LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION….!
Situated in the very HEART of 100 YEAR WAR country, bastides, medieval villages, troglodyte caves, chateaux, huge winding rivers, vignerons par excellence, truffles, village markets, the home of foie gras and to cap it all – the most beautiful countryside imaginable!
Day outings to Bordeaux, St Emilion, Limoges - famous for its fine pottery, Cahors – the seat of fierce resistance to the German Occupation in WW2, to name but a few.
MAISON DE LA PAIX – a Medieval Village house par excellence as featured on BBC's 'Escape to the Continent'.
With original features and materials dating back to the early twelve to mid thirteen hundreds, Maison de la Paix is all about living and the ‘joie de vivre’ of everything that makes life in rural France so special.
The décor - a combination of French antique and period styled medieval fittings, coupled with stylish current furnishings necessary for your absolute comfort and equipped with a wine sommelier for storing and chilling up to 120 bottles of your wines selected from the cellar doors of local vintners.
A true marriage of stone, steel and timber if ever there was one!
A variety of indoor and outdoor seating and dining options - so comfortable, adaptable and accommodating – catering for all sizes of guest groups - from single to eight - allowing as much privacy, or not, as your mood dictates.
ACCOMMODATION
Boasting four genuine double bedrooms – all on the first floor - three of which are ensuite, Maison de la Paix is equipped to accommodate up to eight guests in style and comfort.
Each bedroom features luxurious, high quality, brand new, XL King size beds furnished with 100% Percale cotton bed linen and huge high quality fluffy white towels for bathing - complete changeover every Saturday. All with rose coloured wooden floors, high volume beamed ceilings and period features, the accommodation compliments the living area below by providing such an authentic French feel.
Rosé +/- 42m2 private access staircase from external entrance or accessed from bedroom landing – full Victorian Bathroom ensuite.
Bleu +/- 25m2 and full Victorian bathroom ensuite.
Gris +/- 21m2 and Victorian shower bathroom ensuite.
Ivoire +/- 18m2 - shares a bathroom with one of the other ensuites, full access to cloakroom too.
OUR SUNDAY MARKET
By far the most festive in the region – our village market is so popular and so much fun that people drive from all over the region for the experience!
With stalls lining the winding medieval streets and alleyways - in and out- the ambiance - the colours, smells, textures, sounds, cultures and of course the food!
Fresh Bordeaux oysters, rotisseried pintade (guinea fowl), cailles (quail), farm chicken, roti de porc (rolled pork), chèvre (goats cheese), pâté de foie gras, duck confit, saucisson, café, cassoulet, paella, wine, art, music, clothing, stone cutting, fresh flowers, artisanal breads….the list goes on.
What better way to enjoy it than from your own village house, just a few steps away from all the activity and then to retire to your OWN quiet cool sanctuary – Maison de la Paix.
VILLAGE LIFE AT ITS VERY BEST
Just thirty paces from your garden gate at Maison de la Paix, will find you at our favourite Boulanger - one of three in the village - where you can pick up that morning’s freshly baked bread, croissants or pastries.
What better way to start your day, than with a flakey croissant with cheese and preserves picked up from the fromage specialists, at the numerous open markets, you are sure to visit?
One hundred paces in towards the centre of the village, will find you at the door of the boucherie, charcuterie and traiteur in the Grand Rue, where Cyril LE MINDU will butcher your meat cuts to your personal specifications.
Regional delicacies are available from specialist shops dotted around the village and treats such as magret (duck breast), foie gras (goose liver), lapin (rabbit), regional wines and armagnac (local version of cognac) to name but a few, are all to be had just a short stroll away.
Pick up a flower arrangement for that special moment from the fleuriste Davide or have a treatment or massage by Sylvie at Centre Zen Shiatsu. There’s even a health food shop!
Just a short walk around the Tour de Ville will lead you past 3 restaurants with the furthest at 300 metres!
All special in their own way, from really good pizza and specialist regional salads with walnut and gesiers (duck gizzards) at Casa Del Seyrat, to really excellent traditional French a la carte or the menu de jour (daily menu) at La Bruciliere and Chez Alain / El Borini. Also, don’t forget Le Relais de l’Ancienne Gare about 600 metres along the Eymet road – a really excellent family run restaurant.
Other businesses to be found a short stroll from Maison de la Paix include: various art studios, pottery studio, glass blower, basket weaver, unique clothing boutiques, hair dressers, pharmacists, doctors, dentist, brocantes, cafés, bistrots, antiques, interior decorator, two well stocked, small franchise grocery stores, a Presse / Tabac and even a taxi operator.
On the other hand though, a short stroll in the other direction could easily find you on one of the unsurpassed, tranquil and comfortable country walks and cycling trails (boucles). France is famous for these boucles and Issigeac has some of the best that we have experienced.
These clearly marked routes meander through lush French forests, farmlands and vineyards, past churches and through surrounding ancient hamlets, past ancient windmills, across babbling brooks, past numerous view sites and historic features and countryside abundant with wildlife.
One can safely say that - everything that you will need for an unforgettable stay at Maison de la Paix - is available just a short stroll from your door.
Issigeac is a small intimate and secure little village, inhabited by many local French people, but is also a bit of a commercial hub of the immediately surrounding farming community.
What this means is that, even though it is so small and peaceful, it has just that right mix of activity and tranquility, that truly let’s one experience French country village life in the flesh and at it’s best - and the Sunday Market....?
