a cot for small babies but without supervision babies who are at the crawling stage may come to harm since there are many access points to the river which are not fenced off. All children over the age of five seem to be unwilling to leave at the end of the holiday, you should prepare for this event in advance.

Situated over the river Le Moulin de Madame is ideal for fishing and since some guests arrive without necessary footwear for going into the river there are eight pairs of boots ranging in size from 10 year old kids to adults. There are also several umbrellas for those who are caught without. A powerful stereo system in the lounge allows guests who bring their own personal stereo mp3 players, CD players, cassette recorders and radios with a standard headphone socket to hear their favourite sounds without the worry of disturbing neighbours. The next house is located several hundred yards away behind trees and bushes and hence one can enjoy music without the worry of disturbing others.

There is a large box of toys for small children and also card games and jigsaw puzzles. A set of simple snorkelling equipment with flippers, safety vest and plastic sandals for the more adventurous.

Further details outdoors:
A cobbled veranda is at the front of the house and a simple barbecue area is close to the kitchen. The parkland around the house is made up of several gardens with walks, loungers for sunbathing and a grass area for playing badminton. The island has not been tampered with and here nature determines which wild flowers dominate. The bridge to the island has no hand rails and so visitors are permitted to cross to the island at their own risk. Fishing from the garden is permitted and if one is so inclined then one can relax in an armchair in the lounge and fish from there! Most go across to the island and then wearing water boots stand in the river and seem to have most success there. A permit for fishing can be obtained at the local fish tackle shop in Thiviers. The bridge accessing the main garden in front of the house is ancient but recently renovated and solid.

There are various outdoor seats including 14 standard plastic chairs for the garden, and small tables which can be arranged to your own pleasure. Bicycles can be hired locally but guests are advised to bring their own if possible to ensure satisfaction when wishing to explore the forests and river banks in the area.

Boating equipment is not normally supplied and guests often bring their own inflatable dinghies.
The lawn area for badminton is well out of the way from the sun lounging areas and half in shadow, simple equipment is stored together with the children's toys. Fruit trees, blackberry bushes, various mints and many wild flowers are all there for anyone who should desire them. For example hundreds of wild daffodils often flower unnoticed and guests may feel free to take some bulbs home with them.

Further details

Furniture in Le Moulin de Madame is not all antique nor brand new so guests need only exercise moderate constraint to light-hearted behaviour. This is not a hotel so those guests expecting first class luxury standards should book at the hotel. This note is added to avoid attracting those guests who expect a standard of hygiene found in five star residences or hospital operating theatres! For those who are allergic to cats, be warned, we clean the house from top to bottom but two cats are also occasionally holidaying here.

Conditions

Enquiries are welcome for long term lets. A very popular area for British people buying abroad, you may be lucky and from this secluded central location be able to find your own dream property.

Pets are welcome but need to be registered first.

Photos

 

Enlarge

Time to relax

 

Enlarge

Lounge

 

Enlarge

Le Moulin de Madame

 

Enlarge

Fishing, only 88 footsteps from the kitchen!

The Aquitaine / Dordogne / Dordogne region

There are more castles in the Dordogne region than the rest of France together. The very next-door (on the right side leaving the grounds) "neighbour" is a castle and upstream is Jumilhac le Grand Castle - famous for its gold museum. There is gold in the river Isle and on the sandbanks of the island one can see it glittering in the sunshine. Some two tons of gold are found in this local seam per year. These deep valleys have heavily wooded banks and thus farmers have not made such inways around this part of the country like elsewhere. Vegetation remains intact and wildlife is abundant. Wildlife experts will have a field day when out for a survey. Wild deer, otters, falcons and eagles, in fact so many strange and wonderful creatures can be seen in the grounds of the house that it would require an ornithologist or protozoologist to identify them all! Tiger moths, herons, otters, if it lives in Europe then it may have found a habitat here.

