Le Vieux Moulin

After searching high and low for their dream Dordogne home, upon seeing Le Vieux Moulin in the glorious sunshine, the owners immediately knew this was the one! Once a crumbling paper mill in idyllic surroundings, it was restored to a stunningly beautiful place to stay.

As soon as you cross the little bridge over one of the two rivers which encircle Le Vieux Moulin, you know you are in an incredible setting. Surrounded by forests, countryside and the sound of the flowing rivers backing on to the gardens, this is rural life at its best in the heart of the Couze valley, just south of the Dordogne river.

Step inside and be amazed at the high standard of renovation of this former paper mill and farm, some of which dates back to the early 17th Century. With a nod to the home's historic past, many original features have been beautifully restored alongside a contemporary and minimalist vibe with stylish furnishings and sleek decor.

Downstairs the living room, dining space and modern kitchen with its original terracotta floors offers comfort with warmth from the wood-burning fires on cooler days or doors opening up to the gardens as summer approaches. Upstairs there are six ensuite bedrooms, including an impressive master bedroom with its very own bathtub standing grandly in the room.

Outside in the gardens you can find welcome shade under a tree, laze on a hammock with a good book, enjoy a game of boules and table tennis or simply relax on the pool terrace by the inviting heated swimming pool, whilst listening to the river flowing. As evening approaches, dine to the sound of hooting owls on your covered terrace by the summer kitchen and barbecue and enjoy long evenings with fine wine, food, family and friends.

Despite this rural idyll, it's only a five-minute drive to the charming local village with a well-regarded restaurant and the ruins of an abbey which hosts concerts in the summer. You are also only a 5-minute drive or 35-minute walk through the beautiful countryside to Beaumont-du-Perigord with its pretty shops, restaurants and a wonderfully atmospheric night market in the summer where you can feast and drink wine with locals.

The Dordogne river is just a 20-minute drive away where you can picnic by the riverside or hire canoes for a lovely trip out. Picture-perfect villages within easy reach include Limeuil, Tremolat, La Roque-Gageac and Domme.

Closer to home, Monpazier is only 16km away, thought to be one of France's most beautifully preserved villages. Not forgetting Bergerac, within half an hour with its medieval architecture and unmissable Maisons des Vins.

In one of the most picturesque regions of France, the Dordogne also offers wonderful hiking, horse-riding, cycling and golf. Not to mention some of the country's best food markets which are held across surrounding villages and towns. Pick up local cheeses, breads, cakes, foie gras and canard to take back to your beautiful home for an authentic Dordogne experience.

Features

Main House Interiors

Ground Floor

• Dining room with doors opening out to the gardens
• Kitchen, well-equipped and including wood-burner
• Living room (via step) with fireplace, TV and DVD player and doors opening out to the gardens
• WC

First Floor

• 5 x bedrooms with super king-size double bed (can be split into a twin) and en suite shower room
• Bedroom with super king-size double bed (can be split into a twin), free standing bath in the bedroom and separate WC

Additional stairs from one of the bedrooms lead down to a small kitchen and lounge area, however access to this is usually closed off. It can be opened on request, subject to a supplement. Please enquire for further details.
Outside Grounds

• Heated swimming pool (12mx6m, depth: 1.4m) with pool safety alarm. Open 25th May to 28th September.
• Sun loungers and hammock
• Covered outdoor dining area with sink, fridge and gas barbecue
• Table tennis
• Boules
• Gardens (unenclosed, leading to rivers and forests)

Facilities

• Wood-burners (wood provided)
• Wi-Fi
• Smart TV and DVD player
• DVDs and books
• Board games
• Pool inflatables
• Table tennis
• Boules
• Washing machine and dryer

Location

The setting of Le Vieux Moulin is just idyllic – it's on an island in the Couze valley encircled by two rivers, accessed via a little bridge and surrounded by forests and countryside. Yet it is only a 5-minute drive to the nearest village, a charming place where you will find a lovely bistro by the ruins of a beautiful abbey, where summer concerts are sometimes held.

The bastide town of Beaumont-du-Perigord (5km) is just a little further with restaurants, pretty shops and galleries. In the summer there is a wonderfully atmospheric night market on a Monday evening where you can sit on long-wooden tables, choose your food from one of the street-market traders and buy local wine to enjoy, there is even some dancing too. The most energetic of guests can stroll across the countryside to reach Beaumont-du-Perigord in around 35 minutes - it is a beautiful walk.

The Dordogne region offers endless activities for all ages from golf within half an hour to horse-riding, hiking and cycling across the magnificent countryside. Some of France's most wonderful food markets are held across surrounding villages and towns where you can pick up amazing fresh produce such as local cheeses, breads, cakes, foie gras, canard as well as fruit and vegetables and there is also some superb wine-tasting across the region.

You are just a 20-minute drive to the glorious Dordogne river in Le Buisson-de-Cadouin where you can hire canoes, enjoy leisurely picnics or follow the river and explore some of the idyllic riverside villages such as Limeuil (20km), where the Vezere river meets the Dordogne and Tremolat (22km) with its Michelin starred restaurant. Further east are some of the Dordogne's most famous attractions such as Beynac-et-Cazenac (40km) with its famous chateau, La Roque-Gageac (45km) and beautiful Domme (48km), officially one of France's most beautiful villages.

Another one of France's Plus Beaux Villages, Monpazier, is only 16km away, a bastide town dating back to the 13th Century and thought to be one of France's most beautifully preserved villages. Issigeac (20km) is also worthy of a visit, especially on a Sunday morning when the bustling market takes place.

Not forgetting Bergerac (32km) with its medieval architecture, narrow streets of boutiques and great restaurants as well as the unmissable Maisons des Vins and the famous town of Sarlat-la-Caneda (50km) with its maze of medieval lanes, lovely squares and amazing restaurants specialising in cuisine of the Perigord.