Villa Ste Therese is a stylish, large 'maison de campagne' overlooking beautiful ancient bastide, Monpazier, set on 4 peaceful park-like acres with large inground pool - entirely refurbished in 2011. Minutes from local attractions & major landmarks, ideal for families & groups. Two large upstairs double bedrooms can be converted to twin rooms, offering great flexibility. The kitchen is fully equipped to create any feast, with a large double oven and gas cook top. Each room is spaciously proportioned, with beautiful views over the rolling green valley to the south or the village to the west. The south terrace is a sunny breakfast spot, & the west terrace offers an ideal vantage point for sunset-watching or evening dining against the floodlit backdrop of Monpazier. Recent renovations have created a stylish, authentic, French country house offering all modern amenities. The Villa also hosts a ten day tour each Autumn for small, relaxed groups up to 10, indulging in the cuisine, culture & history of the Perigord.
There's so much to see & do in this part of the Dordogne, it's hard to be brief! But here's a sample of activities within 30-45 mins drive:
Chateau Monbazillac (25km west); Chateau du Lanquais (18km north); Chateau Biron (8km south); Chateau des Milandes (20km northeast); Chateau Bonaguil (19km southwest)
Gardens: Marquessac or Eyrignac (both 35 & 50 mins drive north);
Amazing underground Caves: Grottes de Maxange (15km northwest) Gouffre de Proumeyssac (25km north); Grotte de Font-de-Gaume (38km north)
Horseriding near Villereal (12km south) or Issigeac (20km west);
Treetop adventure park for children: Lacapelle de Biron (8km southeast);
Canoeing, river beach & gabarre cruises: Limeuil, Bergerac, La Roque Gageac.
Ancient Sarlat, Domme, Castelnaud: 45 mins northeast
Monpazier has many fetes & festivals all year round, eg:
May: annual flower & rose festival;
July: Bastille Day bodega & fireworks at night;
July: Medieval Fair;
Summer: regular night markets in the central square; summer brocante market
Autumn: randonees (guided walks) in nearby forests, cepes market; autumn brocante market
Dec: Christmas market, truffle fete;
Great weekly market each Thursday
The Village is a treasure itself....: Monpazier may seem like a small, tranquil place, but it is a working village...which means a good choice of shops and restaurants for you! In fact the restaurants range from casual pizzerias, to family-run bistros, to elegant fine dining. There are two small supermarkets in the heart of the village, as well as an organic produce shop, two charcuteries, two patisseries, a boulangerie, a pharmacy, beauty salon with steamroom and masseuse, wine cellar & an ice-creamerie.
Monpazier is the perfect village for browsing (and taking home an authentic local souvenir) as it offers a range of wonderful artisans galleries and showrooms. These include: an ostrich egg engraver, a ceramics showroom, a wood turner for bowls & decorative pieces, a traditional soap & perfume shop, a beautiful print & framing shop, a clockmaker, glassblower, artists' gallery and handmade leather goods.
...Or just relax around the Villa: The grounds of Villa Ste Therese were landscaped 50 years ago, in the French tradition of a gentleman's country house - hedging, shaped shrubs, established large deciduous trees, creating a vista in all shades of greens. A series of stone-walled terraces on the southern slopes lead down to the orchard below - a wonderful place to explore & enjoy...plums, figs, apples, peaches, walnuts, cherries. The northern lawn has plenty of room for petanque badminton or volleyball. Laze on a sun lounge on the terrace by the 10m x 5m pool, or retreat to the summer gazebo for midday shade. We love the fact that we can walk into the village in 5 minutes & relax with a coffee just to watch the world go by! Monpazier's accredited as 'One of the Most Beautiful Villages in France' so we never tire of its ancient beauty and gentle pace.
The Villa also hosts regular small-group guided tours each year. Our next one is in Autumn 2014 - more like a casual house party than a tour - see our website or send us an email for detailed itinerary!