Stargazers will likewise be thrilled at the fantastic sights of the night sky. It is for this reason that less than a mile from Le Moulin de Madame a very large telescope (450mm) has been mounted and is accessible to the public (Club Régulus). The skies have such low amounts of dust and debris that visibility is one of the highest in Europe, due to the fact that there few pollution producers anywhere in this area. The local national park begins just a mile up stream but the woods begin just outside the house and this contributes to the very high quality of the air. Hence at night temperatures fall dramatically and guests should bring warm cardigans should they wish to lie in the garden counting stars.

The Perigueux / Thiviers area

Thiviers is four miles away, the Saturday morning market is not to be missed with a huge variety of fresh food, vegetables, flowers, clothes, wine, cheeses and fish. The cathedral has regular free concerts in which even the sound of Jazz is to be heard! Thiviers' new cinema shows different films each night. The swimming baths and diving pool are beside the football ground set in a large park below the town.

Perigueux is famous for its Roman ruins 30 minutes south of Thiviers. Limoges is renowned for its ceramics and porcelain 45 minutes drive north. The whole region is popular with the French for its ability to produce truffles, foie gras and pâté of a world class. Restaurants are not expensive (beginning at 11€ for a four course meal!) and the quality is top notch.

An 18 hole golfcourse is open to the public just west of Perigueux, a thirty minute drive.

Fishing permits are available in Thiviers at the local fishing tackle shop on the RN 21 road, then trout is only one of a number of fish that may be caught and which are kept well stocked by local enthusiasts. Water in L'Isle river is not suitable for drinking but has been confirmed safe for swimming and water sports.

Canoeing in the river is great fun but again not always harmless and parents take full responsibility for what their children get up to. Building dams and panning for gold is very popular but all finds should be registered! :-)

How to get there

Le Moulin de Madame What's nearby: Attractions Restaurants Click map icons for more information

Reset Map

FLY to Limoges with Ryan air. Rent a car from one of three possible companies and drive 45 minutes to Thiviers on the N21 and then another 5 miles along the D707 and you are there.

OR

DRIVE and take the ferry to France via St Malo, Caen, Cherbourg, Le Havre or Callais/Tunnel and drive down with a break in Paris. Then from Paris to Le Moulin using the good motorways you can make it in 4 hours via Orleans, Vierzon and Limoges. Then the N21 "route National" to Thiviers.

Activities near Perigueux

Reviews

Review: 1 to 1 of 1

10 Aug 2011

“idyllic” Le moulin really is amazing and is probably the most special place I've stayed in terms of setting and rustic charm. After a drive through spectacular french countryside we arrived and parked at the top of little track lined with trees and the house itself was obscured. Le moulin itself is breathtaking and looks as rustic on the outside as it is inside. The heavy wooden door at the front, thick walls and shutters ensure it is cool inside even when the temperatures are soaring outside. While we found the old french furiture, random garden machinery, general junk, lounge complete with cobwebs and cracks in the windows and walls rather endearing, it was clear from the visitor book that some had not agreed. It certainly didnt put us off because the house is abolsutely charming. And to be fair, the owner Clive makes it quite clear in the description that your experience will be a rustic one. The views from all the windows are amazing and you are surrounded by water on three sides. Its absolutely silent at night time apart form the crickets and was a little eerie at first! The shutters in the bedrooms mean you sleep in pitch-black darkness and really facilitate a good nights sleep. We ate in local villages for lunch - usually the menu du jour which came to around 12 euros for three courses including wine and coffee. There is so much to do in the area its unreal and there are amazing walks from the doorstep. We saw kingfishers, hundreds of butterflies, birds of prey, snakes, hedgehogs and many more animals in the grounds. You could spend a week just exlporing the garden! The bridge to the island is rather rickety and this is your main access to the river. The water is deep enough to swim in (or float around on a rubber ring with a drink in your hand!). We loved it so much we are planning to return next year, hopefully for two weeks! Response: At last someone has written a review. Many promised and I have had many good words in my own visitor's book but I am grateful for your kind and honest words here. Each year I am working hard to bring this place to its full potential which in my eyes is nothing less than paradice!

Review: 1 to 1 of 1

Reviews powered by

Guestbook for Le Moulin de Madame

"On our 1st day a local lad caught a jack pike (downstream of weir, by the apron at the base) and two perch upstream. They were regarded as good eating and taken home for a fish supper" - Lynden

"I caught roach and chub above the weir, ledgering up against the bushes. There are loads of good rivers in the area for fishing and I have sighted (but not caught) carp to well over 20 lbs. Most of the rivers hold very large stocks of chub and roach, and some large bream and carp" - Sean Butcher

"This is a paradise for children. We have had a fantastic time at Le Moulin and will be heart-broken to leave" - Anthony Brouchim

"It is a most peaceful place and we have been able to relax and unwind thoroughly" - Christopher Ash

"Its hard to imagine a world outside when sitting watching the birds etc with a drink in your hand. You really feel you have had a holiday" - Jenny and Chris

Rental prices

Prices for group size 10
Period	From	To	Weekly	Nightly rate		Minimum  stay
				Weekday	Weekend
October	1 Oct 09	1 Nov 09	399£ 399	0-	0-	1 Week
Other times	1 Nov 09	1 Mar 10	268£ 268	0-	0-	1 Week
March/April	1 Mar 10	1 May 10	230£ 230	3535	110110	Flexible
May/June	1 May 10	1 Jul 10	340£ 340	3838	130130	Flexible
July/August	1 Jul 10	1 Sep 10	680£ 680	0-	0-	1 Week
September	1 Sep 10	1 Oct 10	340£ 340	0-	0-	1 Week
October	1 Oct 10	1 Nov 10	280£ 280	0-	0-	1 Week
Other times	1 Nov 10	1 Mar 11	268£ 268	0-	0-	1 Week
March/April	1 Mar 11	1 May 11	230£ 230	0-	0-	1 Week
May/June	1 May 11	1 Jul 11	340£ 340	0-	0-	1 Week
July/August	1 Jul 11	1 Sep 11	680£ 680	0-	0-	1 Week
September	1 Sep 11	1 Oct 11	340£ 340	0-	0-	1 Week
October	1 Oct 11	31 Oct 11	280£ 280	0-	0-	1 Week
March/April	15 Mar 12	1 May 12	250£ 250	0-	0-	1 Week
May/June	1 May 12	1 Jul 12	340£ 340	0-	0-	1 Week
July/August	1 Jul 12	1 Sep 12	680£ 680	0-	0-	1 Week
September	1 Sep 12	1 Oct 12	340£ 340	0-	0-	1 Week
October	1 Oct 12	31 Oct 12	280£ 280	0-	0-	1 Week
March/April	15 Mar 13	1 May 13	250£ 250	0-	0-	1 Week

The property's weekend rates apply to: Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights

NB: Prices may be subject to change at the advertiser's discretion.

Special offer for a couple with small children - save up to 50% !!

Monthly rates are available on request.

**** **** **** **** PLEASE **** ***** PLEASE *** **** **** ***** ****

include your COUNTRY CODE when giving your telephone number. (Holiday Lettings believe that by asking for this potential guests will be put off replying, I do not agree so am including some codes and hope to be able to then call you if you include the country code....).

UK country code is +44

USA country code is + 1

Ireland country code + 353

France country code + 33

Availability

See below for next 9 months' availability - to see the next 24 months click here

Contact the owner

* Required fields Please check the following errors: First name * Last name * Email *   Did you mean ""? Yes / No Phone number Arrival date Departure date   Ignore calendar - enquire anway No. of adults No. of children Message * Email me special offers and holiday ideas T&Cs

7 years listed You are contacting Clive Stewart Landline +351 289 570070 Mobile +351 913 707127 Languages spoken The owner is based in Portugal and has advertised with Holiday Lettings since 2005. This watermill has received 1 review from previous guests.

Selected other homes from this advertiser

Albuferia Jardim in Albufeira, Portugal